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free, but instead, they see that a great income is now gone. They find Paul and Silas and
dragged them (probably via hired men) into the public marketplace before the Roman rulers.
The Greeks held their courts at the city gates. This court scene occurred in the middle of town,
before a large crowd. Paul and Silas are falsely accused before a Roman court. The magistrates
do not know Paul and Silas are Roman citizens until the next day.
Act 16:20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly
trouble our city,
And brought them to the magistrates, saying, these men, being (huparcho: existing as) Jews, do
exceedingly trouble our city (disturb the peace),
The men do not know Paul is a Roman citizen and assume him to be only a Hebrew. To be a
Roman was a great privilege, and anyone who is not a Roman citizen existed as any other
nationality. The accusation is a very sarcastic remark for Paul and Silas. The men do not even
take time to learn the nationality or citizenship of Paul and Silas.
Act 16:21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being
Romans.
These men are saying, “We have always been Romans and are proud of it.” The implication is
Paul and Silas are foreigners trying to pollute a pure Roman culture; anything contrary to
Roman culture must be wrong. These men are using patriotism to stir up emotions against Paul
and Silas.
Roman law was usually very good, but here the lawyers outsmart the ruler. Later, however,
Roman law will save Paul at Ephesus and Corinth. These owners are not really patriots but are
using any means to gain back their business. They want to be rid of Paul and Silas.
Act 16:22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their
clothes, and commanded to beat them.
And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their (Paul’s and
Silas’s clothes), and commanded to beat them.
These men struck a nerve with the townspeople. Emotional patriotism is running high, and Paul
and Silas are caught between Satan’s revenge and the emotions of the people. These leaders
never question Paul or they would have discovered he was a Roman citizen. This will be
realized later, after Paul is released from prison (37-38). Once the emotions died down, the
magistrates repent for this miscarriage of justice the following day.
Act 16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison,
charging the jailor to keep them safely:
