Acts 16:21
◄  Acts 16:21  ►
New International Version (© 2011)
by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice."

King James Bible
And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

American Standard Version
and set forth customs which it is not lawful for us to receive, or to observe, being Romans.

Young's Literal Translation
and they proclaim customs that are not lawful for us to receive nor to do, being Romans.'

Acts 16:21 Additional Translations
Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

And teach customs - Εθη, Religious opinions, and religious rites.

Which are not lawful for us to receive - The Romans were very jealous of their national worship. Servius, on the following lines of Virgil, has given us correct information on this point; and has confirmed what several other writers have advanced: -

Rex Evandrus ait: Non haec solemnia nobis

Vana superstitio, veterumque ignara deorum, Imposuit.

Aen. viii. v. 185, etc.

King Evander said: - It is not vain superstition, ignorant of the ancient worship of the gods, which has imposed these rites on us.

Duo dicit, says Servius: non ideo Herculem colimus; aut quia omnem religionem veram putamus; aut quia deos ignoramus antiquos. Cautum enim fuerat, et apud Athenienses, et apud Romanos; ne quis Novas introduceret Religiones: unde et Socrates damnatus est: et Chaldaei et Judaei unt urbe depulsi.

"He says two things: we do not worship Hercules because we believe every religion to be true; nor are we ignorant of the ancient gods. Great care was taken, both among the Athenians and Romans, that no one should introduce any new religion. It was on this account that Socrates was condemned, and on this account the Chaldeans and the Jews were banished from Rome."

Cicero, De Legibus, lib. ii. c. 8, says: Separatim nemo habessit deos; neve Novos; sed nec Advenas, nisi publice Adscitos, Privatim colunto. "No person shall have any separate gods, nor new ones; nor shall he privately worship any strange gods, unless they be publicly allowed." The whole chapter is curious. It was on such laws as these that the people of Philippi pleaded against the apostles. These men bring new gods, new worship, new rites; we are Romans, and the laws forbid us to worship any new or strange god, unless publicly allowed.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Acts 26:3 Especially because I know you to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: why I beseech you to hear me patiently...

Jeremiah 10:3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax.

Acts 16:21 Parallel Commentaries
Accept Adopt Advocate Advocating Announce Customs Forth Jews Lawful Observe Permitted Practice Practise Proclaim Proclaiming Receive Right Romans Rules Teach Teaching Unlawful
Accept Adopt Advocate Advocating Announce Customs Forth Jews Lawful Observe Permitted Practice Practise Proclaim Proclaiming Receive Right Romans Rules Teach Teaching Unlawful
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Esther 3:8 Then Haman said to King Xerxes, "There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king's laws; it is not in the king's best interest to tolerate them.
Matthew 12:2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath."
Acts 16:12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
Acts 16:20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, "These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar