There is a question as to whether the word translated waving means “to wave” or “to tear off” (see King James Version “cast off” and Phillips “ripping”). Moffatt takes the word in the sense of “to throw” (“threw their clothes into the air”). In 14.14, the tearing of clothes is the response that the people make to what they consider blasphemy. Here also the waving (or tearing) of clothes and the throwing of dust into the air must be looked upon as expressions of horror at what the Jews consider to be blasphemy on the part of Paul. At this point it may be useful to have marginal note to explain the behavior of the crowd.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .