16:21
by: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as by is literally “and.” There are two ways to interpret its meaning here:
(1) Here it introduces a second wrongdoing of Paul. For example:
and (New Jerusalem Bible)
(New Jerusalem Bible, New Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, God’s Word, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, King James Version)
(2) Here it introduces an explanation of “throwing our city into an uproar.” For example:
They are… (Good News Translation)
(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, English Standard Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it seems the simpler interpretation.
promoting: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as promoting refers to publicly announcing something. Paul and Silas were announcing the gospel of Jesus by the river and perhaps other places. Other ways to translate this word are:
proclaiming (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
teaching (Good News Translation)
customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice: The owners probably implied Jewish customs here. Paul and Silas were not teaching Jewish customs like circumcision, but some of the customs of Christianity are similar or the same as the customs of the Jewish religion. Do not describe the customs here. Allow the context to imply non-Roman customs here.
customs: This refers to things that are normally done. For Jews, this would include circumcision, worshiping God on the Sabbath, praying at certain times, and wearing certain clothes. For Romans, this would include going to the temples of their various gods, making offerings to their gods, and wearing Roman kinds of clothing.
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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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