^16:19But when her owners⁷⁸ saw their hope of profit⁷⁹ was gone, they seized⁸⁰ Paul and Silas and dragged⁸¹ them into the marketplace before the authorities. ^16:20When⁸² they had brought them⁸³ before the magistrates, they said, “These men are throwing our city into confusion.⁸⁴ They are⁸⁵ Jews ^16:21and are advocating⁸⁶ customs that are not lawful for us to accept⁸⁷ or practice,⁸⁸ since we are⁸⁹ Romans.”

^16:22The crowd joined the attack⁹⁰ against them, and the magistrates tore the clothes⁹¹ off Paul and Silas⁹² and ordered them to be beaten with rods.⁹³^16:23After they had beaten them severely,⁹⁴ they threw them into prison and commanded⁹⁵ the jailer to guard them securely.

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Footnotes

78 Or “masters.”
79 On this use of ἐργασία (ergasia), see 4. It is often the case that destructive practices and commerce are closely tied together.
80 Grk “was gone, seizing.” The participle ἐπιλαβόμενοι (epilabomenoi) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
81 On the term ἕλκω (helkō) see 1.
82 Grk “And when.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
83 Grk “having brought them.” The participle ἐπιλαβόμενοι (epilabomenoi) has been taken temporally. It is also possible in English to translate this participle as a finite verb: “they brought them before the magistrates and said.”
84 ἐκταράσσω has “agitate, cause trouble to, throw into confusion” for the meaning of this verb.
85 Grk “being Jews, and they are proclaiming.” The participle ὑπάρχοντες (huparchontes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
86 Grk “proclaiming,” but in relation to customs, “advocating” is a closer approximation to the meaning.
87 Or “acknowledge.”
88 Customs that are not lawful for us to accept or practice. Ironically, the charges are similar to those made against Jesus in Luke 23:2, where Jews argued he was “twisting” their customs. The charge has three elements: (1) a racial element (Jewish); (2) a social element (unlawful); and (3) a traditional element (not their customs).
89 Grk “we being Romans.” The participle οὖσιν (ousin) has been translated as a causal adverbial participle.
90 L&N 39.50 has “the crowd joined the attack against them” for συνεπέστη (sunepestē) in this verse.
91 Grk “tearing the clothes off them, the magistrates ordered.” The participle περιρήξαντες (perirēxantes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. Although it may be possible to understand the aorist active participle περιρήξαντες in a causative sense (“the magistrates caused the clothes to be torn off Paul and Silas”) in the mob scene that was taking place, it is also possible that the magistrates themselves actively participated. This act was done to prepare them for a public flogging (2 Cor 11:25; 1 Thess 2:2).
92 Grk “off them”; the referents (Paul and Silas) have been specified in the translation for clarity.
93 The infinitive ῥαβδίζειν (rhabdizein) means “to beat with rods or sticks” (as opposed to fists or clubs, ῥαβδίζω).
94 Grk “Having inflicted many blows on them.” The participle ἐπιθέντες (epithentes) has been taken temporally. ἐπιτίθημι 1.a.β has “inflict blows upon someone” for this expression, but in this context it is simpler to translate in English as “they had beaten them severely.”
95 Grk “commanding.” The participle παραγγείλαντες (parangeilantes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”

The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

When her owners realized that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews and are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.”

The crowd joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had severely flogged them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to guard them carefully.

NLTNew Living Translation

Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. “The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!” they shouted to the city officials. “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.”

A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

But when her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. And when they had brought them to the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are throwing our city into confusion, being Jews, and are proclaiming customs that are not permitted for us to accept or to practice, because we are Romans!” And the crowd joined in attacking them, and the chief magistrates tore off their clothing and gave orders to beat them with rods. And after they had inflicted many blows on them, they threw them into prison, giving orders to the jailer to guard them securely.

KJV 1900King James Version

And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

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