^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.”

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Footnotes

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.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

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.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

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.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

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.”

NLTNew Living Translation

“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.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

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!”

KJV 1900King James Version

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.

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