Acts 16:20
What does Acts 16:20 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 16:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 16:20 means
The accusers frame Paul and Silas as Jews who are troubling the city. They play on ethnic prejudice and civic anxiety. By labeling them as disruptive outsiders, they deflect attention from their own motives. Fearmongering often accompanies opposition to the gospel. The charge is vague—“trouble our city”—but potent in a Roman colony zealous for order. The accusation turns spiritual deliverance into civic disturbance. It’s easier to condemn messengers than confront greed and oppression. Here the mission faces hostility wrapped in public virtue, a pattern familiar throughout Acts as the gospel challenges both personal sin and societal idols.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and when they had brought them unto the magistrates, they said, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
KJV
King James Version · 1611And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and when they had brought them unto the magistrates, they said, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And when they had taken them before the authorities, they said, These men, who are Jews, are greatly troubling our town;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and having brought them to the magistrates, they said, `These men do exceedingly trouble our city, being Jews;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And presenting them to the magistrates, they said: These men disturb our city, being Jews:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and having brought them up to the praetors, said, These men utterly trouble our city, being Jews,
Context
Verse 20 gives the first part of the public accusation that follows the loss of profit in verse 19. In verse 21, the charge becomes more specific, alleging unlawful customs contrary to Roman practice. The combination of xenophobia and legal pretext stirs the crowd and pressures officials. This context leads directly to the magistrates’ rash punishment in verse 22 and the imprisonment in verses 23–24.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- James 4:4
Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God.
- Acts 17:6
And when they found them not, they dragged Jason and certain brethren before the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
- John 15:18
If the world hateth you, ye know that it hath hated me before it hated you.
- Ezra 4:12
Be it known unto the king, that the Jews that came up from thee are come to us unto Jerusalem; they are building the rebellious and the bad city, and have finished the walls, and repaired the foundations.
- Esther 3:8
And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from those of every people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them.
- Acts 19:34
But when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
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