by promoting customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.”
Parallel translations
- WEB and advocate customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans.”
- KJV And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
- NKJV and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.”
- NASB and they are proclaiming customs that are not lawful for us to accept or to practice, since we are Romans.”
- NLT “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They charged that these men promoted customs unlawful for Romans to accept.
Overview
The accusers played on Philippi's proud Roman identity, framing the gospel as a foreign, illegal religion. Rome tolerated Judaism but feared unauthorized cults, and the charge exploited that fear. The irony is that the very Romans condemning Paul will soon be embarrassed to learn he is himself a Roman citizen.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Esth 3:8Then Haman informed King Xerxes, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples of every province of your kingdom. Their laws are different from everyone else’s, and they do not obey the king’s laws. So it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.
- Acts 16:12From there we went to the Roman colony of Philippi, the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
- Acts 26:3especially since you are acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. I beg you, therefore, to listen to me patiently.
- Jer 10:3For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
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Original language
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