and advocate customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans.”
Parallel translations
- KJV And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
- BSB by promoting customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.”
- 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 3:8Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom, and their laws are different than other people’s. They don’t keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not for the king’s profit to allow them to remain.
- Acts 16:12and from there to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the foremost of the district, a Roman colony. We were staying some days in this city.
- Acts 26:3especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.
- Jer 10:3For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the ax.
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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