SEV Biblia, Chapter 16:20
y presentndolos a los magistrados, dijeron: Estos hombres, siendo judíos, alborotan nuestra ciudad,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 16:20
Verse 20. Brought them to the magistrates] strathgoiv, The commanders of the army, who, very likely, as this city was a Roman colony, possessed the sovereign authority. The civil magistrates, therefore, having heard the case, as we shall soon find, in which it was pretended that the safety of the state was involved, would naturally refer the business to the decision of those who had the supreme command. Exceedingly trouble our city] They are destroying the public peace, and endangering the public safety.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 20. And brought them to the magistrates , etc.] The same as before; wherefore the Syriac version omits them there, and reads them both together here, calling them the magistrates and chief men of the city; though the word here used, properly signifies military captains, captains of the Roman militia: but that they were the same with the Decuriones, or ten men before mentioned, appears from what Harpocratian says f827 , that every year were chosen ten strathgoi , magistrates, the word here used: saying, these men being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city ; they call Paul and Silas Jews, either because they knew them to be so, or because they attended at the Jewish oratory, or place of worship; and it was common with the Romans to call the Christians Jews; they were generally included in the same name; and this name of the Jews was become very odious with the Romans; a little after this, Claudius commanded them, the Jews, to depart from Rome, ( Acts 18:2) they were commonly looked upon as a troublesome and seditious sort of people, and indeed this was the old charge that was fastened upon them, ( Ezra 4:15, Esther 3:8). So that it was enough to say that Paul and Silas were Jews, to prove them to be disturbers of the public peace: and it is to be observed, that their accusers make no mention of the dispossessing of the maid, who was their private property, and which was a private affair; but pretend a concern for the public welfare, and bring a charge of public disturbance and detriment, to which their malice and revenge prompted them, hoping in this way the better to succeed: the Arabic version reads, these two men trouble our city, and they are both Jews.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 16-24 - Satan, though the father of lies, will declare the most importan truths, when he can thereby serve his purposes. But much mischief is done to the real servants of Christ, by unholy and false preachers of the gospel, who are confounded with them by careless observers. Thos who do good by drawing men from sin, may expect to be reviled a troublers of the city. While they teach men to fear God, to believe in Christ, to forsake sin, and to live godly lives, they will be accuse of teaching bad customs.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ προσαγαγοντες 4317 5631 V-2AAP-NPM αυτους 846 P-APM τοις 3588 T-DPM στρατηγοις 4755 N-DPM ειπον 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3P ουτοι 3778 D-NPM οι 3588 T-NPM ανθρωποι 444 N-NPM εκταρασσουσιν 1613 5719 V-PAI-3P ημων 2257 P-1GP την 3588 T-ASF πολιν 4172 N-ASF ιουδαιοι 2453 A-NPM υπαρχοντες 5225 5723 V-PAP-NPM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
20. Magistrates (strathgoiv). Their usual name was duumviri answering to the consuls of Rome; but they took pride in calling themselves strathgoi, or praetors, as being a more honorable title. This is the only place in the Acts where Luke applies the term to the rulers of a city. See Introduction to Luke.Jews. Who at this time were in special disgrace, having been lately banished from Rome by Claudius (see Acts xviii. 2). The Philippians do not appear to have recognized the distinction between Christians and Jews.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
16:20 {Unto the civil officers} (tois strategois). Greek term (stratos, agw) for leader of an army or general. But in civic life a governor. The technical name for the civil officers in a Roman colony was _duumviri_ or duumvirs, answering to consuls in Rome. strategoi here is the Greek rendering of the Latin _praetores_ (praetors), a term which they preferred out of pride to the term _duumviri_. Since they represented consuls, the praetors or duumvirs were accompanied by lictors bearing rods (verse #35). {These men} (houtoi hoi anqrwpoi). Contemptuous use. {Being Jews} (ioudaioi huparcontes). The people of Philippi, unlike those in Antioch (#11:26), did not recognize any distinction between Jews and Christians. These four men were Jews. this appeal to race prejudice would be especially pertinent qen because of the recent decree of Claudius expelling Jews from Rome (#18:2). It was about A.D. 49 or 50 that Paul is in Philippi. The hatred of the Jews by the Romans is known otherwise (Cicero, _Pro Flacco_, XXVIII; Juvenal, XIV. 96-106). {Do exceedingly trouble} (ektarassousin). Late compound (effective use of ek in composition) and only here in the N.T.
