19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they took Paul and Silas, pulling them into the market-place before the rulers; 20 And when they had taken them before the authorities, they said, These men, who are Jews, are greatly troubling our town; 21 Teaching rules of living which it is not right for us to have or to keep, being Romans. 22 And the people made an attack on them all together: and the authorities took their clothing off them, and gave orders for them to be whipped. 23 And when they had given them a great number of blows, they put them in prison, giving orders to the keeper of the prison to keep them safely: 24 And he, having such orders, put them into the inner prison with chains on their feet.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 16:19-24
Commentary on Acts 16:16-24
(Read Acts 16:16-24)
Satan, though the father of lies, will declare the most important 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. Those who do good by drawing men from sin, may expect to be reviled as 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 accused of teaching bad customs.