19 And her masters, seeing that the hope of their gains was gone, having seized Paul and Silas, dragged [them] into the market before the magistrates; 20 and having brought them up to the praetors, said, These men utterly trouble our city, being Jews, 21 and announce customs which it is not lawful for us to receive nor practise, being Romans. 22 And the crowd rose up too against them; and the praetors, having torn off their clothes, commanded to scourge [them]. 23 And having laid many stripes upon them they cast [them] into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely; 24 who, having received such a charge, cast them into the inner prison, and secured their feet to the stocks.
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.