What were these?

[Fireinfolding]

Acts 16:21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

Just curious as to what was an unlawful custom to receive being Romans

Anyone know offhand?

 

[apocolypticremedy999]

Probably just to teach any doctrine of Christ that does not coincide with the teachings of their false pagan gods. To do so was unlawful according to the Roman empire. They could and did get in trouble with the Roman empire for preaching Jesus Christ. I guess you could say they were ancient rebels in this sense.

 

[Fireinfolding]

Thanks apocolypticremedy999 any specific sources that you might know of?

I guess I was curious as to the plurality of the customs spoken of or observances that they were against because just the preaching of Christ, if they exist

 

[suzybeezy]

It was unlawful for Romans to receive or worship a new diety without decree of the senate. The apostle was taking a new diety (the salvation of Jesus Christ) and introducing a new religion which was unlawful to receive or observe.

 

[Fireinfolding]

Thanks, under what might I look at or look under on the internet to look into these things for myself, anyone know?

 

[ChristianT]

Religion in ancient Rome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Google's a good source. For specifically this issue, consult Wiki! Then if you don't like their peer-edit policies, you can use their sources to see where they got their info. The first paragraph seemed relevant

 

[Fireinfolding]

Hey thanks Wiki

 

[suzybeezy]

Thanks, under what might I look at or look under on the internet to look into these things for myself, anyone know?

Here's two good commentaries - I prefer the first linked, as I've always found it short and sweet and to the point and rather on target:
Acts 16:21 - John Gill's Exposition of the Bible, New Testament Commentary

Acts 16:21 - And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

 

[Fireinfolding]

Thanks again suzy, I'll have a look, appreciate the sources

 

[apocolypticremedy999]

I can't think of any scriptural support off the top of my head, but keep in mind the trial of Paul before the Roman empire and how he was only released based on the fact that he was a Roman citizen, and also how there were Gentiles who were felt threatened at the apostles teachings of Jesus and their challenging the false godess that they worshipped, which put their markets in jeapordy, for they made a good amount of money off of her. I forget her name but I believe it was Pleadees or something like that. They didn't want people converting and dropping the gods they worshipped to worship Jesus in their stead.

 

[Fireinfolding]

I can't think of any scriptural support off the top of my head, but keep in mind the trial of Paul before the Roman empire and how he was only released based on the fact that he was a Roman citizen, and also how there were Gentiles who were felt threatened at the apostles teachings of Jesus and their challenging the false godess that they worshipped, which put their markets in jeapordy, for they made a good amount of money off of her. I forget her name but I believe it was Pleadees or something like that. They didn't want people converting and dropping the gods they worshipped to worship Jesus in their stead.

Yes this is what I saw too, and I thought maybe there might be more to it, and it wouldnt have to be a scriptural resource (for this one in particular) because I combed through those and just thought, where would I look to learn the customs of Rome at that time which made it unlawful to observe what the apostles preached. I thought there had to be more then just that.

They had their wealth that way and posed a threat to their craft agreed.

Just dawned on me, I was just like, "what else could there be"?

Never asked myself that till now.

Thanks

 

[apocolypticremedy999]

Yeah, I don't know where you could find record of the customs of Rome making it unlawful or anything. I just know that they didn't like it when anyone came and preached anything about anything besides the myths about their false gods, esp the one true God, because it challenged their beliefs, customs, and traditions.

 

[razeontherock]

"We shall have no God other than Caesar" or something to that effect should show up somewhere in Scripture, and comes into play here. Of course "great is Diana of the Ephesians" wasn't too far away; maybe they got together and had lots of little false goddies? All that mythology does add up to Enoch's literal ideas re: Genesis 6