Acts 16:19-21 - They seized Paul and Silas

16:19

The woman’s masters were not happy about these developments! Their money making plans had now taken a downward turn. So they seized Paul and Silas seeking to have them tried by the authorities. When the gospel influences a people it will lead to some people losing money, for some ways of making money are not good. When this happens we can expect a reaction. Notice also how the response of the masters here is so similar to that of the religious leaders and Jesus. Jesus posed a threat to their position, so the religious leaders took Him to the authorities, ie to Pilate. Here the masters take Paul and Silas to the city authorities. Sometimes people get upset when people quote the Bible as saying the Jews killed Jesus, and there has been much anti-semitism throughout history. However, the Jews did kill Jesus, it was largely at the behest of the religious leaders, but they were no different from anyone else. We see here other people, presumably Gentiles, acting in exactly the same way. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

16:20,21

Since they point out that Paul and Silas were Jews it is almost certain that the masters were Gentiles. We should also note that though much of the early persecution came from the Jews, there are examples, as here, of Gentiles persecuting the church. And later it would come predominantly from Gentiles, mostly in the form of Rome. Indeed, Revelation is partly set in the context of Roman persecution of Christians. So Paul and Silas were accused of teaching things that went against the laws of the city. Today if we are going to be a Christian who is faithful to the word of God, we will teach things that are contrary to the ways of the world.