Atti 16:19

19 Ma i padroni di lei, vedendo che la speranza del loro guadagno era svanita, presero Paolo e Sila, e li trassero sulla pubblica piazza davanti ai magistrati,

Atti 16:19 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 16:19

And when her masters saw
As they might by her sedateness and composure; she not being wild and frantic, and not having such motions and agitations she had whilst under the possession of the evil spirit: that the hope of their gains was gone;
the Syriac version adds, "out of her"; namely, the evil spirit which was the ground and foundation of all their hope of gains, they expected to acquire for themselves; that being gone, they had no more work to do, nor tricks to play, nor profit to expect from the maid: wherefore they caught Paul and Silas;
they being the chief speakers, and principally concerned in the ejection of the evil spirit; they laid hold on them, took them by the collar, or held them by their clothes, and drew them into the market place:
or rather into the court of judicature, as the word also signifies; there to accuse them, and to have them tried, condemned, and punished: unto the rulers;
the judges of the court, it may be the Decuriones; for in a Roman colony as Philippi was, they chose out every tenth man, that was of capacity and ability, to make and establish a public council, and who therefore were called by this name.

Atti 16:19 In-Context

17 Costei, messasi a seguir Paolo e noi, gridava: Questi uomini son servitori dell’Iddio altissimo, e vi annunziano la via della salvezza.

18 Così fece per molti giorni; ma essendone Paolo annoiato, si voltò e disse allo spirito: Io ti comando, nel nome di Gesù Cristo, che tu esca da costei. Ed esso uscì in quell’istante.

19 Ma i padroni di lei, vedendo che la speranza del loro guadagno era svanita, presero Paolo e Sila, e li trassero sulla pubblica piazza davanti ai magistrati,

20 e presentatili ai pretori, dissero: Questi uomini, che son Giudei, perturbano la nostra città,

21 e predicano dei riti che non è lecito a noi che siam Romani né di ricevere, né di osservare.