Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 16:20

"and when they had brought them unto the magistrates, they said, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city," — Acts 16:20 (ASV)

And brought them to the magistrates. To the military rulers, (strathgoiv) or praetors. Philippi was a Roman colony; and it is probable that the officers of the army exercised the double function of civil and military rulers.

Do exceedingly trouble our city. In what way they did it, they specify in the next verse. The charge they wished to substantiate was that of being disturbers of the public peace. All at once they became conscientious. They forgot the subject of their gains, and were greatly distressed about the violation of the laws.

There is nothing that will make people more hypocritically conscientious than to denounce, and detect, and destroy their unlawful and dishonest practices. People who are exposed in this way suddenly become filled with reverence for the law or for religion; and they, who have until now cared nothing for either, become greatly alarmed for fear that the public peace might be disturbed.

People slumber quietly in sin, and pursue their wicked gains; they hate or despise all law and all forms of religion; but the moment their course of life is attacked and exposed, they become full of zeal for laws that they themselves would not hesitate to violate, and for the customs of religion, which in their hearts they thoroughly despise.

Worldly-minded people often complain in this way that their towns, and cities, and villages are disturbed by revivals of religion; and the preaching of the truth and attacking vice often arouse this hypocritical conscientiousness, and make them alarmed for the laws, and for religion, and for order, which at other times they are the first to disturb and disregard.