Act 16:19 | NET2full | STEP | But when her owners saw their hope of profit was gone , they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities .

‏ Acts 16:19

19 But when her owners ^{▼▼tn Or “masters.”} saw their hope of profit ^{▼▼tn On this use of ἐργασία (ergasia), see BDAG 390 s.v. 4. It is often the case that destructive practices and commerce are closely tied together.} was gone, they seized ^{▼▼tn Grk “was gone, seizing.” The participle ἐπιλαβόμενοι (epilabomenoi) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.} Paul and Silas and dragged ^{▼▼tn On the term ἕλκω (helkō) see BDAG 318 s.v. 1.} them into the marketplace ^{▼▼sn The marketplace (Greek agora) was not only a place of trade and commerce in the first century Greco-Roman world. It was a place of discussion and dialogue (the “public square”), a place of judgment (courts held session there), a place for idle people and those seeking work, and a place for children to play.} before the authorities.