According to some, were such Jews as were free citizens of Rome: they had a separate synagogue at Jerusalem, and sundry of them concurred in the persecution of Stephen, Acts 6:9 . Dr. Guyse supposes that those who had obtained this privilege by gift were called liberti (free men, ) and those who had obtained it by purchase, libertini (made free, ) in distinction from original native free-men. Dr. Doddridge thinks that they were called Libertines as having been the children of freed men, that is, of emancipated captives of slaves.
See Doddridge and Guyse on Acts 6:9 .