35When day came, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, 'Release those men.' [16:36] The jailer reported these words to Paul: 'The magistrates have sent in order that you may be released. Now therefore, having gone out, depart in peace.' [16:37] But Paul said to them, 'Having beaten us publicly — uncondemned men, being Roman citizens — they threw us into prison, and now do they throw us out secretly? No, but let them come themselves and bring us out.' [16:38] The officers reported these declarations to the magistrates, and they were afraid, having heard that they are Roman citizens. [16:39] And having come, they appealed to them, and having brought them out, they were asking them to go out of the city. [16:40] Having gone forth then out of the prison, they came to Lydia, and having seen the brothers, they exhorted them and departed.
ACT 16:35-40
An Official Apology
In the world it was spoken into
In the Roman Empire, citizenship carried significant legal privileges, particularly immunity from arbitrary punishment and the right to a fair trial. Roman magistrates held judicial authority and were responsible for maintaining order, often assisted by lictors who enforced their decrees. Paul and Silas, as Roman citizens , were entitled to these protections, yet they were publicly beaten and imprisoned without a formal trial , a severe violation of Roman law. The magistrates’ initial attempt to release them quietly reflects a fear of repercussions for their unlawful actions. Paul’s insistence on a public apology underscores the gravity of their offense and leverages the honor-shame dynamics of Roman society. For the magistrates, a public acknowledgment of their mistake was necessary to avoid further disgrace or legal consequences. This incident highlights the tension between local authorities and the legal rights of Roman citizens, a recurring theme in the Pauline mission.
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How other translations render this
ACT 16:35
- KJV
- And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
- BSB
- When daylight came, the magistrates sent their officers with the order: “Release those men.”
- Koinōnos
- When day came, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, 'Release those men.
ACT 16:36
- KJV
- And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
- BSB
- The jailer informed Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders to release you. Now you may go on your way in peace.”
- Koinōnos
- The jailer reported these words to Paul: 'The magistrates have sent in order that you may be released. Now therefore, having gone out, depart in peace.
ACT 16:37
- KJV
- But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
- BSB
- But Paul said to the officers, “They beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison, even though we are Roman citizens. And now do they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! Let them come themselves and escort us out!”
- Koinōnos
- But Paul said to them, 'Having beaten us publicly — uncondemned men, being Roman citizens — they threw us into prison, and now do they throw us out secretly? No, but let them come themselves and bring us out.
ACT 16:38
- KJV
- And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
- BSB
- So the officers relayed this message to the magistrates, who were alarmed to hear that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.
- Koinōnos
- The officers reported these declarations to the magistrates, and they were afraid, having heard that they are Roman citizens.
ACT 16:39
- KJV
- And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
- BSB
- They came to appease them and led them out, requesting that they leave the city.
- Koinōnos
- And having come, they appealed to them, and having brought them out, they were asking them to go out of the city.
ACT 16:40
- KJV
- And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
- BSB
- After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydiaʼs house to see the brothers and encourage them. Then they left the city.
- Koinōnos
- Having gone forth then out of the prison, they came to Lydia, and having seen the brothers, they exhorted them and departed.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
ACT 16:35
- magistrates:The word translated 'magistrates' refers to high-ranking military commanders who also held significant civil authority, often acting as governors or chief administrators in a city.
- officers:The term used here for 'officers' describes attendants who carried rods as symbols of their authority, often acting as enforcers or lictors for the magistrates.
ACT 16:37
- uncondemned:The word translated 'uncondemned' emphasizes that they had not been legally tried or found guilty of any crime, highlighting a violation of due process.
- Romans:The word 'Romans' here refers specifically to Roman citizens, who possessed distinct legal rights and protections under Roman law, not just people from Rome.