Acts 16:37

But Paul said to the police officers, “The authorities commanded men to beat us in front of a crowd before those authorities had learned if we (exc) had done anything wrong! Then they ordered men to shove us into jail! But that was not legal, because we (exc) are Roman citizens! And now they want [RHQ] to send us away secretly! We will not accept that! Those Roman officials must come themselves and tell us that they are sorry, and take us out of jail.”

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

36After the officers went and told that to the jailer, he went and told Paul, “The Roman authorities have sent a message (sg) saying that I should release you (sg) and Silas from prison. So you two can leave the jail now. Now you can go peacefully!”

38So the police officers went and told the city authorities what Paul had said. When those authorities heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were afraid that someone would report to more important officials what they had done, and as a result they would be punished { those officials would punish them}.

Read all of Acts 16

Cross References

Psalms 82:1God gathers all the rulers and judges who think they are gods for a meeting in heaven; and he tells them that he has decided this:

Proverbs 28:1Wicked people run away even when no one is pursuing them, but righteous/good people are not afraid; they are as brave as lions.

Daniel 6:18Then the king returned to his palace. That night he refused to eat any food. He would not allow anyone to entertain him because he did not want to be happy, with the result that he would forget about me. And that night he was unable to sleep because he was worried about me.

Acts 16:20The owners of the young woman brought Paul and Silas to the city officials and told them, “These men are Jews, and they are greatly troubling the people in [MTY] our city.

Matthew Henry on Acts 16:36-40

Paul and Silas Released. 35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. 36 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. 37 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. 38 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates:… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Acts 16:37