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Gary Hampton Commentaries

Acts 16:35-40

Paul's Refusal to Depart Secretly

The next morning, the magistrates sent to the prison to quietly release Paul and Silas. The apostle refused to go quietly, likely because he wanted the authorities to realize even Roman citizens had believed in Jesus. A Roman could not be beaten and imprisoned without due process of law. Likely, Paul had tried to stop the previous day's actions by appealing to his citizenship but had been ignored. Now, he would only leave the jail if the magistrates personally escorted him! Then, instead of being run out of town, they were asked to leave. Before they continued on their journey, they returned to Lydia's house, encouraged the brethren and bid them farewell (Acts 16:35-40).

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See also Acts 16:35-40 in other biblical comments:

  • A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger

    ACTS 16:35 avpe,steilan oi` strathgoi, {A} In order to explain the sudden change of attitude on the part of the magistrates, who now entreat the apostles to leave, D syrhmg Cassiodorus and Ephraem re...

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 35. _AND THE MAGISTRATES SENT THE SERGEANTS_] The original word, παβδουχους, means the _lictors_, persons who carried before the consul the _fasces_, which was a hatchet, round the handle of wh...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    AND WHEN IT WAS DAY ... - It is evident from the narrative that it was not contemplated at first to release them so soon, Acts 16:22. But it is not known what produced this change of purpose in the ma...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 16 _ 1. In Derbe and Lystra again. Timotheus (Acts 16:1)._ 2. The Preaching forbidden in Asia (Acts 16:6). 3. The Vision of the Man from Macedonia (Acts 16:9). 4. The Gospel in Europe ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    RECKONING WITH THE MAGISTRATES. The legal proceedings are to go no further. But Paul has two grievances to clear up with the magistrates before he will leave the prison. The proceedings of the former...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    A SON IN THE FAITH (Acts 16:1-5)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. I...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    SENT. Greek. _apostello._ App-174. SERJEANTS. lictors. Greek. _rabdouchos._ See Acts 16:22. Only here and Acts 16:38. LET... GO. Release. Gr, _apoluo._ App-174....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The magistrates would send them away, but Paul refuses to be thus dismissed. He announces that they are Romans, and the magistrates in fear beseech them to depart. They take leave of Lydia and the bre...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΤΟῪΣ ῬΑΒΔΟΎΧΟΥΣ, _the serjeants_. Literally, ‘rodbearers.’ These were the lictors, that attended on the prætors (duumviri, στρατηγοί), probably the same persons who on the previous day had scourged Pa...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    THE MAGISTRATES WOULD SEND THEM AWAY, BUT PAUL REFUSES TO BE THUS DISMISSED. HE ANNOUNCES THAT THEY ARE ROMANS, AND THE MAGISTRATES IN FEAR BESEECH THEM TO DEPART. THEY TAKE LEAVE OF LYDIA AND THE BRE...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _THE CONVERSION OF THE JAILER IN PHILIPPI ACTS 16:16-40:_ At a place of prayer in Philippi Paul and Silas came across a girl that had a spirit of divination. Her masters made a lot of money from her p...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΓΕΝΟΜΈΝΗΣ _aor. med. (dep.) part.(temp.), см._ Acts 16:16. _Gen. abs._ ΑΠΈΣΤΕΙΛΑΝ _aor. ind. act. от_ ΑΠΟΣΤΈΛΛΩ (G649) посылать. ΡΑΒΔΟΎΧΟΣ (G4465) ликтор, носитель жезла. Это были помощники магистра...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    THE MAGISTRATES SENT— The magistrates who had ordered Paul and Silas to be scourged and imprisoned without a legal trial, or any crime proved against them, seem to have had a more disturbed night than...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    AT PHILLIPPI. Acts 16:12-40 a. A description of Philippi. Acts 16:12. Acts 16:12 and from thence to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the first of the district, a Roman colony: and we were in...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    35, 36. When the magistrates gave orders for the imprisonment of Paul and Silas, it would naturally be supposed that they intended to make some further inquiry into the charges preferred against them....

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. AND WHEN IT WAS DAY, THE MAGISTRATES SENT THE SERJEANTS, [ tous (G3588) rabdouchous (G4465)] - 'rod-bearers;' 'li...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    19 This is the first occasion in which the evangel comes into conflict with the religion of the nations and with the spirit powers back of it. Hitherto the Jews and Judaism opposed the evangel. At Lys...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    16:35 praetors (a-7) The magistrates of colonies. so vers. 36, 38. lictors, (b-10) Attendants on the praetors....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    According to D, the motive of St. Paul's release was alarm at the earthquake. THE SERJEANTS] Gk. 'the lictors,' officers who attended the magistrates, carrying axes and rods, symbols of the power to p...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    Journey into Europe, Philippi. 6. RV 'And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden of the Holy Ghost to speak the word in Asia.' At Lystra (Acts 16:6) they received a...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    ST. PAUL IN EUROPE 1. Timotheus] was probably of Lystra, not Derbe. His mother Eunice was perhaps a widow, and she, together with his grandmother Lois, educated the lad in the religion of Israel, tho...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE ACTS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 16 TIMOTHY WORKS WITH PAUL AND SILAS, 16:1-5 V1 Paul went to Derbe and then he went to Lystra. A *Christian called Timothy lived there. Timothy...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THE MAGISTRATES SENT THE SERJEANTS. — Literally, _the rod-bearers,_ or _lictors._ They would probably be the very officers who had inflicted the stripes. We are not told what led to this sudden change...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    ἀπέσ. οἱ στρατηγοὶ : we are not told the reason of this sudden change in the action of the prætors, and no doubt the omission may fairly account for the reading in, see critical notes. At the same tim...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    SALVATION IN THE JAIL Acts 16:25 Some, as we have seen, are converted by the gentle opening of the heart; others amid the convulsions of the storm. The first knowledge of salvation may have reached t...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Here begins the account of Pads second journey. At Lystra he found Timothy. His action in the circumcision of Timothy is startling in view of the recent decision of the council. Some charge him with i...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (19) And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. (19) Shame and confusion is in due time the reward of wicked and unjust magistrates....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Sent the serjeants, [2] vergers, or such like officers. (Witham)_ [BIBLIOGRAPHY] Lictores, _Greek: rabduchous, vergers, rod-bearers._...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    And when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, 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 de...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We now enter on the missionary journeys, as they are called, of the apostle Paul. The work, under the Spirit, opens to the glory of the Lord. Not merely are Gentiles met in grace and brought into the...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    − 35._When it was day. _The question is, how it came to pass that the judges did so suddenly change their purpose? The day before they had commanded that Paul and Silas should be bound with fetters, a...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    There is perhaps no example of this more remarkable than that which Paul does with regard to Timothy. He uses circumcision in all liberty to set aside Jewish prejudice. It is very doubtful whether, ac...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND WHEN IT WAS DAY,.... In one copy Beza says, these words are added, "the magistrates came together in one place in the court, and remembering the earthquake that was made, they were afraid, and se...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. Ver. 35. _The magistrates sent_] In one ancient Greek copy there is this addition, "And when it was day, the magistr...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _When it was day, the magistrates_ Or pretors, being terrified, probably, by the earthquake, which had been felt all over the city, and having been informed of the miraculous opening of the prison-doo...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    SERGEANTS; the lictors who attended on the magistrates, and executed their commands....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    AND WHEN IT WAS DAY, THE MAGISTRATES SENT THE SERGEANTS, SAYING, LET THOSE MEN GO....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The release of the prisoners:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Coming to Derbe and Lystra, where he and Barnabas had been persecuted before, Paul was favorably impressed with the young man, Timothy, who had evidently been converted through Paul on his first visit...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    AND WHEN IT WAS DAY, THE MAGISTRATES SENT THE OFFICERS, SAYING, " LET THOSE MEN GO. " 1. Some time later, the sun begins to rise on a new day. 2. The city rulers have decided to release Paul and Sil...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    "But when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, Let those men go"Sergeants" "Lit., those who hold the rod. The Roman lictors. They had to inflict the punishment on the condemned" (Vi...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    35-40 Paul, though willing to suffer for the cause of Christ, and without any desire to avenge himself, did not choose to depart under the charge of having deserved wrongful punishment, and therefore...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THE SERJEANTS; their messengers, or officers, which did carry a mace, or a rod, from whence they had their name. SAYING, LET THOSE MEN GO; probably being terrified with the earthquake, which if it had...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    35, 36. When the magistrates gave orders for the imprisonment of Paul and Silas, it would naturally be supposed that they intended to make some further inquiry into the charges preferred against them....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 16:35 And G1161 was G1096 (G5637) day G2250 magistrates G4755 sent G649 (G5656) officers G4465 saying...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘But when it was day, the magistrates sent the lictors, saying, “Let those men go.” ' Next day the lictors were sent by the magistrates with instructions that the two might go free. It was no doubt r...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    MINISTRY IN PHILIPPI FROM THE HOUSE OF LYDIA (16:12B-40). The arrival in Europe was clearly seen by Luke as very important. He illustrates the successful ministry there by a threefold description of P...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Acts 16:35. AND WHEN IT WAS DAY, THE MAGISTRATES SENT THE SERJEANTS, SAYING, LET THOSE MEN GO. There is but little doubt that, subsequently to the tumultuous condemnation of Paul and Silas, the magist...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    THE SERJEANTS (τους ραβδουχους). Fasces-bearers, regular Greek word (ραβδοσ, εχω) for Latin _lictores_ though Cicero says that they should carry _baculi_, not _fasces_. Was this message because of t...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    SERJEANTS (Greek, "rhabdouchos")....

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Paul finds Timothy. Paul's Macedonian vision. The first convert in Europe. Demons cast out of a damsel. Paul and Silas beaten. Conversion of the Philippian jailer. CHARACTERS: Jesus, Holy S...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Acts 16:1. _Then came he to Lystra,_ as in Acts 14:6. In their former labours in that city, Lois a jewess, her daughter Eunice, and Timothy her son, had embraced the faith. Now, they found Timothy gro...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    THE ROMAN AUTHORITIES. It may have been fear of the earthquake, or "second-thoughts" about their cruel treatment of "holy men" which influenced them to order the release. BUT PAUL SAID. Roman law said...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And they spake unto him the Word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house._ HOUSEHOLD SALVATION It sometimes happens that a good man has to go alone to heaven: God’s election has separated him...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 16:11 Philippi was the first Macedonian city in which Paul witnessed. ⇐ ⇔...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 16:35 LET THOSE MEN GO. Why the magistrates decided to release the two prisoners is not stated. ⇐...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL REMARKS_ Acts 16:19. THE RULERS, ἄρχοντες, were the town magistrates (Luke 12:58). Acts 16:20. The MAGISTRATES, στρατηγοί, were the two chief civic authorities (dunmviri) in a Roman colony...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ACTS 16:1 _And he came also _for _then came he, _A.V._ _and T.R.; _to Lystra _for _Lystra, _A.V._; Timothy _for _Timotheus, _A.V._; of a Jewess _for _of a certain woman which was a Jewess,...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    We remember at the end of our study last week there arose a contention between Paul and Barnabas who had been close companions on the first missionary venture of the church. But because Barnabas was i...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Acts 4:21; Acts 5:40; Jeremiah 5:22; Psalms 76:10...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Serjeants [ρ α β δ ο υ χ ο υ ς]. Lit., those who hold the rod. The Roman lictors. They were the attendants of the chief Roman magistrates. "Ho, trumpets, sound a war - note! Ho, lictors, clear the wa...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    The pretors sent — Being probably terrified by the earthquake; saying, Let those men go — How different from the charge given a few hours before! And how great an ease of mind to the jailer!...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Observe here, 1. The willingness of the magistrates to release those innocent prisoners, the holy apostles, and what might be the probable occasion of it; namely, 1. The terror of the earthquake, whi...

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