Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary (4 vols)

Acts 16:23

Acts 16:23. And commanded to beat them. Acts 16:23. And when they had laid many stripes upon them. Literally, ‘to beat them with rods.' The custom was with the Romans to inflict the blows with rods upon the naked body. In his sad catalogue of the sufferings he had endured for his Master's dear sake (2 Corinthians 11:25), Paul relates how ‘thrice he was beaten with rods.' This Philippi experience was one of the occasions. He endured here, we are told, many stripes, there being in the stern Roman practice no such merciful restriction as that existing in the law of Moses: ‘Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one'(2 Corinthians 11:24); and see for the merciful restriction, Deuteronomy 25:3. Hurried and excited by the popular tumult, the arrest, punishment, and subsequent rigorous imprisonment was ordered and carried out with such haste and passion that the plea of Roman citizenship urged with such force by the prisoners on the following day was not listened to even if made.

Continues after advertising

See also Acts 16:23 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Acts 16:23. _LAID MANY STRIPES UPON THEM_] The Jews never gave more than thirty-nine stripes to any criminal; but the Romans had no law relative to this: they gave as many as they chose; and th...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    AND WHEN THEY HAD LAID MANY STRIPES ON THEM - The Jews were by law prohibited from inflicting more than 40 stripes, and usually inflicted but 39, 2 Corinthians 11:24. But there was no such law among t...

  • 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

    IMPRISONMENT OF PAUL AND SILAS. THE PRISON BROKEN. The rulers (Acts 16:19) are the heads of police; they are afterwards called _Strategi, which_ answers to the Roman _Prœ tores._ Philippi was a colony...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

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

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    When we were on our way to the place of prayer.. it happened that a certain slave-girl who had a spirit which made her able to give oracles met us. By her soothsaying she provided much gain for her ow...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    STRIPES. Greek. _plege._ Four times translated "wound", five times "stripe", and twelve times "plague". CHARGING. Same as "command" in Acts 16:18. JAILOR. Greek. _desmophulax,_ i.e. keeper of the pri...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _cast them into prison_ So that they should have no chance of teaching any longer. They appear (see Acts 16:35) to have intended to keep them one night in prison and then to turn them out of the city....

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ἜΒΑΛΟΝ ΕἸΣ ΦΥΛΑΚΉΝ, _they cast them into prison_. So that they should have no chance of teaching any longer. They appear (see Acts 16:35) to have intended to keep them one night in prison and then to...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    PREACHING ON THE SABBATH AT PHILIPPI. CONVERSION AND BAPTISM OF LYDIA. A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION CAST OUT BY ST PAUL. ANGER OF THOSE WHO MADE GAIN THEREBY. PAUL AND SILAS ARE SEIZED, BROUGHT BEFORE THE A...

  • 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

    ΈΠΙΘΈΝΤΕΣ _aor. act. part. (temp.) от_ ΈΠΙΤΊΘΗΜΙ (G2007) класть, ΈΒΑΛΟΝ _aor. ind. act. от_ ΒΆΛΛΩ (G906) бросать, ΦΥΛΑΚΉ (G5438) место заключения, тюрьма. Человека заключали в тюрьму, пока его не до...

  • 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

    See notes on verse 22...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: AND WHEN THEY HAD LAID MANY STRIPES UPON THEM - the bleeding wounds from which w...

  • 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...

  • 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

    AND WHEN THEY HAD LAID MANY STRIPES UPON THEM. — The words imply a punishment of more than usual severity, such as would leave their backs lacerated and bleeding. So in 1 Thessalonians 2:2, St. Paul s...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    δεσμοφύλακι, Lucian, _Tox._, 30; Jos., _Ant._, ii., 5, 1, LXX ἀρχιδεσμοφύλαξ, Genesis 39:21-23; Genesis 40:3 A, Genesis 41:10 A (_cf._ the word ἀρχισωματοφύλαξ, Deissmann, _Neue Bibelstudien_, p. 93)....

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    WELCOMED; ATTESTED; IMPRISONED Acts 16:14 This was an epoch-making moment, but how quietly it is recorded. There was no heralding of the gospel which was to transform Europe. The need for it was uns...

  • 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...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    Paul and Silas Imprisoned Luke reported that the group went for prayer, possibly daily. A slave girl who was demon possessed followed them crying out, "These men are the servants of the Most High God,...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    After the demon has evacuated the damsel, she has no more power to tell fortunes and practice divination than any other person. Consequently, her owners, seeing that they can get no more money for her...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, (20) And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These...

  • 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

    − 23._That he should keep them safe. _Whereas the magistrates command that Paul and Silas should be kept so diligently, it was done to this end, that they might know more of the matter. For they had 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 THEY HAD LAID MANY STRIPES UPON THEM,.... Even above measure, as in 2 Corinthians 11:35. THEY CAST THEM INTO PRISON; designing doubtless to inflict some greater punishment upon them, after t...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast _them_ into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Ver. 23. _Laid many stripes_] These were those marks of the Lord Jesus which the...

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

    _And the multitude rose up against them_ Excited and inflamed by these accusations; _and the magistrates_ Or the pretors; _rent off their clothes_ That is, the clothes of Paul and Silas; for such was...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    AND WHEN THEY HAD LAID MANY STRIPES UPON THEM, THEY CAST THEM INTO PRISON, CHARGING THE JAILER TO KEEP THEM SAFELY;...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Paul and Silas imprisoned:...

  • 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 THEY HAD LAID MANY STRIPES ON THEM, THEY THREW _THEM_ INTO PRISON, COMMANDING THE JAILER TO KEEP THEM SECURELY. 1. Many stripes - The Jews were limited to 40 stripes and usually gave 39 so t...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    "And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely" "The Roman custom depended on the whims of the judge; it was. severe ordeal" (Boles...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    16-24 Satan, though the father of lies, will declare the most important truths, when he can thereby serve his purposes. But much mischief is done to the real servants of Christ, by unholy and false p...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    LAID MANY STRIPES UPON THEM; partly by the lictors or executioners, and partly by the furious rabble. THE JAILER; this jailer's name (of whose conversion we read hereafter) was Stephanas, as may appea...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 16:23 And G5037 laid G2007 (G5631) many G4183 stripes G4127 them G846 threw G906 (G5627) into...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And when they had laid many stripes on them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely, who, having received such a charge, cast them into the inner prison, and made their f...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT LEAD TO ADDITIONS TO THE CHURCH IN PHILIPPI (16:19-34). But the problem was that what he had done would hit at men's pockets. They did not care about the girl herself, they had...

  • 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...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    WHEN THEY HAD LAID (επιθεντες). Second aorist (constative) active participle of επιτιθημ, to place upon.MANY STRIPES (πολλας πληγας). The Jewish law was forty stripes save one (2 Corinthians 11:24...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Acts 16:9. _And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us._ Our dreams often follow the leading thoughts of...

  • 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

    AFTER A SEVERE BEATING. The Law of Moses regulated whipping (Deuteronomy 25:3; 2 Corinthians 11:24). Romans had no such restriction. THE INNER CELL. A damp cell, with no source of light, used for "sol...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone._ APOSTOLIC DUTY AND VICISSITUDES I. Christ’s servants will use whatever power they possess to set the slaves of Satan free. Paul did n...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _A certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination._ THE PYTHONESS The words, literally, are as in the margin, a spirit of Python, or, as some MSS. give it, a Python spirit. The Python was the s...

  • 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 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

    1 Samuel 23:22; 1 Samuel 23:23; 2 Timothy 2:9; Acts 12:18; Acts 12:4;...

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

    Prison. See on ch. verse 21....

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    They laid many stripes upon them — Either they did not immediately say they were Romans, or in the tumult it was not regarded. Charging the jailer — Perhaps rather to quiet the people than because the...

Continues after advertising

Old Testament