Acts 16:35-39

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-doors, which had changed their opinion of Paul and Silas; sent the sergeants Ραβδουχους, the rod-bearers, or lictors; saying To the jailer; Let these men go How different from the charge given a few hours before, and how great an ease to the mind of the jailer! And the keeper told this saying to Paul Being glad that he might release them; adding, Now therefore depart, and go in peace He does not say this as being desirous to be rid of them, but showing that they were at full liberty to go whenever they pleased, to preach the gospel and fulfil their ministry. But Paul said Judging it proper to animadvert on the manner in which they had been used; They have beaten us openly, uncondemned, being Romans Free citizens, as well as themselves; and now they thrust us out privily Without making us any reparation for the injury they have done us. Nay, verily, but let them come themselves and fetch us out And, by their dismissing us openly, let them show the people that they imprisoned us unjustly. Paul does not always plead this privilege of being a Roman; but in a country where they were entire strangers, such treatment, if suffered without animadversion, might have brought upon them a suspicion of their having been guilty of some uncommon crime; and so have hindered the success of the gospel. Now when the pretors heard that they were Romans, they were afraid of being called to an account for their conduct toward them, well knowing that even to have torn the garments of a citizen, and much more to have scourged him, especially thus publicly, and without hearing his defence, was a crime which might have exposed them to very high penalties, if the person injured had entered a complaint against them in the legal forms. They came Therefore, in their own persons, to the prison where Paul and Silas were, and besought them Not to resent the injury that had been done them, or, as the word παρεκαλεσαν, here rendered besought, is rendered in the next verse, they comforted them, namely, by acknowledging their innocence, and commending the patience and fortitude with which they had borne the punishment so rashly inflicted upon them, as well as by other kind and conciliating speeches. And brought them out With the most respectful treatment; and desired them to depart out of the city With all convenient speed, to prevent any of those popular tumults which might be the consequence of their longer abode in it.