Keraia
Acts 16

Acts 16:37

An Official Apology · Acts 16:35–40
Read Acts 16

Translations

Modern
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!”
Traditional
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.
Literal
But Paul was saying to them, “Having beaten us publicly, uncondemned men being Romans, they cast us into prison, and now do they throw us out secretly? No indeed! Rather, having come themselves, let them bring us out.”
Latin
Paulus autem dixit eis: Cæsos nos publice, indemnatos homines Romanos, miserunt in carcerem: et nunc occulte nos ejiciunt? Non ita: sed veniant,

Original

Greek
English
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!”

Notes

Acts 16:37–39

  • Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, so it was illegal to beat and imprison them (16:22–24). When the city officials learned this, they were understandably alarmed because they had broken Roman law.

  • Let them come themselves and escort us out!: Paul used his rights as a Roman citizen to save his reputation and protect the Christian message from receiving a bad name. Luke wanted to show that Christianity should have the same status as Judaism in the Roman Empire as a legal religion.

    The Christian faith was not at odds with Roman citizenship. It was important to note that Paul used his rights as a Roman citizen. He was willing to use his privileges as a citizen to promote Christianity in a hostile world (comparing 22:25–27).

Theme notes and profiles

Paul (Saul) Philippi Rome Giving up Rights

Events

People

Paul: Apostle to the Gentiles, author of many NT epistles

Places

Rome: Capital city of the Roman Empire

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Book of the Acts of the Apostles Chronology of the Bible (New Testament) Cilicia Courts and Trials Criminal Law and Punishment Lydia (Person) Macedonia Magistrate Paul the Apostle Philippi Thyatira Travel

Topics

Beating: As a Punishment Christian Minister: Persecution: Paul Citizens: Rights of Criminals: Confined in Prisons God: Preserver: Paul and Silas Paul is Released by the Civil Authorities on the Grounds of his Being a Roman Citizen Paul: A Roman Citizen Philippi: Paul Preaches In Prisoners: Paul Prisoners: Silas Reproof: Faithfulness in Paul and Silas, of the Magistrates of Philippi Roman Empire: The Rights of Citizens Select Readings: Paul and Silas in Prison Silas: Imprisoned with Paul in Philippi The Roman Empire: Allusions to Citizenship of Exempted from the Degradation Scourging Trial: The Right of