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Acts 16

Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:

Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.

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.

And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;

And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.

And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

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,

And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.

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.

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.

And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.

And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.

And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

What does Acts 16:37 mean?

Explanation

Acts 16:37 depicts a moment where the Apostle Paul invokes his rights as a Roman citizen.

After being beaten and imprisoned without a trial, Paul and Silas (although Silas is not mentioned in this verse) are to be released quietly.

Paul, however, protests, reasoning that since they were publicly humiliated, they should not be secretly released.

The deeper meaning here can be seen as a statement on justice and dignity; Paul asserts that they deserve a public exoneration as they were unjustly treated, and as Roman citizens they had specific legal protections that were ignored.

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Historical Context

Acts 16:37 occurs during Paul's second missionary journey, a time when the Roman Empire is in power and citizenship carries significant legal privileges.

The incident took place in Philippi, a Roman colony in Macedonia founded by the emperor Augustus.

In the Roman Empire, the mistreatment of citizens without a proper trial was a serious violation of their laws.

Paul's assertion of his rights is a challenge to local authorities, demanding that they acknowledge their breach of Roman law and rectifying it.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, Acts 16:37 demonstrates the divine guidance in Paul's ministry.

Some theologians point out that by asserting his rights, Paul sets a precedent for Christians to seek justice and use legal means available to them without compromising their faith.

It also shows that God can use even seemingly dire circumstances, such as wrongful imprisonment, to forward His purposes.

Practical Applications

This verse can inspire believers to stand up for their rights and dignity within the bounds of the law. It can also be a reminder to seek justice not only for oneself but also for others who may be mistreated.

Furthermore, it teaches that individuals should not accept exploitation or wrongful treatment passively, especially if they have the means to challenge it lawfully.

Cross-References

Acts 22:25-29: Paul again asserts his Roman citizenship to avoid being flogged.
Acts 25:10-11: Paul appeals to Caesar, again showing his knowledge and use of his Roman citizen rights.

Language Study

The key phrase in the original Greek manuscript is "Ρωμαῖοί, ὄντες", translating to "being Romans", which emphasizes their status.

The word "uncondemned" is from the Greek "ἀκατάκριτοι", which implies that their punishment occurred without a legal conviction, an important detail highlighting the injustice they faced.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparatively, Roman law was supposed to provide a significant level of protection to its citizens, unlike some other ancient legal systems.

This expectation of legal recourse echoes across other ancient cultures which had systems of patronage and legal rights, although the specifics of these protections could vary greatly.

Scientific Perspectives

The scientific community typically does not delve into scriptural events for empirical analysis.

However, insights into the psychological impact of public shaming and imprisonment on individuals and communities have been studied, lending understanding to the significance of Paul's insistence on a public release rather than a private one.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and commentaries focus on Paul's strategic use of Roman law to secure justice.

The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary notes that Paul's refusal to leave quietly can be seen as a protective gesture for the young Christian church in Philippi, ensuring that the authorities would not harass them after he left.

The Matthew Henry Commentary points out the implications of their Roman citizenship that brought them an apology from the magistrates and a request for them to leave the city peacefully, displaying the power and privilege that came with such status in the Roman Empire.

Acts 16

Acts 16

What does Acts 16:37 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 16:37 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?