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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 16:38 mean?

Explanation

This passage from the Book of Acts provides an account of how the municipal magistrates reacted when they learned that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.

Earlier in the chapter, Paul and Silas, two Christian missionaries, are arrested in Philippi after Paul exorcised a spirit from a slave girl, causing economic loss to her owners and sparking a commotion.

They are beaten and imprisoned without a trial.

This violates their rights as Roman citizens, who were legally entitled to a fair trial before punishment.

When the officials are informed that they have illegally beaten and detained Roman citizens, they are afraid because they realize they have committed a serious offense that could have severe repercussions for them under Roman law.

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Historical Context

At the time when the Book of Acts was written, the Roman Empire had a complex set of legal protections for its citizens.

Citizenship carried with it important privileges, including the right to a trial and protection from summary punishment.

Paul, being a Roman citizen, should not have been subjected to such treatment without a trial.

Philippi, where the events take place, was a Roman colony in Macedonia and many inhabitants would have been Roman citizens or familiar with Roman laws and customs.

The officials' fear upon learning Paul and Silas's status indicates their immediate understanding of the gravity of their legal transgression.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse demonstrates divine providence in protecting God's messengers. Throughout the Book of Acts, Luke repeatedly tells of God intervening to aid Paul and his companions in spreading the Gospel.

From a Christian point of view, the fact that Paul was a Roman citizen is seen as part of God's plan, as it provided him with the legal status needed to navigate and challenge the injustices of the times.

Practical Applications

Practically, this verse stresses the importance of justice and fair treatment under the law.

It invites reflection on the rights of individuals and the due process that should be extended to all, regardless of their status.

It serves as a reminder to respect legal rights and the value of standing up for one’s lawful protections.

Cross-References

Acts 22:25-29 - Paul asserts his rights as a Roman citizen to avoid being flogged.
Acts 25:10-11 - Paul appeals to Caesar as part of his rights as a Roman citizen when faced with an unfair trial.
Acts 23:27 - This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

Language Study

The term "Roman" refers to "Ῥωμαῖος" in Greek, meaning an individual from Rome or a citizen of the Roman Empire. The rights associated with being a "Ῥωμαῖος" were significant and held considerable weight in legal and social contexts during that period.

The term "serjeants," referring to the officers who reported to the magistrates, is a translation of the Greek word "ῥαβδοῦχοι," which literally means "rod-bearers" or "lictors," indicating their role as enforcers of law and order.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of citizenship and its privileges can be compared across various ancient civilizations. Similar to Roman citizenship, in ancient Greece, being a citizen of a city-state like Athens conferred certain rights and responsibilities.

However, the uniqueness of Roman citizenship was in its spread across a vast empire and its provision even for those not residing in Rome.

This universality has no direct parallel in other ancient religions or myths but can be compared to the notion of belonging and privileges within a community or group.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, the verse does not touch on scientific concepts directly.

However, the understanding of human behavior in response to fear and perceived threats, as exhibited by the magistrates, is a topic explored within psychology. Fear of punishment or retribution can significantly alter decision-making processes and behaviors in individuals and groups.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars such as F.F.

Bruce note that Roman citizenship was a valuable asset, and the officials’ reaction in Acts 16:38 is indicative of their awareness of the potential consequences they faced for violating the rights of Paul and Silas.

John Calvin comments on the passage, highlighting the irony that God uses the secular law and Roman civil rights to safeguard His servants and ensure the spread of the Gospel.

These commentaries tend to point to the convergence of legal, social, and divine elements at play in this narrative.

Acts 16

Acts 16

What does Acts 16:38 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 16:38 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?