Paul Refuses to Depart Secretly

35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the [a]officers, saying, “Let those men go.”

36 So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.”

37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned (A)Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”

38 And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. 39 Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and (B)asked them to depart from the city. 40 So they went out of the prison (C)and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 16:35 lictors, lit. rod bearers

35 But when it was day, the [a]magistrates sent the [b]serjeants, saying, Let those men go. 36 And the jailor reported the words to Paul, saying, The [c]magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore come forth, and go in peace. 37 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Romans, and have cast us into prison; and do they now cast us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and bring us out. 38 And the [d]serjeants reported these words unto the [e]magistrates: and they feared when they heard that they were Romans; 39 and they came and besought them; and when they had brought them out, they asked them to go away from the city. 40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they [f]comforted them, and departed.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 16:35 Greek praetors. See verse 20.
  2. Acts 16:35 Greek lictors.
  3. Acts 16:36 Greek praetors. See verse 20.
  4. Acts 16:38 Greek lictors.
  5. Acts 16:38 Greek praetors. See verse 20.
  6. Acts 16:40 Or, exhorted