Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Publicly vindicated

³⁵ When day broke, the magistrates sent their officers with the message, “Let those men go.” ³⁶ The jailer passed on what they said to Paul.

“The magistrates have sent word that you should be released,” he said. “So now you can leave and go in peace.”

³⁷ But Paul objected.

“We are Roman citizens!” he said. “They beat us in public without a trial, they threw us into prison, and now they are sending us away secretly? No way! Let them come themselves and take us out.”

³⁸ The officers reported these words to the magistrates. When they heard that they were Roman citizens, they were afraid. ³⁹ They went and apologized, brought them out of the prison, and requested that they leave the city. ⁴⁰ So when they had left the prison they went to Lydia’s house. There they saw and encouraged the brothers and sisters, and then they went on their way.