Acts 16 22

Acts 16:22 kjv

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

Acts 16:22 nkjv

Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods.

Acts 16:22 niv

The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.

Acts 16:22 esv

The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.

Acts 16:22 nlt

A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods.

Acts 16 verses

Acts 16 22 Meaning

The crowd united against Paul and Silas. They spontaneously tore their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. The magistrates ordered them to be thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them securely. This signifies a public and official condemnation and harsh mistreatment based on accusations of disturbing the city and promoting customs unlawful for Romans.

Acts 16 22 Context

This verse occurs during Paul and Silas' second missionary journey. They are in Philippi, a Roman colony in Macedonia. Having cast out a spirit of divination from a slave girl, their source of income is threatened. This leads to a riot incited by the girl's owners. The accusation before the magistrates is that Paul and Silas are Jews who are agitating the city and promoting Jewish customs which were often viewed with suspicion by Romans, and particularly those deemed unlawful. The specific mention of "customs" likely refers to their monotheistic worship and proclamation of Jesus as Christ, which was contrary to Roman pagan practices.

Acts 16 22 Word Analysis

• "But" (δὲ - de): A conjunction indicating a turn in the narrative or a contrast. Here, it contrasts the inaction of Paul and Silas with the violent action of the crowd.
• "the crowd" (τὸ πλῆθος - to plēthos): The multitude, a large assembly. It signifies the spontaneous and collective uprising of the people.
• "rose up together against them" (συνηγέρθη κατ' αὐτῶν - synēgerthē kat' autōn): Literally "rose up together against them." It conveys a united and sudden opposition from the masses. This is an aorist passive verb, showing the crowd acted as one, propelled by the instigators.
• "the magistrates" (οἱ ἀνθυπατεύοντες - hoi anthypateuontes): The chief magistrates or rulers. In Philippi, a Roman colony, these were likely duovirs. The verb they are performing the action is understood.
• "tore their clothes" (διαρρήξαντες τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτῶν - diarrēxantes ta himatia autōn): The action of ripping garments signifies extreme agitation, anger, and sometimes a gesture of grief or a demonstration of outrage, often meant to provoke a reaction.
• "ordered" (ἐκέλευσαν - ekeleusan): Imperative command.
• "to beat" (ῥαβδίζειν - rhabdizein): To beat with rods or staves. This was a severe form of punishment, particularly within Roman jurisdiction, often inflicted without trial.
• "them" (αὐτοὺς - autous): Refers to Paul and Silas.
• "commanded" (προσέταξεν - prosetaxen): Issued an order or directive. This refers to the specific instruction given to the jailer.
• "to cast" (βάλλειν - ballein): To throw, to cast into.
• "them" (αὐτοὺς - autous): Paul and Silas.
• "into prison" (εἰς τὴν φυλακὴν - eis tēn phylakēn): Into the jail or prison.
• "the jailer" (τὸν δεσμοφύλακα - ton desmophylaka): The jailer or prison keeper.
• "to keep them safely" (τῇρῖν αὐτοὺς ἀσφαλῶς - tērē autous asphalōs): To guard or keep them securely and with extreme caution.

Phrase/Passage Analysis:

• "rose up together against them, the magistrates tore their clothes": This combination shows the initial mob action followed by a seemingly official, albeit perhaps staged or reactive, demonstration of outrage by the magistrates, amplified by the tearing of clothes to signal the seriousness of the perceived offense and to satisfy the crowd.
• "ordered them to be beaten with rods, and commanded to cast them into prison": The repetition of a strong command highlights the decisive and immediate action taken against Paul and Silas, emphasizing the severity of the punishment and the magistrates' intent to placate the mob and suppress their activities.
• "the jailer to keep them safely": This directive to the jailer underlines the perceived danger Paul and Silas represented to the social order, requiring extreme measures for their containment.

Acts 16 22 Bonus Section

The action of tearing clothes, while an expression of strong emotion, also served a judicial function in ancient societies, signaling a violation of profound social or religious norms and calling for an authoritative response. The instruction for "safe" keeping suggests that Paul and Silas were viewed as not just ordinary criminals but potentially dangerous individuals or persons of consequence who needed strict oversight. This harsh treatment, however, paved the way for the conversion of the jailer and his household, a theme often seen in Acts where persecution leads to the advancement of the Gospel.

Acts 16 22 Commentary

The public outrage and subsequent mistreatment demonstrate the immediate opposition the early Gospel faced from both the populace and civic authorities when it threatened existing power structures or traditions. The accusations of disturbing the city and teaching unlawful customs were common tactics used against early Christians. The physical assault and imprisonment, carried out without proper legal examination, reflect a swift and harsh judgment, motivated by economic self-interest of some (the slave owners) and fear of Roman displeasure on the part of the authorities. Paul and Silas' suffering here is a vivid illustration of Jesus' warning that his followers would be persecuted.