Acts 16 36

Acts 16:36 kjv

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.

Acts 16:36 nkjv

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."

Acts 16:36 niv

The jailer told Paul, "The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace."

Acts 16:36 esv

And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace."

Acts 16:36 nlt

So the jailer told Paul, "The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace."

Acts 16 verses

Acts 16 36 Meaning

Acts 16:36 reports the jailer relaying a message from the Philippian magistrates to Paul and Silas. This message is an urgent command for their immediate release and peaceful departure, indicating a significant and sudden reversal of the authorities' stance following the previous night's miraculous events and the discovery of the prisoners' Roman citizenship. The authorities desire a swift and quiet resolution to avoid further complications and legal repercussions for their unlawful actions.

Acts 16 36 Context

Acts chapter 16 details Paul's second missionary journey into Macedonia, establishing the first church in Europe. In Philippi, after Lydia's conversion, Paul casts out a demon from a slave girl who was used for divination, incurring the wrath of her owners. Paul and Silas are illegally beaten with rods and imprisoned without trial by the city's magistrates. In the middle of the night, a miraculous earthquake shakes the prison, opening the doors and loosening chains. This leads to the conversion of the jailer and his household. Verse 36 directly follows these supernatural events and precedes Paul's disclosure of his Roman citizenship, which explains the magistrates' immediate and fearful desire for a quiet release, rectifying their unlawful treatment of Roman citizens. The magistrates' hasty action contrasts sharply with their earlier unjust violence.

Acts 16 36 Word analysis

• The jailer (ὁ δεσμοφύλαξ - ho desmophylax): This refers to the man who was in charge of the prison, recently converted to Christianity along with his entire household after witnessing God's miraculous intervention. His change in demeanor from fear and despair (v.27-34) to obedience and respectful relaying of the magistrates' message signifies his spiritual transformation and newfound loyalty.
• reported these words (ἀπήγγειλεν τοὺς λόγους τούτους - apēngeilen tous logous toutous): Signifies that the jailer is conveying a direct and authoritative message, not his own opinion. The Greek apēngeilen means to announce or report, emphasizing the official nature of the communication.
• to Paul (τῷ Παύλῳ - tō Paulō): Paul is specifically addressed as the primary figure among the prisoners, likely due to his role in the previous night's events and possibly his known leadership.
• saying (λέγων - legōn): Introduces the direct speech of the magistrates via the jailer.
• The magistrates (οἱ στρατηγοί - hoi stratēgoi): These were the two chief Roman civic officials (duumvirs or praetors) in Philippi, a Roman colony. They held significant legal and executive authority, having previously ordered Paul and Silas to be beaten and imprisoned without due process. Their authority is absolute in their domain, yet they are now responding to an unseen pressure.
• have sent (ἀπέσταλκαν - apestalkan): Indicates a definite and completed action, signifying an official dispatch or instruction from the magistrates. It shows initiative and a clear directive from their office.
• to let you go (ἵνα ἀπολύσητε - hina apolysēte): The verb apolyō means to release, dismiss, or set free. The phrase conveys an imperative, an urgent command for their release. It directly retracts their previous order for imprisonment.
• Therefore (νῦν οὖν - nyn oun): This conjunction highlights the immediate consequence and logical conclusion of the magistrates' decision. It marks a swift turn of events.
• come out now (ἐξελθόντες - exelthontes): An urgent command to exit the prison immediately. The suddenness emphasizes the magistrates' desire to resolve the situation without delay.
• and go in peace (καὶ πορεύεσθε ἐν εἰρήνῃ - kai poreuesthe en eirēnē): A conventional parting greeting or blessing (Luke 7:50), but in this context, it carries an undercurrent of official urgency. While seemingly a benign farewell, it strongly implies a desire for Paul and Silas to leave quietly, without causing any further disturbance or drawing more attention to the magistrates' prior unlawful actions. It's less about true blessing and more about a peaceful, discreet departure to avoid public and Roman legal scrutiny.

• "The jailer reported these words to Paul": This phrase marks a significant shift. The jailer, previously the instrument of the magistrates' harshness, now acts as a messenger for their capitulation. His conversion and new faith manifest in his dutiful, almost respectful, relaying of their changed orders.
• "The magistrates have sent to let you go": This signals a formal, official directive from the highest local authority. Their sending of a message rather than directly appearing reflects their status, but also their desire to keep a low profile about their error. The "let you go" is an implicit acknowledgment of their wrongful detention.
• "Therefore come out now and go in peace": This combined phrase conveys the magistrates' haste and anxiety. "Now" emphasizes immediacy, while "go in peace" isn't merely a polite blessing but a fervent plea for quiet, non-confrontational departure. It's a wish for the matter to be closed without further incident, minimizing potential Roman legal repercussions for mistreating citizens.

Acts 16 36 Bonus section

The immediate motivation for the magistrates' rapid decision to release Paul and Silas, while already implied by the miraculous events of the previous night, becomes fully evident in the following verse (Acts 16:37), where Paul explicitly states his Roman citizenship. For Roman magistrates in a Roman colony like Philippi to have a Roman citizen flogged without trial was a serious violation of Roman law, punishable by severe penalties. Therefore, the magistrates' dispatch of the jailer to ask Paul and Silas to "come out now and go in peace" was a desperate attempt to swiftly and quietly resolve a grave error that could lead to their own impeachment or severe punishment from higher Roman authorities. Their concern was not justice, but self-preservation, implicitly acknowledging their fear of Roman justice for their unjust acts against Paul and Silas. This highlights how God can use even the secular legal systems and personal fears of authorities to protect and advance His purposes for His servants.

Acts 16 36 Commentary

Acts 16:36 represents a climactic moment of divine vindication and reversal. The magistrates, who acted with unbridled authority and injustice by ordering the illegal beating and imprisonment of Paul and Silas, now find themselves compelled to urgently request their release. This drastic change is fueled by two primary factors: the undeniable power of God displayed in the earthquake, which disrupted their secure prison and likely terrified them, and the later-revealed Roman citizenship of Paul and Silas, which made their previous actions a grave legal offense. "Go in peace" serves not as a genuine benediction but as an anxious plea for discretion. It highlights the stark contrast between human authority, prone to error and injustice, and God's sovereignty, which can humble the proud and secure the freedom of His servants. It demonstrates how God turns evil for good, not only delivering His people but also using the very instruments of their persecution to facilitate their mission. Practically, this verse illustrates that when we align with God's will, even powerful human systems can be divinely moved to provide our release and open doors for future service.