Acts 16 38

Acts 16:38 kjv

And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.

Acts 16:38 nkjv

And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans.

Acts 16:38 niv

The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed.

Acts 16:38 esv

The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens.

Acts 16:38 nlt

When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.

Acts 16 verses

Acts 16 38 Meaning

Acts 16:38 details the immediate reaction of the local officials, referred to as "magistrates" or "praetors," when they were informed of a critical detail about Paul and Silas. Upon hearing that Paul and Silas, whom they had publicly beaten and imprisoned without trial, were Roman citizens, the magistrates were overcome with intense fear. This fear stemmed from their grievous violation of Roman law, as such actions against Roman citizens were severely punishable offenses. The revelation completely altered the power dynamic and signaled a potential for dire personal consequences for the officials involved.

Acts 16 38 Context

Acts 16:38 takes place in Philippi, a prominent Roman colony. Paul and Silas, after converting Lydia and exorcising a spirit from a slave girl, faced public outrage from the slave girl's masters, who exploited her for profit. These masters dragged Paul and Silas before the "magistrates" (στρατηγοί, stratēgoi), falsely accusing them of disturbing the city and advocating unlawful customs, rather than acknowledging the true reason: the loss of their exploitative income. Without a proper trial, the magistrates, swayed by the crowd, ordered Paul and Silas to be beaten with rods (a punishment often associated with lictors, rhabdouchoi, who carried fasces containing rods) and imprisoned in the inner dungeon, their feet secured in stocks. This entire process violated the fundamental rights of any Roman citizen, who, by law, could not be beaten or condemned without a formal trial and proof of guilt. The severity of their mistreatment makes the revelation of their citizenship profoundly impactful and creates immense jeopardy for the magistrates involved, hence their terror.

Acts 16 38 Word analysis

• The police: While some translations like the ESV use "police" here, the Greek original, "οἱ δὲ ῥαβδοῦχοι" (hoi de rhabdouchoi), refers specifically to "lictors" or "sergeants." Lictors were Roman officials who served the magistrates, typically carrying fasces (bundles of rods with an axe) as symbols of authority, and executing punishments like flogging. They were the ones who carried out the earlier beating. This clarification is critical because the text clearly distinguishes between those who reported and those who were reported to.
• reported: "ἀπήγγειλαν" (apēngeilan) meaning "they announced" or "delivered a message." It implies conveying information of official importance.
• these words: "τοὺς λόγους τούτους" (tous logous toutous). This refers to the specific message from Paul and Silas mentioned in the previous verse: "They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now cast us out secretly?" (Acts 16:37).
• to the magistrates: "πρὸς τοὺς στρατηγοὺς" (pros tous stratēgous). Stratēgoi were the chief magistrates or praetors in a Roman colony, holding both administrative and judicial power. Their position in Philippi was analogous to Roman duumviri or praetores, high-ranking officials responsible for upholding Roman law.
• and they were terrified: "καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν" (kai ephobēthēsan). This Greek word indicates a strong, sudden, and overwhelming fear, beyond mere concern. Their fear was profound, stemming from the gravity of their transgression. They knew the potential repercussions of their unlawful actions against Roman citizens.
• when they heard: "ἀκούσαντες" (akousantes), indicating that the hearing of this news was the direct cause of their terror. The information instantly brought the weight of their error to bear.
• that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens: "ὅτι ἄνθρωποι Ῥωμαῖοι εἰσίν" (hoti anthrōpoi Rhōmaioi eisin). This is the pivotal detail. "Roman citizens" (cives Romani) held unique legal protections, including the Lex Valeria (no Roman citizen could be executed without appeal to the people) and the Lex Porcia (no Roman citizen could be scourged). Beating a Roman citizen was a grave offense, an act of maiestas (treason) or laesa maiestas (injured majesty of the Roman people), carrying severe penalties, potentially even execution for the offending magistrate. Their position, initially one of unchallenged authority, suddenly became one of extreme vulnerability before Roman imperial law.

• "The lictors reported... to the magistrates": This phrase highlights the chain of command and the official nature of the information. The lictors, directly involved in the beating, would have been aware of the legal implications and thus conveyed the information to their superiors, likely for their own protection as much as for due process.
• "they were terrified when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens": This entire phrase encapsulates the dramatic reversal of fortune and authority. From ordering severe punishment, the magistrates suddenly faced the prospect of severe punishment themselves. The privilege of Roman citizenship, unexpectedly wielded, completely altered the power dynamic. It underlines the strategic and often surprising way God worked through Paul's civic identity.

Acts 16 38 Bonus section

The event at Philippi profoundly shaped the early Christian community there. Paul’s use of his Roman citizenship was not merely for personal gain or revenge, but a strategic act. By insisting on a public escort out of prison by the magistrates, he was essentially demanding public recognition of their innocence and the magistrates' wrong. This public apology protected the fledgling Christian community in Philippi, giving them legitimacy in the eyes of the public and authorities, and preventing future accusations of supporting criminals. Had Paul and Silas quietly left, the stigma of being "criminals" could have made evangelism far more difficult. This act reflects a balanced approach: relying on divine protection while also utilizing legal and civil rights strategically for the advancement of the gospel and the protection of believers, exemplifying wisdom and discernment in ministry. This respect for lawful civic rights by God's servants can also set an example for Christians operating within their own civic societies.

Acts 16 38 Commentary

Acts 16:38 provides a powerful demonstration of the unexpected leverage available to Paul through his Roman citizenship and the respect for Roman law, even among pagan magistrates. The terror experienced by the magistrates was not from any immediate threat from Paul, but from the potential legal ramifications imposed by their own imperial system. They had publicly dishonored Roman law by beating and imprisoning Roman citizens without trial, an act that could lead to severe penalties including heavy fines, loss of office, or even execution, if higher Roman authorities pursued the matter. This incident highlights the robust protection afforded by Roman citizenship and subtly affirms that even secular authorities operate under a system of justice, which can sometimes be aligned with protecting God's servants. Paul, rather than retaliating with divine power or directly condemning them, used the legal framework of their society to secure not just his own release, but a public acknowledgment of their error, aiming to facilitate the church's peace and mission in Philippi.