Acts 16:36, commentary and pictures

The jailer passed on to Paul the magistrates' morning order to free him and Silas and to leave and go in peace. The order followed the night earthquake that terrified the city, and the rulers were alarmed to learn they had beaten and imprisoned Roman citizens without trial. Paul refused a secret dismissal and required the magistrates themselves to come and openly correct the unlawful treatment. The magistrates then came in person, apologized for their injustice, led the apostles out of prison, and asked them to leave the city. The apostles agreed to go rather than stay where they were not wanted, yet they did not hurry away but first met with the new believers at Lydia's house.

Mission Reaches Philippi

The verse belongs to the journey of Paul with Silas, Timothy and Luke from Troas by way of Samothracia and Neapolis to Philippi, chief city of that part of Macedonia, to preach the gospel in Europe. It belongs to the carrying of the proclamation of the gospel beyond Asia Minor into Europe by Paul and his fellow workers. That advance was prepared by the night vision at Troas on the borders of the Mediterranean Sea, in which a man of Macedonia appeared asking for help. It belongs also to the account of the deliverance of Paul and Silas from prison, whose release became a means through which people employed in Caesar's household were converted.

Magistrates Order Release

The keeper of the prison relayed to Paul the magistrates' order that he and Silas be released, that they should depart and go in peace. The message sent through the jailer was that the magistrates had sent word to let them go and to leave peacefully. The order was given at Philippi in the morning after the prison officers reported what had happened in the night with the earthquake, and it was carried by sergeants to the jailer. The citizens were greatly terrified and the magistrates were alarmed when that report came.

The magistrates decided on release after learning more about the men and seeing the woman freed from demonic influence now peaceful and in her right mind. Having seen that change they realized they might have punished innocent men under Roman law, and ordered their release the next morning with an escort to carry them safely out of the city away from danger of the mob. The rulers were further alarmed when they learned the apostles were Roman citizens who had been beaten and imprisoned unlawfully without trial. That unlawful beating and imprisonment of Roman citizens gave gravity to the injustice and called for acknowledgment.

The magistrates urged their departure because they feared the apostles' influence and the power of Heaven that had intervened for them in their deliverance. They planned a private release with an escort out of the city to protect them from mob violence. That escort was meant to bring them safely out of the city and shield them from renewed violence.

Vindication and Departure

The jailer passed on the magistrates' order that Paul and Silas were released and should depart and go in peace, the message sent after the earthquake in the night. Paul refused a secret departure and required the magistrates themselves to come and bring them out publicly. They had beaten and imprisoned Roman citizens without trial, and the rulers were alarmed when they learned this unlawful treatment. His insistence was that their unlawful dealing be acknowledged and corrected and that the manifestation of God's power not be concealed, so that release came by public redress rather than quiet dismissal.

The magistrates then came in person to the prison, apologized for their unjust and unlawful treatment, and personally escorted the apostles out. In doing so they acknowledged the injustice done and the seriousness of having unlawfully beaten and imprisoned Roman citizens. They asked them to leave the city, urging their departure because they feared the apostles' influence and the power of Heaven that had intervened for them in their deliverance.

The apostles agreed to leave and complied with the request to go. In this they followed Christ's principles by not insisting on staying where they were not wanted. Yet they did not rush away, but first went to Lydia's house to meet the new believers and tell them what God had done.