Acts 16:37
But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
Paul and Silas had been beaten in public and thrown into prison at Philippi without any trial or condemnation, even though they were Roman citizens. That scourging and imprisonment was unlawful, since Roman law protected citizens from being scourged or deprived of liberty without a fair trial and condemnation. Paul therefore refused to be released secretly and insisted that the magistrates come themselves and lead them out openly. He required them to expose and acknowledge their unjust and illegal action, so that the innocence of the apostles would be made clear and the dignity of Christ's church upheld. Leaving quietly would have made them appear guilty and hidden God's power, but the public vindication strengthened the converts, checked unlawful treatment, and spread knowledge of their ministry and deliverance.
Setting and Unlawful Punishment
The verse belongs to the imperative call to carry the gospel beyond Asia Minor into Europe, beginning with the Macedonian vision at Troas. That vision was followed at once by the journey with Silas, Timothy and Luke by way of Samothracia and Neapolis to Philippi, the chief city of that part of Macedonia, a colony, where the Lord had called them to preach.
At Philippi Paul and Silas had been beaten openly and cast into prison without trial, hearing, or condemnation, despite being Romans. The beating was public, and the imprisonment followed without any lawful hearing of their case. Roman law protected citizens from scourging and imprisonment without a fair trial and condemnation, and forbade scourging a citizen except for a grave crime. Their scourging and deprivation of liberty were therefore unlawful and contrary to law.
The magistrates recognized that they might have punished innocent men under Roman law. They planned to release Paul and Silas quietly and secretly.
Demanding Public Vindication
When the officers came with orders to let them go quietly, Paul refused a secret, private dismissal and insisted that the magistrates themselves come in person and escort him and his companions out publicly. Having been beaten openly without trial, hearing, or condemnation despite being Romans, he would not leave the prison by stealth but required those who had punished them to release them openly. He required the magistrates to acknowledge and expose their unjust and illegal treatment, making the innocence of the apostles and the injustice clear rather than leaving it unacknowledged or concealed. His stand in demanding that public accounting upheld the dignity of Christ's church.
Refusing to slip away secretly prevented their departure from appearing to confirm that they were criminals. Refusing to escape when the earthquake opened the prison likewise avoided making them appear guilty and bringing a bad name on the gospel. Public release kept the public manifestation of God's power from being concealed. The authorities apologized and complied by leading them from the prison, fearing a complaint to the emperor and the apostles' influence. In prison Paul kept the other prisoners from escaping as well, protecting the jailer from death; this conduct displayed courage, self-control, nobility, generosity, and concern for the jailer.
The public injustice and miraculous deliverance became widely known, bringing attention to the apostles and their ministry to many people. Their restraint and public vindication strengthened the converts, checked unlawful treatment, and advanced the gospel's witness. That deliverance led officers in the emperor's service to be converted.