And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
The magistrates became afraid and alarmed when they learned that the two men they had publicly beaten and imprisoned without a fair trial were Roman citizens. Such scourging and imprisonment without a public hearing was unlawful for Roman citizens, showing how serious their violation of their rights had been. They feared the apostles might complain to the emperor about their unlawful treatment, which could cost them their positions. They therefore came themselves with an apology, brought them out of prison and escorted them out, asking them to leave the city. Although the apostles could have appealed to a higher authority against them, they chose generous forbearance, and the unjust imprisonment and miraculous deliverance brought their ministry to many people.
Setting and Magistrates' Fear
This moment belongs to the advance of the gospel beyond the confines of Asia Minor into Europe, an advance prepared at Troas on the borders of the Mediterranean Sea when the night vision of a man of Macedonia pleading for help opened the way for Paul and his fellow workers to cross over. Before they learned the citizenship of their prisoners, the magistrates had already decided to release the two men privately and escort them safely out of the city, having come to realize they might have punished innocent men under Roman law.
When the officers carried back word that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, the magistrates became afraid and alarmed, for they had ordered them publicly beaten and then imprisoned without a fair trial or public hearing. Their fear was well grounded, because to scourge Roman citizens or imprison them without a fair trial was unlawful, and this violation of their rights was a serious offense.
The magistrates dreaded that the apostles would complain to the emperor about being beaten publicly and imprisoned without trial, a complaint that could cost them their positions. Along with that legal danger they also feared the apostles' growing influence among the people and the heavenly power that had so manifestly intervened to protect them.
Release and Wider Influence
When the magistrates learned that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they became afraid and alarmed after having had them beaten publicly and cast into prison without a public hearing or trial. They feared the apostles might complain to the emperor about this unlawful treatment, which could cost them their positions. They then apologized, came themselves to the prisoners, brought them out and escorted them from the prison, asking them to leave the city. Although the apostles could have appealed to a higher authority against the magistrates, they chose generous forbearance.
The verse belongs to the account of unjust imprisonment and miraculous deliverance at Philippi. News of their treatment and deliverance brought their ministry to many people. The extraordinary events of that prison episode led officers in the emperor's service to become Christians.
The magistrates became afraid and alarmed when they learned that the two men they had publicly beaten and imprisoned without a fair trial were Roman citizens. Such scourging and imprisonment without a public hearing was unlawful for Roman citizens, showing how serious their violation of their rights had been. They feared the apostles might complain to the emperor about their unlawful treatment, which could cost them their positions. They therefore came themselves with an apology, brought them out of prison and escorted them out, asking them to leave the city. Although the apostles could have appealed to a higher authority against them, they chose generous forbearance, and the unjust imprisonment and miraculous deliverance brought their ministry to many people.
Setting and Magistrates' Fear
This moment belongs to the advance of the gospel beyond the confines of Asia Minor into Europe, an advance prepared at Troas on the borders of the Mediterranean Sea when the night vision of a man of Macedonia pleading for help opened the way for Paul and his fellow workers to cross over. Before they learned the citizenship of their prisoners, the magistrates had already decided to release the two men privately and escort them safely out of the city, having come to realize they might have punished innocent men under Roman law.
When the officers carried back word that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, the magistrates became afraid and alarmed, for they had ordered them publicly beaten and then imprisoned without a fair trial or public hearing. Their fear was well grounded, because to scourge Roman citizens or imprison them without a fair trial was unlawful, and this violation of their rights was a serious offense.
The magistrates dreaded that the apostles would complain to the emperor about being beaten publicly and imprisoned without trial, a complaint that could cost them their positions. Along with that legal danger they also feared the apostles' growing influence among the people and the heavenly power that had so manifestly intervened to protect them.
Release and Wider Influence
When the magistrates learned that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they became afraid and alarmed after having had them beaten publicly and cast into prison without a public hearing or trial. They feared the apostles might complain to the emperor about this unlawful treatment, which could cost them their positions. They then apologized, came themselves to the prisoners, brought them out and escorted them from the prison, asking them to leave the city. Although the apostles could have appealed to a higher authority against the magistrates, they chose generous forbearance.
The verse belongs to the account of unjust imprisonment and miraculous deliverance at Philippi. News of their treatment and deliverance brought their ministry to many people. The extraordinary events of that prison episode led officers in the emperor's service to become Christians.