And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
After Paul exposed their unlawful public beating and imprisonment of Roman citizens without trial, the magistrates came themselves to apologize and plead, and openly brought the apostles out of prison rather than hiding the wrong and God's display of power. They begged them to leave Philippi because they feared their influence among the people and the power of Heaven that had intervened for them. They also feared punishment for their injustice if the apostles complained to the emperor and cost them their offices. The apostles agreed to go, in keeping with Christ's principles of not forcing their presence where unwelcome, while being escorted safely beyond the danger of mob violence. They did not depart in haste but first went to Lydia's house to tell the new believers how God had acted and to encourage them, which preserved the good name of the gospel.
Historical Setting in Philippi
Acts 16:39 belongs to the proclamation of the gospel beyond Asia Minor into Europe. The advance began with Paul's night vision at Troas of a man of Macedonia asking for help. Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke responded at once, sailing with a straight course to Samothracia, then on to Neapolis, then to Philippi, the chief city of that part of Macedonia and a colony.
It belongs also to the unjust imprisonment and miraculous release in Philippi. When the prison doors opened the apostles showed restraint by remaining, and by their care for the jailer they revealed the spirit of Christ to the Philippians. Those events drew attention to their ministry and strengthened the converts. The extraordinary circumstances surrounding their deliverance led even people employed in Caesar's service to be converted.
Magistrates Plea and Departure
When the magistrates learned that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens who had been publicly beaten and imprisoned without trial, and when Paul challenged that unlawful treatment, they came to the prison in person to apologize and plead, and they brought the apostles out and escorted them out themselves. By coming themselves their apology and release were made public, rather than concealing both their own wrongful treatment and the display of God's power on behalf of His servants in their distress. They begged and urged the apostles to depart from the city and leave Philippi, for they feared the apostles' influence among the people and the power of Heaven that had intervened and defended them. Their urging also sprang from fear of the legal consequences of their injustice, lest the apostles complain and cost them their positions, even complaint to the emperor.
In asking them to leave they had decided to release them and to escort them safely beyond the danger of mob violence. The apostles complied, in keeping with Christ's principles, by not insisting on remaining or forcing their presence where they were unwelcome. Yet they did not depart in haste, but first went to Lydia's house and met the new believers and converts. There they told them how God had acted and how the jailer and the prisoners had been converted, and encouraged them, and by such orderly conduct helped preserve the good name of the gospel.
After Paul exposed their unlawful public beating and imprisonment of Roman citizens without trial, the magistrates came themselves to apologize and plead, and openly brought the apostles out of prison rather than hiding the wrong and God's display of power. They begged them to leave Philippi because they feared their influence among the people and the power of Heaven that had intervened for them. They also feared punishment for their injustice if the apostles complained to the emperor and cost them their offices. The apostles agreed to go, in keeping with Christ's principles of not forcing their presence where unwelcome, while being escorted safely beyond the danger of mob violence. They did not depart in haste but first went to Lydia's house to tell the new believers how God had acted and to encourage them, which preserved the good name of the gospel.
Historical Setting in Philippi
Acts 16:39 belongs to the proclamation of the gospel beyond Asia Minor into Europe. The advance began with Paul's night vision at Troas of a man of Macedonia asking for help. Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke responded at once, sailing with a straight course to Samothracia, then on to Neapolis, then to Philippi, the chief city of that part of Macedonia and a colony.
It belongs also to the unjust imprisonment and miraculous release in Philippi. When the prison doors opened the apostles showed restraint by remaining, and by their care for the jailer they revealed the spirit of Christ to the Philippians. Those events drew attention to their ministry and strengthened the converts. The extraordinary circumstances surrounding their deliverance led even people employed in Caesar's service to be converted.
Magistrates Plea and Departure
When the magistrates learned that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens who had been publicly beaten and imprisoned without trial, and when Paul challenged that unlawful treatment, they came to the prison in person to apologize and plead, and they brought the apostles out and escorted them out themselves. By coming themselves their apology and release were made public, rather than concealing both their own wrongful treatment and the display of God's power on behalf of His servants in their distress. They begged and urged the apostles to depart from the city and leave Philippi, for they feared the apostles' influence among the people and the power of Heaven that had intervened and defended them. Their urging also sprang from fear of the legal consequences of their injustice, lest the apostles complain and cost them their positions, even complaint to the emperor.
In asking them to leave they had decided to release them and to escort them safely beyond the danger of mob violence. The apostles complied, in keeping with Christ's principles, by not insisting on remaining or forcing their presence where they were unwelcome. Yet they did not depart in haste, but first went to Lydia's house and met the new believers and converts. There they told them how God had acted and how the jailer and the prisoners had been converted, and encouraged them, and by such orderly conduct helped preserve the good name of the gospel.