Acts 16:35

And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. AND WHEN IT WAS DAY, THE MAGISTRATES SENT THE SERJEANTS, [ tous (G3588) rabdouchous (G4465)] - 'rod-bearers;' 'lictors' was their technical name: SAYING, LET THOSE MEN GO. The cause of this change can only be conjectured. When the commotion ceased, reflection would soon convince them of the injustice they had done, even supposing the prisoners had been entitled to no special privileges; and if rumour reached them that the prisoners were somehow under supernatural protection, they might be the more awed into a desire to get rid of them....

− 35._When it was day. _The question is, how it came to pass that the judges did so suddenly change their purpose? The day before they had commanded that Paul and Silas should be bound with fetters, as if they meant to punish them cruelly, now they let them go free. At least, if they had heard them, it might have been that the knowledge of the cause had brought them to be more gentle and better minded. − (227) But it appeareth that, forasmuch as the matter stood as yet still in one state, they were brought into repentance of their own accord. I answer, that there is no other thing here set down but that which falleth out most commonly when sedition is once raised. For not only the minds of the common people begin to rage, but also the tempest carrieth away the governors also, no doubt perversely. For we know that of Virgil, — − “And as amidst a mighty rout, when discord oft is bred, And...

35-40 Paul, though willing to suffer for the cause of Christ, and without any desire to avenge himself, did not choose to depart under the charge of having deserved wrongful punishment, and therefore required to be dismissed in an honourable manner. It was not a mere point of honour that the apostle stood upon, but justice, and not to himself so much as to his cause. And when proper apology is made, Christians should never express personal anger, nor insist too strictly upon personal amends. The Lord will make them more than conquerors in every conflict; instead of being cast down by their sufferings, they will become comforters of their brethren....

Verse 35. _AND THE MAGISTRATES SENT THE SERGEANTS_] The original word, παβδουχους, means the _lictors_, persons who carried before the consul the _fasces_, which was a hatchet, round the handle of which was a bundle of _rods_ tied. Why the magistrates should have sent an order to dismiss the apostles, whom they had so barbarously used the preceding evening, we cannot tell, unless we receive the reading of the _Codex Bezae_ as genuine, viz. Ἡμερας δε γενομενης, συνηλθον οἱ Ϛρατηγοι επι το αυτο εις την αγοραν, και αναμνησθεντες τον σεισμον τον γεγοντα, εφοβηθησαν, και απεϚειλαν τους ῥαβδουχους κ. τ. λ. _And when it was day, the magistrates came_ _together into the court, AND REMEMBERING THE EARTHQUAKE THAT HAD_ _HAPPENED, they were afraid, and they sent the sergeants_, c. The _Itala_ version of this same MS. has the same reading: so has also the margin of the later _Syriac_. If this MS...

AND WHEN IT WAS DAY ... - It is evident from the narrative that it was not contemplated at first to release them so soon, Acts 16:22. But it is not known what produced this change of purpose in the magistrates. It is probable, however, that they had been brought to reflection, somewhat as the jailor had, by the earthquake, and that their consciences had been troubled by the fact, that in order to please the multitude, they had caused strangers to be beaten and imprisoned without trial and contrary to the Roman laws. An earthquake is always suited to alarm the guilty; and among the Romans it was regarded as an omen of the anger of the gods, and was therefore adapted to produce agitation and remorse. The agitation and alarm of the magistrates were shown by the fact that they sent the officers as soon as it was day. The judgments of God are eminently suited to alarm

EXPOSITION ACTS 16:1 _And he came also _for _then came he, _A.V._ _and T.R.; _to Lystra _for _Lystra, _A.V._; Timothy _for _Timotheus, _A.V._; of a Jewess _for _of a certain woman which was a Jewess, _A.V. and T.R.; _which _for _and, _A.V. For DERBE and LYSTRA, see Acts 14:1. and notes. This time St. Paul visited Derbe first, whereas before he came from Lystra to Derbe (Acts 14:6, Acts 14:8, Acts 14:21). WAS THERE; viz

AND WHEN IT WAS DAY,.... In one copy Beza says, these words are added, "the magistrates came together in one place in the court, and remembering the earthquake that was made, they were afraid, and sent the sergeants;'' but they seem to be no other than a gloss, which crept into the text; however, it seems reasonable to suppose, that in the morning the magistrates met together, to consider what was further to be done with Paul and Silas; when upon cooler thoughts, they judged it best to be content with what punishment they had inflicted on them, and dismiss them; and if they had felt anything of the earthquake, or had heard of it in the prison, and of the converts that had been made there, they might be the more induced to let them go: THE MAGISTRATES SENT THE SERGEANTS, SAYING, LET THESE MEN GO; the Arabic version reads, "these two men"; that is, Paul and Silas: who these sergeants we...

SERJEANTS (Greek, "rhabdouchos")....

ACTS 16:35 avpe,steilan oi` strathgoi, {A} In order to explain the sudden change of attitude on the part of the magistrates, who now entreat the apostles to leave, D syrhmg Cassiodorus and Ephraem read, (35) h`me,raj de. genome,nhj sunh/lqon oi` strathgoi. evpi. to. auvto. eivj th.n avgora.n kai. avnamnhsqe,ntej to.n seismo.n to.n gegono,ta evfobh,qhsan( kai. avpe,steilan tou.j r`abdou,couj le,gontaj…(“But when it was day the magistrates _assembled together in the market place, and recollecting the earthquake that had taken place, they were afraid; and_ sent the police, saying …”)....

CHAPTER 16 _ 1. In Derbe and Lystra again. Timotheus (Acts 16:1)._ 2. The Preaching forbidden in Asia (Acts 16:6). 3. The Vision of the Man from Macedonia (Acts 16:9). 4. The Gospel in Europe (Acts 16:13). Read in connection with the first verses of this chapter 1 Timothy 1:18; 1Ti 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 3:15. The circumcision of Timothy, the offspri