Acts 16:38

Acts 16:38 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
• New International Version (NIV)The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans.

Context of Acts 16:38

36And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The chief magistrates have sent word that you be released. So come out now and go in peace.” 37But Paul said to them, “After beating us in public without due process--men who are Romans--they threw us into prison; and now they are releasing us secretly? No indeed! On the contrary, let them come in person and lead us out.” The officers reported these words to the chief magistrates. And they became fearful when they heard that they were Romans, 39and they came and pleaded with them, and when they had led them out, they repeatedly asked them to leave the city. 40They left the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they saw the brothers and sisters, they encouraged them and departed.

Acts 16:38 word by word

ἀπήγγειλαν δὲ τοῖς στρατηγοῖς οἱ ῥαβδοῦχοι τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα· ἐφοβήθησαν δὲ ἀκούσαντες ὅτι Ῥωμαῖοί εἰσιν,Read the interlinear

• The officersῥαβδοῦχοςrhabdouchos · policeG4465
• reportedἀπαγγέλλωapaggellō · to announceG518
• theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• wordsῥῆμαrhēma · declarationG4487
• to the chiefστρατηγόςstratēgos · officer/magistrateG4755
• And they becameφοβέωphobeō · to fearG5399
• when they heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• that they were RomansῬωμαῖοςRhōmaios · RomanG4514

Cross-references for Acts 16:38

• Acts 22:29Therefore, those who were about to interrogate him immediately backed away from him; and the commander also was afraid when he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had put him in chains.
• Matthew 14:5Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded John as a prophet.
• Matthew 21:46And although they sought to arrest Him, they feared the crowds, since they considered Him to be a prophet.

Commentaries on Acts 16:38

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 38They feared when they heard - they were Romans - They feared, because the Roman law was so constituted that an insult offered to a citizen was deemed an insult to the whole Roman people. There is a remarkable addition here, both in the Greek and Latin of the Codex Bezae. It is as follows: "And when they were come with many of their friends to the prison, they besought them to go out, saying: We were ignorant of your circumstances, that ye were righteous…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 38They feared when they heard … - They were apprehensive of punishment for having imprisoned them in violation of the laws of the empire. To punish unjustly a Roman citizen was deemed an offence to the majesty of the Roman people, and was severely punished by the laws. Dionysius Hal. (Ant. Rom., ii.) says, “The punishment appointed for those who abrogated or transgressed the Valerian law was death, and the confiscation of his property.” The emperor Claudius…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 35-40Verses 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 37-39Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, so it was illegal to beat and imprison them (16:22–24). When the city officials learned this, they were understandably alarmed because they had broken Roman law. Let them come themselves and escort us out!: Paul used his rights as a Roman citizen to save his reputation and protect the Christian message from receiving a bad name. Luke wanted to show that Christianity should have the same status as Judaism in the Roman…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3838. they feared when they heard they were Romans--their authority being thus imperilled; for they were liable to an action for what they had done.Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 16:38

• Criminals
• Magistrate
• Minister, Christian
• Paul
• Philippi
• Prisoners
• Readings, Select
• Reproof
• Sergeant
• Silas
• Trial

In the dictionaries

• Establish
• Freedom
• Gather
• Gone
• Harm
• James
• Judge
• Light
• Macedonia
• Magistrate

Commentaries on Acts 16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings