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

36But the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The chief authorities have sent orders to release you. So come out now, and go in shalom.” 37But Paul said to the officers, “They have beaten us publicly without a trial—men who are Roman citizens—and have thrown us into prison. And now they are sending us away secretly? No! Let them come themselves and lead us out!” The police officers reported these words to the chief authorities. They became afraid when they heard they were Romans, 39so they came and apologized to them. After they escorted them out, they kept begging them to leave the city. 40When Paul and Silas went out of the prison, they visited Lydia’s house. And when they saw the brothers, they encouraged them and then 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andδέde · thenG1161
• the serjeantsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the serjeantsῥαβδοῦχοςrhabdouchos · policeG4465
• toldἀναγγέλλωanaggellō · to reportG312
• theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• wordsῥῆμαrhēma · declarationG4487
• unto the magistratesστρατηγόςstratēgos · officer/magistrateG4755
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• they fearedφοβέωphobeō · to fearG5399
• when they heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• they wereεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• RomansῬωμαῖοςRhōmaios · RomanG4514

Cross-references for Acts 16:38

• Acts 22:29Therefore, those who were about to interrogate him instantly drew back from him. And the commander also was afraid when he found out that Paul was a Roman and that he had bound him.
• Matthew 14:5Although Herod wanted to kill John, he feared the crowd because they considered John a prophet.
• Matthew 21:46Although they were trying to seize Him, they feared the crowds, because they regarded Him as 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