Acts 16:23

And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast [them] into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

And {G5037} when they had laid {G2007} many {G4183} stripes {G4127} upon them {G846}, they cast {G906} them into {G1519} prison {G5438}, charging {G3853} the jailor {G1200} to keep {G5083} them {G846} safely {G806}:

After giving them a severe beating, they threw them in prison, charging the jailer to guard them securely.

And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely.

And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

Context of Acts 16:23

Acts 16:23 details a critical moment in the early missionary journey of the Apostle Paul and Silas in the Roman colony of Philippi. Immediately preceding this verse, Paul had cast out a spirit of divination from a young slave girl, which had been a source of great profit for her masters (Acts 16:18). Enraged by the loss of their income, these masters seized Paul and Silas, dragged them before the magistrates, and accused them of disturbing the city and advocating unlawful customs for Romans. Without proper trial, the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and severely beaten. This verse describes the aftermath of that brutal flogging, as they are then thrown into prison under strict orders for their secure confinement, setting the stage for the dramatic events of the Philippian jailer's conversion.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Unjust Persecution: Paul and Silas suffered severe physical abuse and imprisonment not for any crime, but for their faithful proclamation of the Gospel. This highlights the reality of persecution faced by early Christians for their unwavering faith.
  • Suffering for the Gospel: Their willingness to endure such hardship demonstrates their deep commitment to spreading the message of Christ, even when it meant personal cost and physical pain. Their endurance serves as an example of steadfastness in the face of adversity.
  • Divine Sovereignty in Adversity: Though seemingly a setback, this imprisonment was part of God's larger plan. It led directly to the jailer's conversion and the establishment of a strong church in Philippi, demonstrating how God can use even difficult circumstances for His glorious purposes.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "laid many stripes upon them" translates from the Greek word rhabdois (ῥάβδοις), which refers to blows inflicted with rods or scourges. This was a severe Roman form of punishment, often carried out by lictors (the magistrates' attendants), and it was known to be extremely painful and damaging. Paul himself recounted enduring such beatings multiple times (2 Corinthians 11:25).

The charge to "keep them safely" comes from the Greek word asphalos (ἀσφαλῶς), meaning securely, certainly, or without danger of escape. This emphasizes the strictness of the jailer's orders and the perceived threat that Paul and Silas posed, leading to their placement in the most secure part of the prison, as described in the following verse.

Practical Application

Acts 16:23 offers several enduring lessons for believers today:

  • Enduring Adversity: This verse reminds us that following Christ may involve suffering, injustice, and physical hardship. It encourages perseverance and faith, even when circumstances are harsh and unfair.
  • God's Presence in Trials: Even in the darkest moments, like being unjustly beaten and imprisoned, God is present and working. The subsequent events in the prison (Acts 16:25-34) powerfully demonstrate how God can transform suffering into an opportunity for His gospel to advance.
  • Trusting God's Plan: What appears to be a terrible misfortune can be part of a larger divine purpose. We are called to trust that God can use our difficulties for good, just as He used Paul and Silas's imprisonment to bring about the salvation of the jailer and his entire household.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Revelation 2:10

    Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

  • 2 Timothy 2:9

    Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, [even] unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

  • 1 Samuel 23:22

    Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, [and] who hath seen him there: for it is told me [that] he dealeth very subtilly.

  • 1 Samuel 23:23

    See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.

  • Acts 16:36

    And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.

  • Acts 9:2

    And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

  • Acts 12:18

    Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.

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