Acts 16:35

¶ And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.

And {G1161} when it was {G1096} day {G2250}, the magistrates {G4755} sent {G649} the serjeants {G4465}, saying {G3004}, Let {G630} those {G1565} men {G444} go {G630}.

The next morning, the judges sent police officers with the order, “Release those men.”

When daylight came, the magistrates sent their officers with the order: “Release those men.”

But when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.

Commentary

Acts 16:35 records a pivotal moment in the ministry of Paul and Silas in Philippi, marking their official release from an unjust imprisonment.

Context

This verse follows a dramatic series of events. Paul and Silas had been severely beaten and thrown into the inner prison at Philippi after casting a spirit of divination out of a slave girl, which angered her masters who profited from her fortune-telling. Despite their suffering, they were praying and singing hymns at midnight when a violent earthquake shook the prison, opening all the doors and loosening everyone's bonds (Acts 16:26). This led to the miraculous conversion of the Philippian jailer and his entire household (Acts 16:34). The magistrates, who had ordered their beating and imprisonment, now send word for their release, likely having heard of the night's extraordinary events or perhaps having had a change of heart.

Key Themes

  • Divine Intervention and Vindication: The immediate release of Paul and Silas after the earthquake and conversions highlights God's direct intervention to protect His servants and advance His gospel. Their unjust suffering was swiftly reversed by divine power.
  • God's Sovereignty Over Human Authority: Even Roman magistrates, representing the highest civil power in the region, are shown to be subject to God's will. Their command for release demonstrates that God can influence human decisions, even those of powerful officials.
  • The Power of Witness: The events of the night, culminating in the jailer's conversion, served as a powerful testimony. The magistrates' decision to release Paul and Silas implicitly acknowledges the unusual circumstances surrounding their imprisonment.

Linguistic Insights

  • The term "magistrates" translates the Greek word stratēgoi (στρατηγοί), which refers to the chief civil and military officials of a Roman colony like Philippi. They held significant authority.
  • "Serjeants" comes from the Greek rhabdouchoi (ῥαβδούχοι), meaning "rod-bearers" or "lictors." These were attendants or officers who accompanied Roman magistrates, carrying bundles of rods (fasces) as symbols of authority and instruments of punishment. Their presence indicates a formal, official communication from the magistrates, underscoring the legal nature of the order for release.

Practical Application

Acts 16:35 reminds believers that God is at work even in seemingly impossible or unjust situations. Just as He opened prison doors for Paul and Silas, He can open doors of opportunity, release us from spiritual bondage, or bring about justice in our lives. It encourages perseverance in faith and prayer, even when facing opposition, knowing that God can turn circumstances around for His glory and our good. It also highlights the importance of integrity, as Paul and Silas later insisted on a formal escort out of the city to uphold their Roman citizenship rights and prevent future accusations (Acts 16:37).

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, 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.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
The Historical Reliability of the Book of Acts The 3 Missionary Journeys of Paul: An Itinerary The Apostles Arrested and Freed Paul's Second Missionary Journey Paul and Silas in Prison at Philippi

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 5:22

    Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand [for] the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

  • Psalms 76:10

    Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

  • Acts 4:21

    So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all [men] glorified God for that which was done.

  • Acts 5:40

    And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten [them], they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
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