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.

And {G1161} the keeper of the prison {G1200} told {G518} this {G5128} saying {G3056} to {G4314} Paul {G3972},{G3754} The magistrates {G4755} have sent {G649} to {G2443} let you go {G630}: now {G3568} therefore {G3767} depart {G1831}, and go {G4198} in {G1722} peace {G1515}.

The jailer told Sha’ul, “The judges have sent word to release both of you. So come out, and go on your way in peace.”

The jailer informed Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders to release you. Now you may go on your way in peace.”

And the jailor reported the words to Paul, saying, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore come forth, and go in peace.

Acts 16:36 marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of Paul and Silas's missionary journey in Philippi. After a night of miraculous divine intervention, the prison keeper delivers the unexpected news: the magistrates, recognizing their error, have ordered Paul and Silas's release. This verse signifies the end of their unjust imprisonment and the beginning of a peaceful departure from the city.

Context

This verse follows a dramatic sequence of events. Paul and Silas had been unlawfully arrested, severely beaten, and thrown into prison in Philippi for casting a demon out of a fortune-telling slave girl, which disrupted her owners' lucrative business (Acts 16:19-24). Despite their suffering, they were found singing hymns and praying at midnight, leading to a miraculous earthquake that opened the prison doors and loosened everyone's chains (Acts 16:25-26). This led to the conversion and baptism of the Philippian jailer and his entire household. The magistrates, upon learning that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens who had been beaten without trial, realized the grave legal error they had committed. Their hasty decision to release them was likely an attempt to avoid further legal repercussions from Rome.

Key Themes

  • Divine Deliverance and Sovereignty: This verse powerfully demonstrates God's ability to intervene in impossible situations. What began as an unjust imprisonment transforms into a testimony of His power, leading to freedom and the expansion of the gospel.
  • Vindication of the Righteous: Paul and Silas, though unjustly treated, are publicly vindicated. The very authorities who imprisoned them are now compelled to release them, acknowledging their innocence and Roman citizenship.
  • Peace After Persecution: The command to "depart, and go in peace" is more than just a dismissal; it's a blessing and a promise of tranquility after a period of intense suffering. It highlights the divine peace that God grants His servants even amidst turmoil (see John 14:27).
  • The Unstoppable Spread of the Gospel: Even imprisonment and persecution served God's greater purpose, opening the door for the gospel to reach the jailer and his family, establishing a foundational church in Philippi.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "go in peace" translates the Greek hypagete en eirēnē (ὑπάγετε ἐν εἰρήνῃ). This is a common farewell or blessing in the New Testament, echoing the Hebrew concept of shalom. Shalom encompasses more than just the absence of conflict; it signifies wholeness, well-being, prosperity, and a state of complete harmony with God and others. Here, it is a divine blessing upon Paul and Silas as they leave, assuring them of God's favor and protection.

Practical Application

Acts 16:36 offers profound encouragement for believers today. It reminds us that even when facing injustice, persecution, or difficult circumstances, God is sovereign and actively working for our good and the advancement of His kingdom (Romans 8:28). We can trust that He will bring vindication and peace even after periods of hardship. Furthermore, it highlights how God can use our trials as opportunities to share the gospel and witness His transformative power in unexpected places, just as He did with the Philippian jailer.

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.

  • Acts 15:33

    And after they had tarried [there] a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

  • John 14:27

    Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

  • Mark 5:34

    And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

  • 1 Samuel 20:42

    And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.

  • Judges 18:6

    And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD [is] your way wherein ye go.

  • 1 Samuel 29:7

    Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.

  • Acts 16:27

    And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

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