Paul and Silas In Prison; Acts 16: 12 – 40 – Part 2

Church History: Date: A.D. 49-52
The magistrates that had abused them the day before gave the orders for the discharge of Paul and Silas out of prison. By their doing it so early, as soon as it was day, intimates that either they were had a perception that the terrific earthquake they felt at midnight was intended to plead the cause of their prisoners, or their consciences had smitten them for what they had done and made them very uneasy. While the persecuted were singing in the stocks, the persecutors were tossing to and fro upon their beds, through anguish of mind, complaining more of the lashes of their consciences than the prisoners did of the lashes on their backs, and more in haste to discharge them, than they were to petition for one. Now God caused his servants to be pitied of those that had carried them captives, (Psalms 106:46). The order was, Let those men go. It is probable that they planned further mischief for them, but God turned their hearts, and, as he had made their wrath to praise him, so the remainder thereof he did restrain, (Psalms 76:10. 2). The jailer brought them the news: The magistrates have sent to let you go. Some think the jailer had given an account to the magistrates of what had passed in his house that night, and so had obtained this order for the discharge of his prisoners: Now therefore depart. Not that he was desirous to part with them as his guests, but as his prisoners; they shall still be welcome to his house, but he is glad they are at liberty from his stocks. God could by his grace as easily have converted the magistrates as the jailer, and have brought them to faith and baptism; but God hath chosen the poor of this world, (James 2:5).

Paul's insisting upon the breach of privilege which the magistrates had been guilty of, said to the sergeants, "They have beaten us openly, uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison against all law and justice, and now do they thrust us out secretly, and think to make amends with us for this the injury done to us? Not so fast; let them come themselves and release us, and admit that they have done us wrong." It is probable that the magistrates had some inclination that they were Romans, and was aware that their fury had carried them further than the law allowed; and that this was the reason why they gave orders for their discharge.

Paul did not tell them that he was a citizen of Rome before he was beaten. It is probable that it might have prevented it, lest he should seem to be afraid of suffering for the truth which he had preached. He did plead it afterwards, to give honor to his sufferings and upon the cause he suffered for, to let the world know that the preachers of the gospel were not such despicable men as they were commonly looked upon to be, and that they merited better treatment. He also did it to soften the attitudes of the magistrates towards the Christians at Philippi, and to gain better treatment for them, and generate in the people a better opinion of the Christian religion. They saw that Paul had a fair advantage against their magistrates, and could have had them called to an account for what they had done. Yet did not take the advantage, which was very much to the honor of that worthy name by which he was called.