Acts 16:22

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The crowd joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods.

King James Version (1611)
And the multitude rose vp together against them, and the Magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beate them.

King James Version
And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

English Standard Version
The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.

New American Standard Bible
The crowd joined in an attack against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods.

New Century Version
The crowd joined the attack against them. The Roman officers tore the clothes of Paul and Silas and had them beaten with rods.

Amplified Bible
The crowd also joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and ordered that Paul and Silas be beaten with rods.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the crowd joined together to attack them, and the chief magistrates, tearing their garments off of them, proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods.

Berean Standard Bible
The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered that they be stripped and beaten with rods.

Contemporary English Version
The crowd joined in the attack on Paul and Silas. Then the officials tore the clothes off the two men and ordered them to be beaten with a whip.

Complete Jewish Bible
The mob joined in the attack against them, and the judges tore their clothes off them and ordered that they be flogged.

Darby Translation
And the crowd rose up too against them; and the praetors, having torn off their clothes, commanded to scourge [them].

Easy-to-Read Version
The whole crowd turned against Paul and Silas. The officials tore the clothes off both men and ordered that they be beaten with rods.

Geneva Bible (1587)
The people also rose vp together against them, and the gouernours rent their clothes, and commaunded them to be beaten with roddes.

George Lamsa Translation
And a large crowd gathered against them. Then the soldiers stripped them of their clothes and gave command to scourge them.

Good News Translation
And the crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas. Then the officials tore the clothes off Paul and Silas and ordered them to be whipped.

Lexham English Bible
And the crowd joined in attacking them, and the chief magistrates tore off their clothing and gave orders to beat them with rods.

Literal Translation
And the crowd rose up against them. And tearing off their clothes, the magistrates ordered men to flog them .

American Standard Version
And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent their garments off them, and commanded to beat them with rods.

Bible in Basic English
And the people made an attack on them all together: and the authorities took their clothing off them, and gave orders for them to be whipped.

Hebrew Names Version
The multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore their clothes off of them, and commanded them to be beaten with rods.

International Standard Version
The crowd joined in the attack against them. Then the magistrates had them stripped of their clothes and ordered them beaten with sticks.2 Corinthians 6:5; 1 Thessalonians 2:2;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
And a great gathering assembled against them. Then the prefects rent their vestments, and commanded to scourge them.

Murdock Translation
And a great company was collected against them. Then the prefects rent their garments, and commanded to scourge them.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the people ran agaynst them, and the officers rent their clothes, and commaunded them to be beaten with roddes.

English Revised Version
And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent their garments off them, and commanded to beat them with rods.

World English Bible
The multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore their clothes off of them, and commanded them to be beaten with rods.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And the multitude rose up together against them; and the pretors tearing off their garments, commanded to beat them with rods.

Weymouth's New Testament
The crowd, too, joined in the outcry against them, till at length the praetors ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods;

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And the puple `and magistratis runnen ayens hem, and when thei hadden to-rente the cootis of hem, thei comaundiden hem to be betun with yerdis.

Update Bible Version
And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent their garments off them, and commanded to beat them with rods.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the multitude rose together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat [them].

New English Translation
The crowd joined the attack against them, and the magistrates tore the clothes off Paul and Silas and ordered them to be beaten with rods.

New King James Version
Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods.

New Living Translation
A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods.

New Life Bible
Many people had gathered around Paul and Silas. They were calling out things against them. The leaders had the clothes of Paul and Silas taken off and had them beaten with sticks.

New Revised Standard
The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And the multitude rose up together against them, and, the magistrates, rending off them their mantles, were giving orders to beat them with rods;

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the people ran together against them: and the magistrates, rending off their clothes, commanded them to be beaten with rods.

Revised Standard Version
The crowd joined in attacking them; and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And the people ranne on them and the officers rent their clothes and comaunded them to be beaten with roddes.

Young's Literal Translation
And the multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates having torn their garments from them, were commanding to beat [them] with rods,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And the people rane on them, and the officers rente their clothes, and comaunded them to be beaten with roddes.

Mace New Testament (1729)
upon this the populace rose upon them, and the Officers order'd them to be stript and scourg'd.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Things got nasty really quick. Paul and Silas were arrested, stripped naked, and beaten with axe handles.

Contextual Overview

¹⁶One day, on our way to the place of prayer, a slave girl ran into us. She was a psychic and, with her fortunetelling, made a lot of money for the people who owned her. She started following Paul around, calling everyone's attention to us by yelling out, "These men are working for the Most High God. They're laying out the road of salvation for you!" She did this for a number of days until Paul, finally fed up with her, turned and commanded the spirit that possessed her, "Out! In the name of Jesus Christ, get out of her!" And it was gone, just like that. ¹⁹When her owners saw that their lucrative little business was suddenly bankrupt, they went after Paul and Silas, roughed them up and dragged them into the market square. Then the police arrested them and pulled them into a court with the accusation, "These men are disturbing the peace—dangerous Jewish agitators subverting our Roman law and order." By this time the crowd had turned into a restless mob out for blood. The judges went along with the mob, had Paul and Silas's clothes ripped off and ordered a public beating. After beating them black-and-blue, they threw them into jail, telling the jailkeeper to put them under heavy guard so there would be no chance of escape. He did just that—threw them into the maximum security cell in the jail and clamped leg irons on them. Along about midnight, Paul and Silas were at prayer and singing a robust hymn to God. The other prisoners couldn't believe their ears. Then, without warning, a huge earthquake! The jailhouse tottered, every door flew open, all the prisoners were loose. Startled from sleep, the jailer saw all the doors swinging loose on their hinges. Assuming that all the prisoners had escaped, he pulled out his sword and was about to do himself in, figuring he was as good as dead anyway, when Paul stopped him: "Don't do that! We're all still here! Nobody's run away!" The jailer got a torch and ran inside. Badly shaken, he collapsed in front of Paul and Silas. He led them out of the jail and asked, "Sirs, what do I have to do to be saved, to really live?" They said, "Put your entire trust in the Master Jesus. Then you'll live as you were meant to live—and everyone in your house included!" They went on to spell out in detail the story of the Master—the entire family got in on this part. They never did get to bed that night. The jailer made them feel at home, dressed their wounds, and then—he couldn't wait till morning!—was baptized, he and everyone in his family. There in his home, he had food set out for a festive meal. It was a night to remember: He and his entire family had put their trust in God; everyone in the house was in on the celebration. At daybreak, the court judges sent officers with the instructions, "Release these men." The jailer gave Paul the message, "The judges sent word that you're free to go on your way. Congratulations! Go in peace!" But Paul wouldn't budge. He told the officers, "They beat us up in public and threw us in jail, Roman citizens in good standing! And now they want to get us out of the way on the sly without anyone knowing? Nothing doing! If they want us out of here, let them come themselves and lead us out in broad daylight." When the officers reported this, the judges panicked. They had no idea that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. They hurried over and apologized, personally escorted them from the jail, and then asked them if they wouldn't please leave the city. Walking out of the jail, Paul and Silas went straight to Lydia's house, saw their friends again, encouraged them in the faith, and only then went on their way. ²³A Dream Gave Paul His Map Paul came first to Derbe, then Lystra. He found a disciple there by the name of Timothy, son of a devout Jewish mother and Greek father. Friends in Lystra and Iconium all said what a fine young man he was. Paul wanted to recruit him for their mission, but first took him aside and circumcised him so he wouldn't offend the Jews who lived in those parts. They all knew that his father was Greek. As they traveled from town to town, they presented the simple guidelines the Jerusalem apostles and leaders had come up with. That turned out to be most helpful. Day after day the congregations became stronger in faith and larger in size. They went to Phrygia, and then on through the region of Galatia. Their plan was to turn west into Asia province, but the Holy Spirit blocked that route. So they went to Mysia and tried to go north to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn't let them go there either. Proceeding on through Mysia, they went down to the seaport Troas. That night Paul had a dream: A Macedonian stood on the far shore and called across the sea, "Come over to Macedonia and help us!" The dream gave Paul his map. We went to work at once getting things ready to cross over to Macedonia. All the pieces had come together. We knew now for sure that God had called us to preach the good news to the Europeans. Putting out from the harbor at Troas, we made a straight run for Samothrace. The next day we tied up at New City and walked from there to Philippi, the main city in that part of Macedonia and, even more importantly, a Roman colony. We lingered there several days. On the Sabbath, we left the city and went down along the river where we had heard there was to be a prayer meeting. We took our place with the women who had gathered there and talked with them. One woman, Lydia, was from Thyatira and a dealer in expensive textiles, known to be a God-fearing woman. As she listened with intensity to what was being said, the Master gave her a trusting heart—and she believed! After she was baptized, along with everyone in her household, she said in a surge of hospitality, "If you're confident that I'm in this with you and believe in the Master truly, come home with me and be my guests." We hesitated, but she wouldn't take no for an answer. One day, on our way to the place of prayer, a slave girl ran into us. She was a psychic and, with her fortunetelling, made a lot of money for the people who owned her. She started following Paul around, calling everyone's attention to us by yelling out, "These men are working for the Most High God. They're laying out the road of salvation for you!" She did this for a number of days until Paul, finally fed up with her, turned and commanded the spirit that possessed her, "Out! In the name of Jesus Christ, get out of her!" And it was gone, just like that. When her owners saw that their lucrative little business was suddenly bankrupt, they went after Paul and Silas, roughed them up and dragged them into the market square. Then the police arrested them and pulled them into a court with the accusation, "These men are disturbing the peace—dangerous Jewish agitators subverting our Roman law and order." By this time the crowd had turned into a restless mob out for blood. The judges went along with the mob, had Paul and Silas's clothes ripped off and ordered a public beating. After beating them black-and-blue, they threw them into jail, telling the jailkeeper to put them under heavy guard so there would be no chance of escape. He did just that—threw them into the maximum security cell in the jail and clamped leg irons on them. Along about midnight, Paul and Silas were at prayer and singing a robust hymn to God. The other prisoners couldn't believe their ears. Then, without warning, a huge earthquake! The jailhouse tottered, every door flew open, all the prisoners were loose. Startled from sleep, the jailer saw all the doors swinging loose on their hinges. Assuming that all the prisoners had escaped, he pulled out his sword and was about to do himself in, figuring he was as good as dead anyway, when Paul stopped him: "Don't do that! We're all still here! Nobody's run away!" The jailer got a torch and ran inside. Badly shaken, he collapsed in front of Paul and Silas. He led them out of the jail and asked, "Sirs, what do I have to do to be saved, to really live?" They said, "Put your entire trust in the Master Jesus. Then you'll live as you were meant to live—and everyone in your house included!" They went on to spell out in detail the story of the Master—the entire family got in on this part. They never did get to bed that night. The jailer made them feel at home, dressed their wounds, and then—he couldn't wait till morning!—was baptized, he and everyone in his family. There in his home, he had food set out for a festive meal. It was a night to remember: He and his entire family had put their trust in God; everyone in the house was in on the celebration. At daybreak, the court judges sent officers with the instructions, "Release these men." The jailer gave Paul the message, "The judges sent word that you're free to go on your way. Congratulations! Go in peace!" But Paul wouldn't budge. He told the officers, "They beat us up in public and threw us in jail, Roman citizens in good standing! And now they want to get us out of the way on the sly without anyone knowing? Nothing doing! If they want us out of here, let them come themselves and lead us out in broad daylight." When the officers reported this, the judges panicked. They had no idea that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. They hurried over and apologized, personally escorted them from the jail, and then asked them if they wouldn't please leave the city. Walking out of the jail, Paul and Silas went straight to Lydia's house, saw their friends again, encouraged them in the faith, and only then went on their way. ²⁴A Dream Gave Paul His Map Paul came first to Derbe, then Lystra. He found a disciple there by the name of Timothy, son of a devout Jewish mother and Greek father. Friends in Lystra and Iconium all said what a fine young man he was. Paul wanted to recruit him for their mission, but first took him aside and circumcised him so he wouldn't offend the Jews who lived in those parts. They all knew that his father was Greek. As they traveled from town to town, they presented the simple guidelines the Jerusalem apostles and leaders had come up with. That turned out to be most helpful. Day after day the congregations became stronger in faith and larger in size. They went to Phrygia, and then on through the region of Galatia. Their plan was to turn west into Asia province, but the Holy Spirit blocked that route. So they went to Mysia and tried to go north to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn't let them go there either. Proceeding on through Mysia, they went down to the seaport Troas. That night Paul had a dream: A Macedonian stood on the far shore and called across the sea, "Come over to Macedonia and help us!" The dream gave Paul his map. We went to work at once getting things ready to cross over to Macedonia. All the pieces had come together. We knew now for sure that God had called us to preach the good news to the Europeans. Putting out from the harbor at Troas, we made a straight run for Samothrace. The next day we tied up at New City and walked from there to Philippi, the main city in that part of Macedonia and, even more importantly, a Roman colony. We lingered there several days. On the Sabbath, we left the city and went down along the river where we had heard there was to be a prayer meeting. We took our place with the women who had gathered there and talked with them. One woman, Lydia, was from Thyatira and a dealer in expensive textiles, known to be a God-fearing woman. As she listened with intensity to what was being said, the Master gave her a trusting heart—and she believed! After she was baptized, along with everyone in her household, she said in a surge of hospitality, "If you're confident that I'm in this with you and believe in the Master truly, come home with me and be my guests." We hesitated, but she wouldn't take no for an answer. One day, on our way to the place of prayer, a slave girl ran into us. She was a psychic and, with her fortunetelling, made a lot of money for the people who owned her. She started following Paul around, calling everyone's attention to us by yelling out, "These men are working for the Most High God. They're laying out the road of salvation for you!" She did this for a number of days until Paul, finally fed up with her, turned and commanded the spirit that possessed her, "Out! In the name of Jesus Christ, get out of her!" And it was gone, just like that. When her owners saw that their lucrative little business was suddenly bankrupt, they went after Paul and Silas, roughed them up and dragged them into the market square. Then the police arrested them and pulled them into a court with the accusation, "These men are disturbing the peace—dangerous Jewish agitators subverting our Roman law and order." By this time the crowd had turned into a restless mob out for blood. The judges went along with the mob, had Paul and Silas's clothes ripped off and ordered a public beating. After beating them black-and-blue, they threw them into jail, telling the jailkeeper to put them under heavy guard so there would be no chance of escape. He did just that—threw them into the maximum security cell in the jail and clamped leg irons on them.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the multitude: Acts 17:5, Acts 18:12, Acts 19:28-41, Acts 21:30, Acts 21:31, Acts 22:22, Acts 22:23

the magistrates: Acts 16:37, Acts 5:40, Acts 22:24-26, Matthew 10:17, Matthew 27:26, 2 Corinthians 6:5, 2 Corinthians 11:23-25, 1 Thessalonians 2:2, Hebrews 11:36, 1 Peter 2:24

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 25:2 - General Psalms 2:1 - rage Psalms 83:2 - lo Jeremiah 12:6 - yea Jeremiah 20:2 - smote Jeremiah 37:15 - the princes Luke 21:12 - before John 19:1 - scourged 2 Corinthians 11:25 - I beaten

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the multitude rose up together against them,.... The crowd of people that were gathered together in the court on this occasion; being no doubt spirited up by the proprietors of the maid, out of whom the spirit of divination was cast, and encouraged by the rulers, and being provoked at the hearing of unlawful customs being introduced among them;

and the magistrates rent off their clothes; not their own clothes, as did the high priest, Mark 14:63 but the clothes of Paul and Silas; and so reads the Arabic version, "and the rulers rent the garments of both of them"; which removes the ambiguity in the words; for at the whipping or beating of malefactors, they did not pluck off their garments, but rent and tore them off, and so whipped or beat them naked: this was the custom with the Jews m; it is asked,

"how did they whip anyone? his hands are bound to a pillar here and there, and the minister of the synagogue (or the executioner) takes hold of his clothes; and if they are rent, they are rent, and if they are ripped, they are ripped, (be it as it will,) until he has made his breast bare, c.''

And in like manner the Lectors, or executioners among the Romans, used to tear the garments of malefactors, when they beat them this the magistrates themselves did here, unless they may be said to do it, because they ordered it to be done, as follows:

and commanded to beat them; that is, with rods: this was one of the three times the apostle was beat in this manner, 2 Corinthians 11:25 and of this shameful treatment at Philippi, he makes mention in 1 Thessalonians 2:2.

m Misn. Maccot, c. 3. sect. 12. & Maimon. Hilchot Sanhedrin c. 16. sect. 8.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And the multitude ... - It is evident that this was done in a popular tumult, and without even the form of law. Of this Paul afterward justly complained, as it was a violation of the privileges of a Roman citizen, and contrary to the laws. See the notes on Acts 16:37. It was one instance in which people affect great zeal for the honor of the Law, and yet are among the first to disregard it.

And the magistrates - Acts 16:20. They who should have been their protectors until they had had a fair trial according to law.

Rent off their clothes - This was always done when one was to be scourged or whipped. The criminal was usually stripped entirely naked. Livy says (ii. 5), “The lictors, being sent to inflict punishment, beat them with rods, being naked.” Cicero, against Verres, says, “He commanded the man to be seized, and to be stripped naked in the midst of the forum, and to be bound, and rods to be brought.”

And commanded to beat them - ῥαβδίζειν rabdizein. To beat them with rods. This was done by lictors, whose office it was, and was a common mode of punishment among the Romans. Probably Paul alludes to this as one of the instances which occurred in his life of his being publicly scourged, when he says 2 Corinthians 11:25, “Thrice was I beaten with rods.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 16:22. The multitude rose up together — There was a general outcry against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes, and delivered them to the mob, commanding the lictors, or beadles, to beat them with rods, ραβδιζειν. This was the Roman custom of treating criminals, as Grotius has well remarked.