Page 283 - Demo

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 
be saved.” 32So they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house. 33He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized at once. 34He brought them up into his house and provided a meal and with his household rejoiced at having come to faith in God.
35But when it was day, the magistrates sent the lictors* with the order, “Release those men.” 36The jailer reported the[se] words to Paul, “The magistrates have sent orders that you be released. Now, then, come out and go in peace.” 37But
Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, even though we are Roman citizens and have not been tried, and have thrown us into prison.d And now, are they going to release us secretly? By no means. Let them come themselves and lead us out.”* 38The lictors reported these words to the magistrates, and they became alarmed when they heard that they were Roman citizens.e 39So they came and placated them, and led them out and asked that they leave the city. 40When they had come out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house where they saw and encouraged the brothers, and then they left.
16:28
When Peter was delivered from prison by the angel, Herod ordered the execution of the guards who had been charged with watching Peter, on account of their seeming dereliction of duty (12:19). Here, Paul and Silas stay put when an earthquake sets the prisoners free, and instead of killing himself, the jailer and his entire family become believers.
Visit of prisoners, by Bosse Abraham (1602-1676)
16:35
Lictors were bodyguards in the service of Roman magistrates and other important o cials.
The release
of Paul and Silas by Claude Halle (1652-1736)
271
* [16:35] The lictors: the equivalent of police o cers, among whose duties were the apprehension and punishment of criminals.
* [16:37] Paul’s Roman citizenship granted
him special privileges in regard to criminal process. Roman law forbade under severe penalty the beating of Roman citizens (see also Acts 22:25).
d. [16:37] 22:25. e. [16:38] 22:29.