Acts 16:35-40 – Paul and Silas released from prison

The next day, the magistrates decided to release Paul and Silas. No reason was given. They would rather that these two leave their city than to remain incarcerated. So they sent the policemen, those who applied the rod on them (verse 23) to release the prisoners. Being a believer now, the jailer gladly came to Paul and informed him of the magistrates’ intention and to send them off with brotherly greeting of peace.

Paul, however, refused to leave. He knew that he had the advantage for they were Roman Citizens. For them to be treated without an investigation, beaten and then thrown into prison was a gross miscarriage of justice. What they did to them was not legal. The least they expected was a fair hearing, but they were denied. They had been beaten and imprisoned unjustly, and the authorities just wanted to release them secretly without any explanation. Exerting his rights, Paul insisted that the magistrates themselves must come and bring them out. In this case we are told that the magistrates were not aware that they were Roman Citizens.

When the policemen returned and reported to the magistrates everything that had transpired, they were greatly alarmed. They became afraid when they heard that they were Roman Citizens. Their reaction was understandable. For they could be removed from office for the serious offence of abusing their authority and unjustly treating two Roman Citizens.

What’s ironical in the whole situation was that the magistrates were really the law breakers now. Whereas Paul and Silas who were treated as criminals were in fact innocent. Hence, the magistrates hurried to the prison and humbly appealed to the two missionaries to leave. Knowing their rights, Paul and Silas were not in a hurry to leave. And when they were brought out of the prison, the magistrates begged them to leave the city. This could well be that they were still thinking of the commotion that was stirred up by their mission, and were concerned for public order.

Paul and Silas complied, but were in no hurry to leave the city. In fact they had every right not to. They must have known that they would not get any more intervention or trouble from the magistrates. So before they departed the city they went to encourage the brethren in the house of Lydia.

Here Paul was simply asserting his right as a Roman Citizen. And he did it not for self-inflation but to give the Gospel and the Christian fellowship there the respect they deserved. The magistrates’ response to Paul’s assertion brought dignity to the Gospel and the church there.

As believers we should be discerning. We should not do anything that would violate our status as good citizens of our nation. Instead, we should promote the Gospel and the reign of God’s Kingdom here on earth through right and honest living.