An Official Apology
35 When daylight came, the magistrates sent their officers with the order: “Release those men.”
36
The jailer informed Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders to release you. Now you may go on your way in peace.”
37
But Paul said to the officers, “They beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison, even though we are Roman citizens. And now do they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! Let them come themselves and escort us out!”
38
So the officers relayed this message to the magistrates, who were alarmed to hear that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.
39
They came to appease them and led them out, requesting that they leave the city.
40
After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house to see the brothers and encourage them. Then they left the city.