Acts 16:38

38 So the police officers reported these words to the chief magistrates, and they were afraid [when they] heard that they were Roman citizens.

Acts 16:38 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 16:38

And the sergeants told these words unto the magistrates,
&c.] They returned to them, and acquainted them with what the prisoners said:

and they feared when they heard that they were Romans;
they were not concerned for the injury they had done them; nor for the injustice and cruelty they had been guilty of; nor did they fear the wrath of God, and a future judgment; but they were put into a panic, when they found the men they had so ill used were Romans; lest they should be called to an account by the Roman senate, and be found guilty, and have their places taken away from them, and their persons punished.

Acts 16:38 In-Context

36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul: "The chief magistrates have sent [an order] that you should be released. So come out now [and] go in peace!"

37 But Paul said to them, "They beat us in public without due process--men who are Roman citizens--[and] threw [us] into prison, and now they are wanting to release us secretly? Certainly not! Rather let them come themselves [and] bring us out!"

38 So the police officers reported these words to the chief magistrates, and they were afraid [when they] heard that they were Roman citizens.

39 And they came [and] apologized to them, and [after they] brought [them] out they asked [them] to depart from the city.

40 And [when they] came out of the prison, they went to Lydia and [when they] saw [them], they encouraged the brothers and departed.

Footnotes

• [a] *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("heard") which is understood as temporal