Acts 16:36

36 And the keeper of the prison told these words to Paul: The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart. And go in peace.

Acts 16:36 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 16:36

And the keeper of the prison told this, saying to Paul,
&c.] The Ethiopic version adds, "and to Silas"; this was the same person with the jailer, whom Paul had baptized; and indeed, the same word is here used, though a little differently rendered, who no doubt reported this message to Paul with great joy:

the magistrates have sent to let you go;
they have sent an order to let you out of prison:

now therefore depart, and go in peace;
which expresses the jailer's pleasure of mind, and joy of heart, in executing his orders; and his sincere and hearty wishes for peace and prosperity to go along with them wherever they went, who had been instrumental of so much good to him and his family.

Acts 16:36 In-Context

34 And when he had brought them into his own house, he laid the table for them: and rejoiced with all his house, believing God.
35 And when the day was come, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying: Let those men go.
36 And the keeper of the prison told these words to Paul: The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart. And go in peace.
37 But Paul said to them: They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Romans, and have cast us into prison. And now do they thrust us out privately? Not so: but let them come.
38 And let us out themselves. And the serjeants told these words to the magistrates. And they were afraid: hearing that they were Romans.
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.