Act 16:22-24 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 22. And the multitude , etc. It is evident that this was done in a popular tumult, and without even the form of law. Of this, Paul afterwards justly complained, as it was a violation of the privileges of a Roman citizen, and contrary to the laws. . It was one instance in which men affect great zeal for the honour of the law, and yet are among the first to disregard it. And the magistrates . . They who should have been their protectors, until they had had a fair trial according to law. Rent off their clothes . This was always done when one was to be scourged or whipped. The criminal was usually stripped entirely naked. Livy says, (ii. 5,) "The lictors, being sent to inflict punishment, beat them with rods, being naked." Cicero against Vetres says, "He commanded the man to be seized, and to be stripped naked in the midst of the forum, and to be bound, and rods to be brought." And commanded to beat them . ραβδιζειν. To beat them with rods. This was done by lictors , whose office it was, and was a common mode of punishment among the Romans. Probably Paul alludes to this when he says, ( ,) "Thrice was I beaten with rods." (*) "rent off" "tore"

Acts 16:22-24

Verse 22. And the multitude, etc. It is evident that this was done in a popular tumult, and without even the form of law. Of this, Paul afterwards justly complained, as it was a violation of the privileges of a Roman citizen, and contrary to the laws. Acts 16:37. It was one instance in which men affect great zeal for the honour of the law, and yet are among the first to disregard it.

And the magistrates. Acts 16:20. They who should have been their protectors, until they had had a fair trial according to law.

Rent off their clothes. This was always done when one was to be scourged or whipped. The criminal was usually stripped entirely naked. Livy says, (ii. 5,) "The lictors, being sent to inflict punishment, beat them with rods, being naked." Cicero against Vetres says, "He commanded the man to be seized, and to be stripped naked in the midst of the forum, and to be bound, and rods to be brought."

And commanded to beat them. ραβδιζειν. To beat them with rods. This was done by lictors, whose office it was, and was a common mode of punishment among the Romans. Probably Paul alludes to this when he says, (2Cor 11:25,) "Thrice was I beaten with rods."

(*) "rent off" "tore" Verse 23. And when they had laid many stripes upon them. The Jews were by law prohibited from inflicting more than forty stripes, and usually inflicted but thirty-nine, 2Cor 11:24. But there was no such law among the Romans. They were unrestricted in regard to the number of lashes; and probably inflicted many more. Perhaps Paul refers to this when he says, (2Cor 11:23,) "In stripes above measure," i. e., beyond the usual measure among the Jews, or beyond moderation.

They cast them into prison. The magistrates, Acts 16:36,37, as a punishment; and probably with a view hereafter of taking vengeance on them, more according to the forms of law.

(a) "many stripes" 2Cor 6:5, 11:23,25, 1Thes 2:2 Verse 24. Thrust them into the inner prison. Into the most retired and secure part of the prison. The cells in the interior of the prison would be regarded as more safe, being doubtless more protected, and the difficulty of escape would be greater.

And made their feet fast in the stocks. Greek, And made their feet secure to wood. The word stocks, with us, denotes a machine made of two pieces of timber, between which the feet of the criminals are placed, and in which they are thus made secure. The account here does not imply necessarily that they were secured precisely in this way, but that they were fastened or secured by the feet, probably by cords, to a piece or beam of wood, so that they could not escape. It is supposed that the legs of the prisoners were bound to large pieces of wood, which not only encumbered them, but which often were so placed as to extend their feet to a considerable distance. In this condition it might be necessary for them to lie on their backs; and if this, as is probable, was on the cold ground, after their severe scourging, their sufferings must have been very great. Yet in the midst of this they sang praises to God.

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