Acts 16 · Verse 22

Acts 16:22

And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
Acts 16:22, King James Version

Acts 16:22 in other translations

BSBThe crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered that they be stripped and beaten with rods.
WEBThe multitude rose up together against them and the magistrates tore their clothes from them, then commanded them to be beaten with rods.
ASVAnd the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent their garments off them, and commanded to beat them with rods.
YLTAnd the multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates having torn their garments from them, were commanding to beat them with rods,
DARBYAnd the crowd rose up too against them; and the praetors, having torn off their clothes, commanded to scourge them.
BBEAnd the people made an attack on them all together: and the authorities took their clothing off them, and gave orders for them to be whipped.
WebsterAnd the multitude rose together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

What does Acts 16:22 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
22. the multitude rose up together against them--so Ac 19:28, 34; 21:30; Lu 23:18. the magistrates rent off their--Paul's and Silas' clothes--that is, ordered the lictors, or rod-bearers, to tear them off, so as to expose their naked bodies (see on Ac 16:37). The word expresses the roughness with which this was done to prisoners preparatory to whipping. and commanded to beat them--without any trial (Ac 16:37), to appease the popular rage. Thrice, it seems, Paul endured this indignity (2Co 11:25).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
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"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 22 The multitude rose up together - There was a general outcry against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes, and delivered them to the mob, commanding the lictors, or beadles, to beat them with rods, ῥαβδιζειν. This was the Roman custom of treating criminals, as Grotius has well remarked.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 16:16-24

Satan, though the father of lies, will declare the most important truths, when he can thereby serve his purposes. But much mischief is done to the real servants of Christ, by unholy and false preachers of the gospel, who are confounded with them by careless observers. Those who do good by drawing men from sin, may expect to be reviled as troublers of the city. While they teach men to fear God, to believe in Christ…

Read the full comment on Acts 16:16-24 →

Acts 16:22 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
συνεπέστηsunepestērose up togetherG4911
ὁhotheG3588
ὄχλοςochloscrowdG3793
κατ᾽kat᾽againstG2596
αὐτῶν,autōnthem,G846
καὶkaiandG2532
οἱhoitheG3588
στρατηγοὶstratēgoimagistratesG4755
περιρήξαντεςperirēxanteshaving torn offG4048
αὐτῶνautōnof themG846
τὰtatheG3588
ἱμάτιαhimatiagarmentsG2440
ἐκέλευονekeleuonwere commandingG2753
ῥαβδίζειν·rhabdizeinto beat with rods;G4463

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 16:22

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:2

    But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

  • 2 Corinthians 6:5

    In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

  • Acts 22:22-26

    And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live. And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air, The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him. And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? …

  • Hebrews 11:36

    And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

  • 2 Corinthians 11:23-25

    Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

  • Acts 17:5

    But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

  • Matthew 10:17

    But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

  • Acts 19:28-41

    And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre. And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre. …

  • 1 Peter 2:24

    Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

  • Matthew 27:26

    Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

  • Acts 18:12

    And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,

  • Acts 21:30-31

    And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the multitude.
17:5; 18:12; 19:28-41; 21:30,31; 22:22,23
the magistrates.
37; 5:40; 22:24-26; Mt 10:17; 27:26; 2Co 6:5; 11:23-25; 1Th 2:2
Heb 11:36; 1Pe 2:24

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 16:21

    And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

  • Acts 16:22

    And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

  • Acts 16:23

    And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

Read all of Acts 16

Acts 16:22 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y agolpóse el pueblo contra ellos: y los magistrados rompiéndoles sus ropas, les mandaron azotar con varas.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et la foule se souleva ensemble contre eux; et les préteurs, leur ayant fait arracher leurs vêtements, donnèrent l’ordre de les fouetter.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und die Volksmenge erhob sich zugleich wider sie, und die Hauptleute rissen ihnen die Kleider ab und befahlen, sie mit Ruten zu schlagen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et cucurrit plebs adversus eos: et magistratus, scissis tunicis eorum, jusserunt eos virgis cædi.