Acts 16 · Verse 38

Acts 16:38

And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
Acts 16:38, King James Version

Acts 16:38 in other translations

BSBSo the officers relayed this message to the magistrates, who were alarmed to hear that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.
WEBThe sergeants reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans,
ASVAnd the serjeants reported these words unto the magistrates: and they feared when they heard that they were Romans;
YLTAnd the rod-bearers told to the magistrates these sayings, and they were afraid, having heard that they are Romans,
DARBYAnd the lictors reported these words to the praetors. And they were afraid when they heard they were Romans.
BBEAnd the police gave an account of these words to the authorities, and they were full of fear on hearing that they were Romans;
WebsterAnd the sergeants told these words to the magistrates: and they feared when they heard that they were Romans.

What does Acts 16:38 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
38. they feared when they heard they were Romans--their authority being thus imperilled; for they were liable to an action for what they had done.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 38. They feared, when they heard, etc. They were apprehensive of punishment for having imprisoned them in violation of the laws of the empire. To punish unjustly a Roman citizen was deemed an offence to the majesty of the Roman people, and was severely punished by the laws. Dionysius Hall. (Ant. Rom. ii.) says, that "the punishment appointed for those who abrogated or transgressed the Valerian law was death, and the confiscation of his property." The emperor Claudius deprived the inhabitants of Rhodes of freedom for having crucified some Roman citizens. Dio. Cuss. lib. 60. (See Kuin�el and Grotius.)

(*) "serjeants" "officers"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 38 They feared when they heard - they were Romans - They feared, because the Roman law was so constituted that an insult offered to a citizen was deemed an insult to the whole Roman people. There is a remarkable addition here, both in the Greek and Latin of the Codex Bezae. It is as follows: "And when they were come with many of their friends to the prison, they besought them to go out, saying: We were ignorant of your circumstances, that ye were righteous men. And, leading them out, they besought them, saying, Depart from this city, lest they again make an insurrection against you, and clamor against you."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 16:35-40

Paul, though willing to suffer for the cause of Christ, and without any desire to avenge himself, did not choose to depart under the charge of having deserved wrongful punishment, and therefore required to be dismissed in an honourable manner. It was not a mere point of honour that the apostle stood upon, but justice, and not to himself so much as to his cause. And when proper apology is made, Christians should…

Read the full comment on Acts 16:35-40 →

Acts 16:38 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.

ἀπήγγειλανapēngeilanReportedG518
δὲdethenG1161
τοῖςtoisto theG3588
στρατηγοῖςstratēgoismagistratesG4755
οἱhoitheG3588
ῥαβδοῦχοιrhabdouchoiofficersG4465
τὰta<the>G3588
ῥήματαrhēmatadeclarationsG4487
ταῦτα·tautathese;G3778
ἐφοβήθησανephobēthēsanThey were afraidG5399
ἀκούσαντεςakousanteshaving heardG191
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ῬωμαῖοίRhōmaioiRomansG4514
εἰσιν,eisinthey are,G1510

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

Cross references for Acts 16:38

  • Acts 22:29

    Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

  • Matthew 21:46

    But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

  • Matthew 14:5

    And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
and they.
22:29; Mt 14:5; 21:46

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

Context

  • Acts 16:37

    But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.

  • Acts 16:38

    And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.

  • Acts 16:39

    And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.

Read all of Acts 16

Acts 16:38 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y los alguaciles volvieron á decir á los magistrados estas palabras: y tuvieron miedo, oído que eran Romanos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Les licteurs rapportèrent ces paroles aux préteurs; et ils eurent peur, ayant appris qu’ils étaient Romains.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Die Rutenträger aber meldeten diese Worte den Hauptleuten; und sie fürchteten sich, als sie hörten, daß sie Römer seien.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		et ipsi nos ejiciant. Nuntiaverunt autem magistratibus lictores verba hæc. Timueruntque audito quod Romani essent: