Acts 16:23 - Clarke's commentary and critical notes on the Bible

And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Laid many stripes upon them - The Jews never gave more than thirty-nine stripes to any criminal; but the Romans had no law relative to this: they gave as many as they chose; and the apostles had, undoubtedly, the fullest measure. And perhaps St. Paul refers to this, where he says, 2 Corinthians 11:23 : εν πληγαις ὑπερβαλλοντως, in stripes beyond measure or moderation.