Acts 16:22 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

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

And the multitude rose up together against them. So Acts 19:28; Acts 19:34; Acts 21:30; Luke 23:18.

And the magistrates rent off their clothes (that is, Paul and Silas' clothes); ordering the lictors or rod-bearers to tear them off, so as to expose their naked bodies (see the note at Acts 16:37). The word х perireexantes (G4048)] expresses the roughness with which this was done to prisoners, preparatory to х perireexantes (G4048)] expresses the roughness with which this was done to prisoners, preparatory to whipping.

And commanded to beat them - without any trial (Acts 16:37), to appease the popular rage. Thrice, it seems, Paul endured this indignity (2 Corinthians 11:25).

Acts 16:22

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