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.
But Paul said unto them - to the serjeants, who had entered the prison with the jailor, that they might be able to report that the men had departed.
They have beaten us openly, х deirantes (G1194) heemas (G2248) deemosia (G1219)] - 'have scourged us in public' (in designed contrast to the proposed dismissal of them "privily"). The publicity of the injury done to them, exposing their naked and bleeding bodies to the rude populace, was evidently the most stinging feature of it to the apostle's delicate feelings, and to this accordingly he alludes to the Thessalonians-probably a year after - "even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated," or 'insulted' х hubristhentes (G5195)], "as ye know, at Philippi" (1 Thessalonians 2:2).
Uncondemned (that is, without being put on trial and convicted), being Romans - in whose case both the scourging and the imprisonment without trial were illegal. From this it would appear that Silas was a Roman citizen as well as Paul.
And now do they thrust us out privily, х ekballousin (G1544)]? Something more than 'hurrying out' this word expresses: it is 'driving out.'
Nay verily ('no indeed'); but let them come themselves and fetch us out - by an open and formal act, which would be equivalent to a public declaration of their innocence.