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 never express personal anger, nor insist too strictly upon personal amends. The Lord will make them more than conquerors in every conflict; instead of being cast down by their sufferings, they will become comforters of their brethren.

37. Paul said unto them—to the sergeants who had entered the prison along with the jailer, that they might be able to report that the men had departed.

They have beaten us openly—The publicity of the injury done them, exposing their naked and bleeding bodies to the rude populace, was evidently the most stinging feature of it to the apostle's delicate feeling, and to this accordingly he alludes to the Thessalonians, probably a year after: "Even after we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated (or 'insulted') as ye know at Philippi" (1Th 2:2).

uncondemned—unconvicted on trial.

being Romans—(See on [2037]Ac 22:28).

and cast us into prison—both illegal. Of Silas' citizenship, if meant to be included, we know nothing.

and now do they thrust us out—hurry us out—see Mr 9:38, Greek.

privily?—Mark the intended contrast between the public insult they had inflicted and the private way in which they ordered them to be off.

nay verily—no, indeed.

but let them come themselves and fetch us out—by open and formal act, equivalent to a public declaration of their innocence.