Release from the prison

“Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their officers, saying, ‘Release those men.’” (1) The next morning, officers sent by the chief magistrates arrived. (a) The magistrates likely intended to discipline those who caused the commotion. (b) The officers sent were the same ones who had beaten Paul and Silas. (c) They relayed the order to “release those men” to the jailer. (d) Upon hearing this, the jailer was overjoyed and eagerly shared the good news with Paul. “But Paul said to them, ‘After beating us in public without due process—men who are Roman – they threw us into prison; and now they are releasing us secretly? …” (1) Paul asserted his rights as a Roman citizen. (a) The magistrates had humiliated and imprisoned Roman citizens publicly without a trial. (b) Paul demanded two things from the magistrates: that they come in person to offer a public apology and that they themselves escort them out of the prison. (2) This was not an act of personal revenge; rather, it was Paul’s strategy to emphasize that the Philippian church was established by Roman citizens. “The officers reported these words to the chief magistrates. And they became fearful when they heard that they were Romans, and they came and pleaded with them, and when they had led them out, they repeatedly asked them to leave the city.” The magistrates were fearful because they would be punished if Roman citizens filed a complaint against them, so they complied with Paul and Silas’s demands. They also requested that the two leave the city, as the populace still harbored hostility toward them. “They left the prison and entered the house of Lydia…” (1) Paul and Silas went to Lydia’s house to prepare to leave the city. There, the newly established Philippian church had gathered. After encouraging the young assembly of believers, the two departed from the city. (2) In Acts 16:40, the subject shifts from “we” to “they.” (a) This suggests that Luke likely stayed behind in Philippi. (b) In Acts 20:5-6, the subject returns to “we” as Paul’s group passes through Philippi again. The lesson we can learn from the mission in Philippi is that “the gospel is the power of God for salvation to all people.” Luke describes three individuals who came to faith in Philippi: (1) Lydia, a wealthy woman from the upper class; (2) a young slave woman from the lower class; (3) and the jailer, representing the middle class. Let us also give thanks to God, knowing that we too are included in this message of salvation.