Acts 16:22 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 16:19-40

The first European persecution. I. It was in no way instigated by Jews, hut it proceeded from RULERS AND MAGISTRATES , under the instigation of HEATHENISH ERROR . An important distinction. Christianity, when it enlarged its sphere of operations, had to encounter the opposition of: 1. The state. 2. False philosophy regarding it as folly. 3. Heathen priestcraft, fearing the loss of their profitable superstitions. II. The method of persecution was generally... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 16:22

Rent their garments off them for rent off their clothes, A.V.; beat them with rods for beat them, A.V. Beat them ; ῥαβδίζειν , marking that they were beaten by the lictors, or ῥαβδοῦχοι (see Acts 16:35 ). The phrase rent … off ( περιῤῥήξαντες ) is only found here in the New Testament, but it is frequently used of stripping off garments, in classical Greek and in 2 Macc. 4:38; and by Josephus ('Ant. Jud.,' 6. 14:6) of David rending his garments—a circumstance not... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 16:22

And the multitude ... - It is evident that this was done in a popular tumult, and without even the form of law. Of this Paul afterward justly complained, as it was a violation of the privileges of a Roman citizen, and contrary to the laws. See the notes on Acts 16:37. It was one instance in which people affect great zeal for the honor of the Law, and yet are among the first to disregard it.And the magistrates - Acts 16:20. They who should have been their protectors until they had had a fair... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 16:22-24

Acts 16:22-24. And the multitude rose up against them Excited and inflamed by these accusations; and the magistrates Or the pretors; rent off their clothes That is, the clothes of Paul and Silas; for such was the Roman method of proceeding in such cases. Their magistrates were wont to command the lictors to rend open the clothes of the criminals, and to beat their bodies with rods; as Grotius here observes. And when they had laid many stripes upon them Had severely scourged them;... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 16:11-40

Philippi - first church in Europe (16:11-40)The missionaries left Troas with another addition to the party, Luke, the author of the book (note the word ‘we’ in verse 11). Luke’s home appears to have been in Philippi, the city to which the group was now heading (11-12). It seems that Philippi had few Jews and no synagogue, but a group of God-fearers met for prayer at the river bank. The missionaries joined with them and made known to them the gospel of Jesus Christ. As a result a cloth merchant... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 16:22

multitude = crowd. Greek. ochlos. rose up together . Greek. sunephistemi. Only here. against . Greek. kata. App-104 . rent off . Greek. perirregnumi. Only here. beat them = beat them with rods. Greek. rabdizo. Only here and 2 Corinthians 11:25 . The lictors who attended on the praetors carried rods or staves ( rabdos ) for the purpose, and were called rod-bearers. Greek. rabdouchos. See Acts 16:35 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Acts 16:22

And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrate rent their garments off them, and commanded to beat them with rods. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely who, having received such a charge, cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.Under the system of Roman administration throughout the ancient empire, the police attendants of public officials carried bundles of rods,... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 16:22

Acts 16:22. The magistrates rent off their clothes,— This was the Roman method of proceeding in such cases, and it was also practised among the Jews. The latter part of this verse might be rendered more clearly thus: And the officers tearing off their garments, that is, of Paul and Silas, commanded them to be beaten with rods, by the hands of the lictors, or public beadles, to whom that office belonged. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

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

22. the multitude rose up together against them—so Acts 19:28; Acts 19:34; Acts 21:30; Luke 23:18. the magistrates rent off their—Paul's and Silas' clothes—that is, ordered the lictors, or rod-bearers, to tear them off, so as to expose their naked bodies (see on Luke 23:18- :). The word expresses the roughness with which this was done to prisoners preparatory to whipping. and commanded to beat them—without any trial (Luke 23:18- :), to appease the popular rage. Thrice, it seems, Paul endured... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 16:11-40

Ministry in Philippi 16:11-40Luke devoted more space to Paul’s evangelizing in Philippi than he did to the apostle’s activities in any other city on the second and third journeys, even though Paul was there only briefly. It was the first European city in which Paul preached the gospel. [Note: The ancients did not view the Dardanelles as separating Europe and Asia, as we do today. Luke’s original readers would have viewed Paul’s crossing the Hellespont as simply moving from one region to another... read more