Acts 16:24

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 16:24

Cast for thrust, A.V. In the stocks ; Greek τὸ ξύλον , sometimes called ξυλοπέδη . The ξύλον was of different forms, and used as a punishment. Sometimes it was a kind of heavy wooden collar put on the neck of a prisoner, whence the phrase, ξύλῳ φιμοῦν τὴν αὐχένα ," To make fast his neck in the pillory." Sometimes it was what Aristophanes calls πεντεσύριγγον ξύλον , "stocks with five holes," two for the feet, two for the hands, and one for the neck. Here, as in ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 16:24

Thrust them into the inner prison - Into the most retired and secure part of the prison. The cells in the interior of the prison would be regarded as more safe, being doubtless more protected, and the difficulty of escape would be greater.And made their feet fast in the stocks - Greek: and made their feet secure to wood. The word “stocks,” with us, denotes a machine made of two pieces of timber between which the feet of criminals are placed, and in which they are thus made secure. The account... 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 16:24

thrust = cast, as Acts 16:23 . inner . Greek. esoteros. Comparative of eso, within. Only here and Hebrews 6:19 . made . . . fast = made safe. Greek. asphalizo. Only here and Matthew 27:64-66 . in the stocks . Literally unto (Greek. eis. App-104 .) the wood. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 16:24

Acts 16:24. Made their feet fast in the stocks,— It is generally supposed that these were the cippi, or large pieces of wood used among the Romans, which not only loaded the legs of prisoner's, but sometimes distended them in a very painful manner. So that the situation of Paul and Silas must have been very affecting, especially if they lay with their bare backs, so lately scourged, on the ground, as it is very probable they did. This circumstance renders their songs of praise the more... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 16:24

24. made their feet fast in the stocks—an instrument of torture as well as confinement, made of wood bound with iron, with holes for the feet, which were stretched more or less apart according to the severity intended. (ORIGEN at a later period, besides having his neck thrust into an iron collar, lay extended for many days with his feet apart in the rack). Though jailers were proverbially unfeeling, the manner in which the order was given in this case would seem to warrant all that was done. 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

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 16:23-24

The jailer treated his prisoners as dangerous criminals. His treatment may have reflected his own attitude more than the seriousness of their alleged crimes."Jailers commonly were retired army veterans, who could be expected to follow orders and use their military skills as required." [Note: Longenecker, p. 464.] "He was no mere turn-key, but the governor of the prison,-probably of the rank of a centurion, like Cornelius at Caesarea, of whose history there is much to remind us here." [Note:... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 16:1-40

St. Paul in Europe1. Timotheus] was probably of Lystra, not Derbe. His mother Eunice was perhaps a widow, and she, together with his grandmother Lois, educated the lad in the religion of Israel, though he was not circumcised (see 2 Timothy 1:6). The whole family had been converted at St. Paul’s first visit. 3. See Preface to Acts 15. 4, 5. Here we have evidence that the decrees of the Council were actually promulgated in the Galatian Churches, and that they were well received.6-40. Journey into... read more

Group of Brands