Acts 16:37

But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they cast us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and bring us out.

Paul said unto them ... Not the jailer only, but the sergeants also, were addressed.

Men that are Romans ... This indicates that Silas also was a Roman citizen, that possibly being one of the reasons Paul had for choosing him for the journey. It is a mistake to suppose that Paul misrepresented the facts in claiming for Silas an equal status with himself as a Roman citizen. One is amazed that some commentators suggest such a thing.

Let them come themselves and bring us out ... The crime committed by the magistrates in beating and imprisoning Roman citizens without due process of law was a serious one. "The Valerian and Porcian laws exempted Romans from degrading forms of punishment,"[17] and these had been in force for centuries. No documentation was required. The simple statement, "I am a Roman citizen," took all proceedings against a prisoner out of the hands" of local authorities. If it be wondered why Paul and Silas did not make such declarations the day before as they were being punished, the answer is that they did. As Hervey said, "The magistrates probably refused to listen";[18] and it was probably their remembrance of such protests that led to their reversal of judgment so early the next day. There is also the possibility that the ones in charge of the beating did not communicate the protest to the magistrates.

Paul's refusal to leave the jail, however, except on condition of being personally escorted out of it by the magistrates was a master stroke. It did much to establish the legality of their deeds in the popular mind and was doubtless a source of infinite encouragement to the brethren. Moreover, the implied condition (at first) to the effect that they should get out of town was also negated. Despite the fact of Paul's probable intention of soon leaving Philippi, he avoided any appearance of being thrown out of the city.

[17] F. F. Bruce, op. cit., p. 340.

[18] A. C. Hervey, The Pulpit Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans, Publishers, 1950), Vol. 18, 2p. 32.