Acts 16:22 Meaning and Explanation
“And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The crowd rises against them, and the magistrates have Paul and Silas stripped and beaten with rods.
What Does Acts 16:22 Mean?
Mob pressure replaces legal process. With no investigation made and no defense heard, the magistrates tear off the prisoners' garments and order a public beating, one of the three Roman rod-beatings Paul would later recall (2 Corinthians 11:25).
The servants of Jesus absorb injustice in their bodies, after the pattern of their Lord, who was condemned by a swayed crowd. Paul would one day remind this very church of the conflict they had seen in him, and that suffering for Christ's sake is a calling held alongside believing on him (Philippians 1:29-30).
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 16:22
What does Acts 16:22 mean?
The crowd rises against them, and the magistrates have Paul and Silas stripped and beaten with rods.