Acts 16:22
What does Acts 16:22 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 16:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 16:22 means
The crowd rises together against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates tear their garments off and order them to be beaten with rods. Mob pressure and official haste trample justice. Public stripping adds humiliation to injury, underscoring the cost of witness. Beating with rods was a severe Roman punishment. The scene paints faithful servants suffering shame without a proper hearing. Yet even this injustice lies within God’s providence; from these wounds will come a jailer’s salvation. The apostles’ path often mirrors their Master’s—misunderstood, mistreated, yet unwavering. Suffering here is not failure but fellowship with Christ, through whom God will reveal His power and compassion.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent their garments off them, and commanded to beat them with rods.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent their garments off them, and commanded to beat them with rods.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the people made an attack on them all together: and the authorities took their clothing off them, and gave orders for them to be whipped.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And the multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates having torn their garments from them, were commanding to beat <FI>them<Fi> with rods,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the people ran together against them: and the magistrates, rending off their clothes, commanded them to be beaten with rods.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the crowd rose up too against them; and the praetors, having torn off their clothes, commanded to scourge [them].
Context
Verse 22 follows the accusations of verses 20–21 with a swift, unjust sentence. The escalation moves from public hostility to state-sanctioned violence. Verses 23–24 will deepen the severity—many stripes, inner prison, stocks—intensifying the setting for the midnight prayers and songs of verse 25. This context will make the earthquake and the jailer’s conversion in verses 26–34 all the more striking.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 21:30
And all the city was moved, and the people ran together; and they laid hold on Paul, and dragged him out of the temple: and straightway the doors were shut.
- 1 Peter 2:24
who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.
- Acts 22:22
And they gave him audience unto this word; and they lifted up their voice, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
- Matthew 10:17
But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you;
- Acts 18:12
But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment-seat,
- 2 Corinthians 6:5
in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;
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