Bible Strands
Acts 16:22
The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered that they be stripped and beaten with rods.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Luke narrates the moment when the Philippian magistrates, responding to a mob uprising, command that Paul and Silas be stripped and beaten with rods. This occurs immediately after the crowd accuses the apostles of promoting customs unlawful for Romans to practice.
The words — ὄχλος (ochlos) means crowd, and συνεπὲστη (sunepestē) denotes rising up together in coordinated action. The text uses these terms to describe the mob’s collective mobilization against the apostles.
The thread — This pattern of mob violence and official punishment recurs in 1 Thessalonians 2:2, 2 Corinthians 6:5, and Acts 22:22. Each reference documents the physical opposition and institutional hostility faced by the apostles.
Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to acknowledge the concrete historical reality of apostolic suffering under mob and legal authority. It demands recognition that the gospel message historically triggered coordinated civil and popular resistance.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
Cross-references
- 1 Thessalonians 2:2 As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God.
- 2 Corinthians 6:5 in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in labor, sleepless nights, and hunger;
- Acts 22:22 The crowd listened to Paul until he made this statement. Then they lifted up their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He is not fit to live!”
- 2 Corinthians 11:23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am speaking as if I were out of my mind.) I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death.
- Hebrews 11:36 Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
- Matthew 10:17 But beware of men, for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues.
- Matthew 27:26 So Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.
- Acts 5:40 At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.
- Acts 16:37 But Paul said to the officers, “They beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison, even though we are Roman citizens. And now do they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! Let them come themselves and escort us out!”
- Acts 17:5 The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas, hoping to bring them out to the people.