Acts 16:22

“And the multitude rose up together against them, etc.] The crowd of people that were gathered together in the court on this occasion; being no doubt spirited up by the proprietors of the maid, out of whom the spirit of divination was cast, and encouraged by the rulers, and being provoked at the hearing of unlawful customs being introduced among them; and the magistrates rent off their clothes; not their own clothes, as did the high priest, (<411463>Mark 14:63) but the clothes of Paul and Silas; and so reads the Arabic version, “and the rulers rent the garments of both of them”; which removes the ambiguity in the words; for at the whipping or beating of malefactors, they did not pluck off…”

“the multitude rose up together against them--so Act 19:28, Act 19:34; Act 21:30; Luk 23:18. the magistrates rent off their--Paul's and Silas' clothes--that is, ordered the lictors, or rod-bearers, to tear them off, so as to expose their naked bodies (see on Act 16:37). The word expresses the roughness with which this was done to prisoners preparatory to whipping. and commanded to beat them--without any trial (Act 16:37), to appease the popular rage. Thrice, it seems, Paul endured this indignity (Co2 11:25).”

“And the multitude ... - It is evident that this was done in a popular tumult, and without even the form of law. Of this Paul afterward justly complained, as it was a violation of the privileges of a Roman citizen, and contrary to the laws. See the notes on Acts 16:37. It was one instance in which people affect great zeal for the honor of the Law, and yet are among the first to disregard it. And the magistrates - Acts 16:20. They who should have been their protectors until they had had a fair trial according to law. Rent off their clothes - This was always done when one was to be scourged or whipped. The criminal was usually stripped entirely naked. Livy says (ii. 5), “The lictors, being sent…”

“16:22-24 All reasonable security measures were taken to ensure that Paul and Silas didn’t escape after they had been stripped and beaten with wooden rods (see 22:24-26; 2 Cor 6:5; 11:23-25). As at Christ’s tomb (Matt 27:65), however, human effort did not prevent divine intervention.”

“the multitude: Act 17:5, Act 18:12, Act 19:28-41, Act 21:30, Act 21:31, Act 22:22, Act 22:23 the magistrates: Act 16:37, Act 5:40, Act 22:24-26; Mat 10:17, Mat 27:26; Co2 6:5, Co2 11:23-25; Th1 2:2; Heb 11:36; Pe1 2:24 Acts 16:23”