Acts 16:23

“And when they had laid many stripes upon them, etc.] Even above measure, as in (<471103>2 Corinthians 11:35). They cast them into prison; designing doubtless to inflict some greater punishment upon them, after they had further examined into their affairs: charging the jailer to keep them safely; suggesting, that he must be answerable for them, should they escape, either through his favour or his negligence; and they might rather give this strict charge, because they perceived that they were uncommon men, possessed of a strange power, which they had exerted in the casting out of the evil spirit, which might come to their knowledge by some means or other; they might look upon them to be a sort…”

“when they had laid many stripes upon them--the bleeding wounds from which they were not washed till it was done by the converted jailer (Act 16:33). charged the jailer . . . who . . . thrust them into the inner prison--"pestilential cells, damp and cold, from which the light was excluded, and where the chains rusted on the prisoners. One such place may be seen to this day on the slope of the Capitol at Rome" [HOWSON].”

“And when they had laid many stripes on them - The Jews were by law prohibited from inflicting more than 40 stripes, and usually inflicted but 39, 2 Corinthians 11:24. But there was no such law among the Romans. They were unrestricted in regard to the number of lashes, and probably inflicted many more. Perhaps Paul refers to this when he says 2 Corinthians 11:23, “In stripes above measure.” that is, beyond the usual measure among the Jews, or beyond moderation. They cast them into prison - The magistrates did this partly as a punishment, and partly with a view hereafter of taking vengeance on them more according to the forms of law. return to 'Top of Page'”

“They laid many stripes upon them - Either they did not immediately say they were Romans, or in the tumult it was not regarded. Charging the jailer - Perhaps rather to quiet the people than because they thought them criminal. Acts 16:24”

“they cast: Act 5:18, Act 8:3, Act 9:2, Act 12:4; Luk 21:12; Eph 3:1, Eph 4:1; Ti2 2:9; Plm 1:9; Rev 1:9; Rev 2:10 to keep: Act 5:23, Act 12:18; Sa1 23:22, Sa1 23:23; Mat 26:48, Mat 27:63-66 Acts 16:24”