And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.

And the sergeants reported these words unto the magistrates: and they feared when they heard that they were Romans;

And let us out themselves. And the serjeants told these words to the magistrates. And they were afraid, hearing that they were Romans.

And the lictors reported these words to the praetors. And they were afraid when they heard they were Romans.

And the serjeants reported these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans;

And the sergeants told these words to the magistrates: and they feared when they heard that they were Romans.

And the rod-bearers told to the magistrates these sayings, and they were afraid, having heard that they are Romans,

This answer the lictors took back to the praetors, who were alarmed when they were told that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.

And the police gave an account of these words to the authorities, and they were full of fear on hearing that they were Romans;

and let us drive them away." Then the attendants reported these words to the magistrates. And upon hearing that they were Romans, they were afraid.

The police reported his words to the Magistrates, who, on hearing that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, were alarmed,

They were afraid, because they were Romans. They are not once moved with the other point, because they had handled innocents cruelly without discretion; [1] and yet that was the greater reproach. But because they did not fear that any man would punish them, they were not moved with God's judgment. This is the cause that they do carelessly pass over that which was objected concerning injury done by them, only they are afraid of the officers [2] of the Romans, and lest they should be beheaded for violating the liberty in the body of a citizen. They knew that this was death if any of the chief governors [prefects] should commit it, then what should become of the officers of one free city? [3] Such is the fear of the wicked, because they have an amazed [4] conscience before God, they do long time flatter themselves in all sins, until the punishment [5] of men hang over their heads.

Footnotes

1 - "Nulla interposita cognitione," without any previous cognisance.

2 - "Securibus," axes.

3 - "Coloniae," colony.

4 - "Stupidam," stupid, dull.

5 - "Ultro," vengeance.

They feared when they heard - They were apprehensive of punishment for having imprisoned them in violation of the laws of the empire. To punish unjustly a Roman citizen was deemed an offence to the majesty of the Roman people, and was severely punished by the laws. Dionysius Hal. (Ant. Romans., ii.) says, "The punishment appointed for those who abrogated or transgressed the Valerian law was death, and the confiscation of his property." The emperor Claudius deprived the inhabitants of Rhodes of freedom for having crucified some Roman citizens (Dio Cass., lib. 60). See Kuinoel and Grotius.

They feared when they heard - they were Romans - They feared, because the Roman law was so constituted that an insult offered to a citizen was deemed an insult to the whole Roman people. There is a remarkable addition here, both in the Greek and Latin of the Codex Bezae. It is as follows: "And when they were come with many of their friends to the prison, they besought them to go out, saying: We were ignorant of your circumstances, that ye were righteous men. And, leading them out, they besought them, saying, Depart from this city, lest they again make an insurrection against you, and clamor against you."

(21) And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
(21) The wicked are not moved with the fear of God, but with the fear of men: and by that means also God provides for his, when it is needed.

And the sergeants told these words unto the magistrates,.... They returned to them, and acquainted them with what the prisoners said:
and they feared when they heard that they were Romans; they were not concerned for the injury they had done them; nor for the injustice and cruelty they had been guilty of; nor did they fear the wrath of God, and a future judgment; but they were put into a panic, when they found the men they had so ill used were Romans; lest they should be called to an account by the Roman senate, and be found guilty, and have their places taken away from them, and their persons punished.

they feared when they heard they were Romans--their authority being thus imperilled; for they were liable to an action for what they had done.