Discovery BoxActs 16:36-37 
Context16:36 The jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, 1 “The magistrates have sent orders 2 to release you. So come out now and go in peace.” 3 16:37 But Paul said to the police officers, 4 “They had us beaten in public 5 without a proper trial 6 – even though we are Roman citizens 7 – and they threw us 8 in prison. And now they want to send us away 9 secretly? Absolutely not! They 10 themselves must come and escort us out!” 11
1 tn The word “saying” is not in the Greek text, but is implied; it is necessary in English because the content of what the jailer said to Paul and Silas is not the exact message related to him by the police officers, but is a summary with his own additions.
2 tn The word “orders” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
3 tn Grk “So coming out now go in peace.” The participle ἐξελθόντες (exelqonte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
4 tn Grk “to them”; the referent (the police officers) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
5 tn Grk “Having us beaten in public.” The participle δείραντες (deirante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
6 tn Or “in public, uncondemned.” BDAG 35 s.v. ἀκατάκριτος has “uncondemned, without due process” for this usage.
7 tn The participle ὑπάρχοντας (Juparconta") has been translated as a concessive adverbial participle.
8 tn The word “us” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
9 tn L&N 28.71 has “send us away secretly” for this verse.
10 tn Grk “But they.”
11 sn They themselves must come and escort us out! Paul was asking for the injustice he and Silas suffered to be symbolically righted. It was a way of publicly taking their actions off the record and showing the apostles’ innocence, a major public statement. Note the apology given in v. 39.
