At daybreak ¹  the magistrates ²  sent their police officers, ³  saying, “Release those men.”

The police officers reported these words to the magistrates. They were frightened when they heard Paul and Silas ¹  were Roman citizens ² 

But Paul said to the police officers, ¹  “They had us beaten in public ²  without a proper trial ³  – even though we are Roman citizens ⁴  – and they threw us ⁵  in prison. And now they want to send us away ⁶  secretly? Absolutely not! They ⁷  themselves must come and escort us out!” ⁸