Acts Chapter 16 verse 38 Holy Bible
And the sergeants reported these words unto the magistrates: and they feared when they heard that they were Romans;
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And the police gave an account of these words to the authorities, and they were full of fear on hearing that they were Romans;
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And the lictors reported these words to the praetors. And they were afraid when they heard they were Romans.
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And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
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read chapter 16 in WBT
The sergeants reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans,
read chapter 16 in WEB
And the rod-bearers told to the magistrates these sayings, and they were afraid, having heard that they are Romans,
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Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 38. - Reported for told, A.V.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(38) They feared, when they heard that they were Romans.--It is clear that the strategi did not consider their ignorance of St. Paul's citizenship a sufficient defence. They had acted illegally, and the consequence of that illegality went further than they counted on; but they could not, therefore, shake off their responsibility. They were liable to a prosecution, such as that which Cicero, for like offences, instituted against Verres. The tables were turned; the accused had become a possible accuser, and they, instead of hushing the matter up, were compelled to make something like a formal apology. We may well believe that St. Paul's motive in insisting on this, was less the satisfaction of his own honour, than a desire to impress upon the strategi that they were not to over-ride or strain the law to gratify the passions of a mob.