(མཛད་པ། 16:35-40)

 

But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed. (Acts16:35-40)

 

The accusation of ‘unlawful customs’ (verse 21) was a small matter. But the violent beating of Roman Citizens by the magistrates had been like a very public humiliation of Party Members, who in the case of any really serious charge had a right to fair trial.

So speedily coming to the prison, they said ‘Be gone, please!’ humbly requesting Paul and Silas to leave Roman Philippi before they themselves, the magistrates, got punished by even higher Roman authorities!