An Official Apology

35 [When] daylight came, the magistrates sent [their] officers with the order: “Release those men.”

36 The jailer informed Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders to release you. Now you may go on your way in peace.”

37 But Paul said to [the officers], “They beat us publicly without a trial [and] threw [us] into prison, [even though] we are Roman citizens. And now do they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! Let them come themselves and escort us out!”

38 [So] the officers relayed this message to the magistrates, [who] were alarmed to hear that [Paul and Silas] were Roman citizens. 39 They came to appease them and led them out, requesting that they leave the city. 40 After [Paul and Silas] came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house to see the brothers and encourage [them]. Then they left [ the city ].