The officers reported these words to the chief magistrates. And they became fearful when they heard that they were Romans,
Parallel translations
- WEB The sergeants reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans,
- KJV And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
- BSB So the officers relayed this message to the magistrates, who were alarmed to hear that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.
- NKJV And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans.
- NLT When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
When the magistrates heard the men were Romans, they were afraid.
Overview
Their fear shows the gravity of their illegal action against citizens; they could face severe penalties. The accusers' tactic had backfired, and the authorities were now the ones in jeopardy. God thus vindicated His servants and the gospel before the very officials who had condemned them.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Acts 22:29Immediately those who were about to examine him departed from him, and the commanding officer also was afraid when he realized that he was a Roman, because he had bound him.
- Matt 14:5When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
- Matt 21:46When they sought to seize him, they feared the multitudes, because they considered him to be a prophet.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 16:38 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.