Acts 16:36

Arabic Bible AVD 1999 (الكتاب المقدس)

فَأَخْبَرَ حَافِظُ ٱلسِّجْنِ بُولُسَ بِهَذا ٱلكَلَامِ أَنَّ ٱلْوُلَاةَ قَدْ أَرْسَلُوا أَنْ تُطْلَقَا، فَٱخْرُجَا ٱلْآنَ وَٱذْهَبَا بِسَلَامٍ.

What Does This Mean?

In this verse, the prison guard tells Paul that the local authorities have decided to release him and his companions. He instructs them to leave peacefully. This shows an act of kindness by the officials who previously mistreated them.

Explained for Children

Imagine you were in a big trouble and locked up unfairly, but then someone comes and says 'Oops! We made a mistake. You can go now.' That's what happened here. The people in charge realized they did something wrong to Paul and his friends, so they let them leave safely.

Historical Background

The Book of Acts was written by Luke around 60-80 AD. This verse is part of the narrative detailing Paul's missionary journeys, particularly focusing on a series of events where he and Silas were unjustly imprisoned in Philippi for preaching about Jesus. The culture at that time was Roman with strong Hellenistic influences.

Living It Out Today

Consider a situation when you are misunderstood or treated unfairly by someone. Like the officials who released Paul, sometimes people realize their mistake and make amends. It's important to accept such gestures of goodwill and move forward peacefully.

Topics

• justice
• forgiveness
• release
• peace
• mistreatment
• officials

Related Verses

• Luke 23:16
• John 19:7-8
• Acts 25:9
• Romans 13:1-7
• Colossians 4:6

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the magistrates send Paul away?

The magistrates likely realized their mistake in imprisoning Paul and his companions without a proper trial. They decided to release them as an act of correcting that injustice.

What does 'depart, and go in peace' mean?

'Depart, and go in peace' means they were instructed to leave the city peacefully without causing any trouble or holding grudges over their imprisonment.

How did Paul respond to this news of release?

While not explicitly stated here, knowing Paul’s character from other parts of Acts and his letters, he probably responded with gratitude and continued his mission after leaving.

What can we learn about forgiveness from this verse?

This verse teaches us that when people realize they have done something wrong to us, it's important to accept their apology or correction in a peaceful manner, reflecting the spirit of forgiveness.