The Meaning of Acts 16:38 Explained

Acts 16:38

KJV: And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.

YLT: And the rod-bearers told to the magistrates these sayings, and they were afraid, having heard that they are Romans,

Darby: And the lictors reported these words to the praetors. And they were afraid when they heard they were Romans.

ASV: And the sergeants reported these words unto the magistrates: and they feared when they heard that they were Romans;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  the serjeants  told  these  words  unto the magistrates:  and  they feared,  when they heard  that  they were  Romans. 

What does Acts 16:38 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 16:25-40 - Salvation In The Jail
Some, as we have seen, are converted by the gentle opening of the heart; others amid the convulsions of the storm. The first knowledge of salvation may have reached the heart of the jailer through the saving of the possessed girl, Acts 16:17. If only the heart is right with Christ, it can sing in the darkest night; and the impression of those holy songs must have wrought still further upon the conscience of this rough Roman official, who had treated his prisoners with uncommon severity, Acts 16:24. The inner prison! Perhaps some of our readers have been in it! They have come to an end of themselves and their feet are fastened!
But God has His own way of deliverance and never forsakes His own. Art thou in the stocks today? Then pray and sing praises! Choose, for instance, Psalms 103:1-22. God will be thy very present help. Thou shalt win thy jailer, and become a monument of God's saving mercy. There is no course for the convicted sinner but to trust in the salvation wrought upon the Cross; or still better, in Him who wrought it.
Paul was perfectly justified in insisting upon his civil rights when he had the opportunity, Acts 16:37. It made the way easier for his new converts. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 16

1  Paul and Silas are Joined by Timothy,
7  and being called by the Spirit from one country to another,
14  convert Lydia,
16  and cast out a spirit of divination;
19  for which cause they are whipped and imprisoned
25  The prison doors are opened
31  The jailor is converted,
35  and they are delivered

What do the individual words in Acts 16:38 mean?

Reported then to the captains the officers the words these They were afraid having heard that Romans they are
Ἀπήγγειλαν δὲ τοῖς στρατηγοῖς οἱ ῥαβδοῦχοι τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα ἐφοβήθησαν ἀκούσαντες ὅτι Ῥωμαῖοί εἰσιν

Ἀπήγγειλαν  Reported 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀγγέλλω 
Sense: to bring tidings (from a person or a thing), bring word, report.
τοῖς  to  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
στρατηγοῖς  captains 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: στρατηγός  
Sense: the commander of an army.
ῥαβδοῦχοι  officers 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ῥαβδοῦχος  
Sense: one who carries the rods i.
ῥήματα  words 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ῥῆμα  
Sense: that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken, word.
ταῦτα  these 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἐφοβήθησαν  They  were  afraid 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: φοβέομαι 
Sense: to put to flight by terrifying (to scare away).
ἀκούσαντες  having  heard 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
Ῥωμαῖοί  Romans 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: Ῥωμαῖος  
Sense: a resident of the city of Rome, a Roman citizen.
εἰσιν  they  are 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.

What are the major concepts related to Acts 16:38?

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