Kisah Para Rasul 16:35

16:35 At daybreak ¹  the magistrates ²  sent their police officers, ³  saying, “Release those men.”

Kisah Para Rasul 19:38

19:38 If then Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint ⁴  against someone, the courts are open ⁵  and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges against one another there. ⁶ 

[16:35]  ¹ tn The translation “day is breaking” for ἡμέρα γίνεται (Jhmera ginetai) in this verse is given by BDAG 436 s.v. ἡμέρα 1.a.

[16:35]  ² tn On the term translated “magistrates,” see BDAG 947-48 s.v. στρατηγός 1. These city leaders were properly called duoviri, but were popularly known as praetors (στρατηγοί, strathgoi). They were the chief officials of Philippi. The text leaves the impression that they came to the decision to release Paul and Silas independently. God was at work everywhere.

[16:35]  ³ tn On the term ῥαβδοῦχος (rJabdouco") see BDAG 902 s.v. The term was used of the Roman lictor and roughly corresponds to contemporary English “constable, policeman.”

[19:38]  ⁴ tn BDAG 600 s.v. λόγος 1.a.ε has “ἔχειν πρός τινα λόγον have a complaint against someone…19:38.”

[19:38]  ⁵ tn L&N 56.1 has ‘if Demetrius and his workers have an accusation against someone, the courts are open’ Ac 19:38.”

[19:38]  ⁶ tn The word “there” is not in the Greek text but is implied. The official’s request is that the legal system be respected.