37 and Paul said to them, 'Having beaten us publicly uncondemned—men, Romans being—they did cast 'us' to prison, and now privately do they cast us forth! why no! but having come themselves, let them bring us forth.' 38 And the rod-bearers told to the magistrates these sayings, and they were afraid, having heard that they are Romans, 39 and having come, they besought them, and having brought 'them' forth, they were asking 'them' to go forth from the city;
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 16:37-39
Commentary on Acts 16:35-40
(Read Acts 16:35-40)
Paul, though willing to suffer for the cause of Christ, and without any desire to avenge himself, did not choose to depart under the charge of having deserved wrongful punishment, and therefore required to be dismissed in an honourable manner. It was not a mere point of honour that the apostle stood upon, but justice, and not to himself so much as to his cause. And when proper apology is made, Christians should never express personal anger, nor insist too strictly upon personal amends. The Lord will make them more than conquerors in every conflict; instead of being cast down by their sufferings, they will become comforters of their brethren.