Verse 23. And when they had laid many stripes upon them. The Jews were by law prohibited from inflicting more than forty stripes, and usually inflicted but thirty-nine, 2 Co 11:24. But there was no such law among the Romans. They were unrestricted in regard to the number of lashes; and probably inflicted many more. Perhaps Paul refers to this when he says, (2 Co 11:23,) |In stripes above measure,| i. e., beyond the usual measure among the Jews, or beyond moderation.
They cast them into prison. The magistrates, Ac 16:36,37, as a punishment; and probably with a view hereafter of taking vengeance on them, more according to the forms of law.
{a} |many stripes| 2 Co 6:5; 11:23,25; 1 Th 2:2