Righteous Vindication

[Acts 16:36] And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
[37] But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
There are three aggravating circumstances mentioned:
1. That they had been beaten, contrary to the Roman laws.
2. That it had been public; the disgrace had been in the presence of the people, and the reparation ought to be as public.
3. That it had been done without a trial, and while they were un-condemned and therefore the magistrates ought themselves to come and release them, and thus publicly acknowledge their error. Paul knew the privileges of a Roman citizen; and at proper times, when the interests of justice and religion required it, he did not hesitate to assert them. In all this he understood and accorded with the Roman laws. The Valerian law declared that if a citizen appealed from the magistrate to the people, it should not be lawful for the magistrate to beat him with rods, or to behead him.
Being Romans, or having the privilege of Roman citizens. They were born Jews, but they claimed that they were Roman citizens, and had a right to the privilege of citizenship. On the ground of this claim, and the reason why Paul claimed to be a Roman citizen.
The release should be as public as the unjust act of imprisonment. As they have publicly attempted to disgrace us, so they should as publicly acquit us. This was a matter of mere justice; and as it was of great importance to their character and success, they insisted on it.
Nay - but let them come, etc. It was proper that they should be required this:
1. Because they had been illegally imprisoned, and the injustice of the magistrates should be acknowledged.
2. Because the Roman laws had been violated, and the majesty of the Roman people thus insulted and honor should be done to the laws.
3. Injustice had been done to Paul and Silas, and they had a right to demand just treatment and protection.
4. Such a public act on the part of the magistrates would strengthen the young converts, and show them that the apostles were not guilty of a violation of the laws.
5. It would tend to the honor and to the furtherance of religion. It would be a public acknowledgment of their innocence; and would go far towards lending to them the sanction of the laws as religious teachers.
The magistrates were apprehensive of punishment for having imprisoned them in violation of the laws of the empire. To punish unjustly a Roman citizen was deemed an offence to the majesty of the Roman people, and was severely punished by the laws. The punishment appointed for those who abrogated or transgressed the Valerian law was death, and the confiscation of his property.
A Believer may bear much as a man in a private capacity, and may submit, without any effort to seek reparation; but where the honor of the gospel is concerned--where submission, without any effort to obtain justice, might be followed by disgrace to the cause of religion--a higher obligation may require him to seek a vindication of his character, and to claim the protection of the laws. His name, and character, and influence, belong to the church. The laws are designed as a protection to an injured name, or of violated property and rights, and of an endangered life. And when that protection can be had only by an appeal to the laws, such an appeal, as in the case of Paul and Silas, is neither vindictive nor improper. My private interests I may sacrifice, if I choose; my public name, and character, and principles belong to the church and the world; and the laws, if necessary, may be called in for their protection.
Paul and Silas did not seem to get their righteous vindication but their unkind and inhospitable request that they should leave them, was the means of the extension of the gospel into adjacent regions. The preachers of the gospel were not such despicable
people as they were commonly looked upon to be, and that they merited better treatment than what they received.
Maybe you have not received righteous vindication when you should have. G-d has seen the goings on and He can use a bad situation to send you to the ones that are open to the truth, thus glorifying His kingdom.
Let not ministers be discouraged, though they see not the fruit of their labors presently; the seed sown seems to be lost under the clods, but it shall come up again in a plentiful harvest in due time.