Matthew Poole and continuators on Acts 16:35

35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants , saying, Let those men go.

Their Messengers, or Officers, which did carry a Mace, or a Rod, from whence they had their name.

Probably being terrified with the Earthquake, which if it had not been general, they could not yet have heard of. Their consciences might also accuse them for having unjustly punish'd them for a good deed which they had done, only to gratifie the rage of the multitude; a[illegible: 1 letter] [illegible: 2 letters]so because they had acted against the custom of the [illegible: 1 span] tho they did not yet know that they had the [illegible: 1 span] Roman Citizens), and had beaten strangers without any legal trial, or form of Law.