{When they had laid} (epithentes). Second aorist
(constative) active participle of epitith(886d)i, to place upon.
{Many stripes} (pollas pl(8867)as). The Jewish law was forty
stripes save one ( 2Co 11:24 ). The Roman custom depended on the
caprice of the judge and was a terrible ordeal. It was the custom
to inflict the stripes on the naked body (back) as Livy 2.5 says:
"_Missique lictores ad sumendum supplicium, nudatos virgis
caedunt_." On pl(8867)as (from pl(8873)s(935c), to strike a blow) see on
烊u 10:30; 12:47f|. {The jailor} (	(9369) desmophulaki). Late word
(desmos, phulax, keeper of bonds), in the N.T. only here
(verses  23,27,36 ). The LXX has the word archidesmophulax ( Ge
39:21-23 ). Chrysostom calls this jailor Stephanus, he was of
Achaia ( 1Co 16:15 ). {To keep safely} (asphal(9373) t(8872)ein).
Present active infinitive, to keep on keeping safely, perhaps "as
dangerous political prisoners" (Rackham). He had some rank and
was not a mere turnkey.