What Does Acts 16:35 Mean in the King James?

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

Acts 16:35 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

Greek marks both the officers’ sending and the men’s release with the same outward prefix, ⁨ἀπό⁩ (apó, away/from), so the command moves freedom through the act of dispatch.

THE MEANING

The sentence gives one outward movement two destinations: the officers are sent, and the men are released. For you now, release appears as an action carried through a command until it reaches those who are held.

THE ROOT

ἀπόλυσον

apólyson

GROWS FROM

λύω

lyō

To loosen or unbind; with ⁨ἀπό⁩ (apó, away/from), ⁨ἀπολύω⁩ (apolýō) can mean to release or dismiss.

“let ... go” in this verse is apólyson. The command is ⁨ἀπόλυσον⁩ (apólyson, release or send away), built on ⁨λύω⁩ (lyō, loosen). Earlier, the KJV’s sent translates ⁨ἀπέστειλαν⁩ (apésteilan, they sent), from ⁨ἀποστέλλω⁩ (apostéllō, send or dispatch), a different verb, but one that also begins with ⁨ἀπό⁩ (apó, away/from). The officers move outward first; then the order turns that movement toward the men.

ALSO GROWS

lýsis: A loosening, release, or unbinding.

λύσις

It makes the release in the command tangible as the undoing of what holds someone in place.

katalýō: To loosen, dismantle, or take apart.

καταλύω

It shows the same root at work when what is holding something together comes undone.

THE PATTERN

Release takes shape when a word or act sends people outward from what confines them.

And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.

Exodus 5:1 · KJVThe command names release as movement outward from a constricting hold.

Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:

Psalm 146:7 · KJVThe LORD’s action is described as loosening those held in confinement.

And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

Acts 12:7 · KJVThe chains falling from Peter’s hands make release visible as confinement comes undone.

THE THREAD

So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

Acts 4:21 · KJV

Acts 4:21 uses the same verb, ⁨ἀπολύω⁩ (apolýō, release or dismiss), for letting the apostles go. Together the verses show release passing through the language of authority: a word that can threaten can also open the way out.

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