Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Unto them (prov autouv). The lictors by the jailor. The reply of Paul is a marvel of brevity and energy, almost every word has a separate indictment showing the utter illegality of the whole proceeding.
They have beaten us (deirantev hmav). First aorist active participle of derw, old verb to flay, to skin, to smite. The Lex Valeria BC 509 and the Lex Poscia BC 248 made it a crime to inflict blows on a Roman citizen. Cicero says, "To fetter a Roman citizen was a crime, to scourge him a scandal, to slay him—parricide." Claudius had "deprived the city of Rhodes of its freedom for having crucified some citizen of Rome" (Rackham).
Publicly (dhmosiai). This added insult to injury. Common adverb (odw) supplied with adjective, associative instrumental case, opposed to idiai or kat oikouv, Acts 20:20)
Uncondemned (akatakritouv). This same verbal adjective from kata-krinw with a privative is used by Paul in Acts 22:25 and nowhere else in the N.T. Rare in late Greek like akatagnwstov, but in late Koin‚ (papyri, inscriptions). The meaning is clearly "without being tried." Paul and Silas were not given a chance to make a defence. They were sentenced unheard (Acts 25:16). Even slaves in Roman law had a right to be heard.
Men that are Romans (anqrwpouv Romaiouv uparxontav). The praetors did not know, of course, that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens any more than Lysias knew it in Acts 22:27. Paul's claim is not challenged in either instance. It was a capital offence to make a false claim to Roman citizenship.
Have cast us into prison (ebalan eiv fulakhn). Second aorist active indicative of ballw, old verb, with first aorist ending as often in the Koin‚ (-an, not -on). This was the climax, treating them as criminals.
And now privily (kai nun laqrai). Paul balances their recent conduct with the former.
Nay verily, but (ou gar, alla). No indeed! It is the use of gar so common in answers (ge+ara) as in Matthew 27:23. Alla gives the sharp alternative.
Themselves (autoi). As a public acknowledgment that they had wronged and mistreated Paul and Silas. Let them come themselves and lead us out (ecagagetwsan, third person plural second aorist active imperative of ecagw). It was a bitter pill to the proud praetors.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 16:37:
Acts 15:40
Acts 16:22
Acts 18:28
Acts 22:25
2 Corinthians 11:25
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