Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 16:22

"And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent their garments off them, and commanded to beat them with rods." — Acts 16:22 (ASV)

And the multitude. It is evident that this was done in a popular tumult, and without even the form of law. Of this, Paul afterwards justly complained, as it was a violation of the privileges of a Roman citizen, and contrary to the laws (See Barnes on Acts 16:37).

It was one instance in which men affect great zeal for the honour of the law, and yet are among the first to disregard it.

And the magistrates (Acts 16:20). They who should have been their protectors, until they had had a fair trial according to law.

Rent off their clothes. This was always done when one was to be scourged or whipped. The criminal was usually stripped entirely naked. Livy says (2.5), "The lictors, being sent to inflict punishment, beat them with rods, being naked." Cicero, in his orations against Verres, says, "He commanded the man to be seized, and to be stripped naked in the middle of the forum, and to be bound, and rods to be brought."

And commanded to beat them. rabdizein. To beat them with rods. This was done by lictors, whose office it was, and was a common mode of punishment among the Romans. Probably Paul alludes to this when he says, Thrice was I beaten with rods (2 Corinthians 11:25).