Romans citizens could not be beaten without first receiving a trial. Non-citizens received no such protections. Paul and Silas had not only been beaten, but stripped naked to humiliate them -- but Paul and Silas were Roman citizens! Why did they not bring up this fact BEFORE being stripped and bloodied?! Apparently, Paul had intended all along to use his privilege as a citizen to shield, not himself, but the fledgling church. Faced with such a scandal, these magistrates would not dare to bother the church in Philippi. Why would they make such a sacrifice? No doubt because Jesus had done the same for us, and calls us to do the same for others in his name.