Acts 16:27

Acts 16:27 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
• New International Version (NIV)The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.
• English Standard Version (ESV)When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.

Context of Acts 16:27

25Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God. The other prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly, a violent earthquake shook the foundations of the jail. All the doors immediately flew open, and all the prisoners’ chains came loose. The jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open. Thinking the prisoners had escaped, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28But Paul shouted as loudly as he could, “Don’t hurt yourself! We’re all here!” 29The jailer asked for torches and rushed into the jail. He was trembling as he knelt in front of Paul and Silas.

Acts 16:27 word by word

ἔξυπνος δὲ γενόμενος ὁ δεσμοφύλαξ καὶ ἰδὼν ἀνεῳγμένας τὰς θύρας τῆς φυλακῆς, σπασάμενος μάχαιραν ἤμελλεν ἑαυτὸν ἀναιρεῖν νομίζων ἐκπεφευγέναι τοὺς δεσμίους.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andδέde · thenG1161
• the keeper of the prisonὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the keeper of the prisonδεσμοφύλαξdesmophulax · jailerG1200
• awaking outγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• of his sleepἔξυπνοςexupnos · awakeG1853
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• seeingὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• the prisonφυλακήphulakē · prison/watch: prisonG5438
• doorsθύραthura · doorG2374
• openἀνοίγωanoigō · to openG455
• he drew outσπάωspaō · to drawG4685
• his swordμάχαιραmachaira · swordG3162
• and wouldμέλλωmellō · to ensueG3195
• have killedἀναιρέωanaireō · to killG337
• himselfἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• supposing thatνομίζωnomizō · to thinkG3543
• the prisonersδέσμιοςdesmios · prisonerG1198
• had been fledἐκφεύγωekpheugō · to escapeG1628

Cross-references for Acts 16:27

• Acts 16:23After they had hit Paul and Silas many times, they threw them in jail and ordered the jailer to keep them under tight security.
• Judges 9:54He quickly called his armorbearer. He told him, “Take your sword and kill me! I don’t want anyone to say, ‘A woman killed Abimelech.’ ” His armorbearer did as he said, so Abimelech died.
• 1 Samuel 31:4Saul told his armorbearer, “Draw your sword! Stab me, or these godless men will come, stab me, and make fun of me.” But his armorbearer refused because he was terrified. So Saul took the sword and fell on it.
• 2 Samuel 17:23When Ahithophel saw that his advice hadn’t been followed, he saddled his donkey, left, and went home to his own city. He gave instructions to his family. Then he hanged himself, died, and was buried in his father’s tomb.
• 1 Kings 16:18When Zimri saw that the city had been captured, he went into the stronghold in the royal palace and burned down the palace over his own head. He died
• Matthew 27:5So he threw the money into the temple, went away, and hanged himself.

Commentaries on Acts 16:27

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 27The keeper of the prison - would have killed himself - Every jailor was made responsible for his prisoner, under the same penalty to which the prisoner himself was exposed. The jailor, awaking, and finding the prison-doors open, taking it for granted that all the prisoners had made their escape, and that he must lose his life on the account, chose rather to die by his own hand than by that of others. For it was customary among the heathens, when they…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 27Would have killed himself - This was done in the midst of agitation and alarm. He supposed that the prisoners had fled. He presumed that their escape would be charged on him. It was customary to hold a jailor responsible for the safe keeping of prisoners, and to subject him to the punishment due them if he suffered them to escape. See Acts 12:19. It should be added that it was common and approved among the Greeks and Romans for a man to commit suicide…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 25-34Verses 25-34 The consolations of God to his suffering servants are neither few nor small. How much more happy are true Christians than their prosperous enemies! As in the dark, so out of the depths, we may cry unto God. No place, no time is amiss for prayer, if the heart be lifted up to God. No trouble, however grievous, should hinder us from praise. Christianity proves itself to be of God, in that it obliges us to be just to our own lives. Paul cried…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 27The Roman jailer knew he could lose his life if the prisoners he guarded escaped. This was a common practice (12:19; 27:42; compare Code of Justinian 9.4.4).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 26-2826-28. And suddenly there was a great earthquake--in answer, doubtless, to the prayers and expectations of the sufferers that, for the truth's sake and the honor of their Lord, some interposition would take place. every one's bands--that is, the bands of all the prisoners. were loosed--not by the earthquake, of course, but by a miraculous energy accompanying it. By this and the joyous strains which they had heard from the sufferers, not to speak of the…Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 16:27

• Converts
• Cowardice
• Criminals
• Family
• Jailer (Jailor)
• Minister, Christian
• Paul
• Philippi
• Prisoners
• Readings, Select
• Silas
• Suicide

In the dictionaries

• Establish
• Gate
• Gather
• Gone
• Harm
• James
• Judge
• Light
• Macedonia
• Note

Commentaries on Acts 16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings