Acts 16:25

16:24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

KJV

But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises to God: and the prisoners heard them.

16:26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

What does Acts 16:25 mean?

Acts 16:25 is a verse in the book of Acts, in the New Testament. In the original Greek, key words include δέ (de), κατά (kata), μεσονύκτιον (mesonuktion).

Greek interlinear

Andδέde/deh/G1161a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).

atκατάkata/kat-ah'/G2596a primary particle; (prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined):--about, according as (to), after, against, (when they were) X alone, among, and, X apart, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to touching), X aside, at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, (charita-)bly, concerning, + covered, (dai-)ly, down, every, (+ far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for, from ... to, godly, in(-asmuch, divers, every, -to, respect of), ... by, after the manner of, + by any means, beyond (out of) measure, X mightily, more, X natural, of (up-)on (X part), out (of every), over against, (+ your) X own, + particularly, so, through(-oughout, -oughout every), thus, (un-)to(-gether, -ward), X uttermost, where(-by), with. In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution, or intensity.

midnightμεσονύκτιονmesonuktion/mes-on-ook'-tee-on/G3317neuter of compound of 3319 and 3571; midnight (especially as a watch):--midnight.

Paul∏αῦλοςPaulos/pow'-los/G3972of Latin origin; (little; but remotely from a derivative of 3973, meaning the same); Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle:--Paul, Paulus.

andκαίkai/kahee/G2532apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.

Silas∑ιλᾶς ∑ίλαςSilas/see'-las/G4609contraction for 4610; Silas, a Christian:--Silas.

prayed,προσεύχομαιproseuchomai/pros-yoo'-khom-ahee/G4336from 4314 and 2172; to pray to God, i.e. supplicate, worship:--pray (X earnestly, for), make prayer.

and

sang

praisesὑμνέωhumneo/hoom-neh'-o/G5214from 5215; to hymn, i.e. sing a religious ode; by implication, to celebrate (God) in song:--sing a hymn (praise unto).

unto

God:θεόςtheos/theh'-os/G2316of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).

andδέde/deh/G1161a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).

the

prisonersδέσμιοςdesmios/des'-mee-os/G1198from 1199; a captive (as bound):--in bonds, prisoner.

heardἐπακροάομαιepakroaomai/ep-ak-ro-ah'-om-ahee/G1874from 1909 and the base of 202; to listen (intently) to:--hear.

them.αὐτόςautos/ow-tos'/G846from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.

Topics

Criminals Family Music Paul Philippi Praise Prayer, Answers To Prayer, Social and Family Prisoners Readings, Select Silas Worship

People & places in this verse

People

Paul Silas

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Acts 16:25.

Acts 15:22

Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

Acts 15:40

And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

Acts 16:19

And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, marketplace: or, court

Acts 16:29

Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

Acts 17:15

And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

Acts 17:4

And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

Mark 11:25

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Matthew 14:23

And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

Frequently asked questions

What does Acts 16:25 say?

Acts 16:25 (King James Version) reads: "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them."

Is Acts 16:25 in the Old or New Testament?

Acts 16:25 is in the New Testament of the Bible, in the book of Acts.

Reflect

As you read Acts 16:25, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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