Bible/Acts/16

Acts 16:27

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.
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.

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The jailer, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.

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.

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.

16:28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

What does Acts 16:27 mean?

Acts 16:27 is a verse in the book of Acts, in the New Testament. In the original Greek, key words include δέ (de), δεσμοφύλαξ (desmophulax), γίνομαι (ginomai).

Greek interlinear

Full chapter interlinear →
Andδέde/deh/G1161a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
the
keeper
of
the
prisonδεσμοφύλαξdesmophulax/des-mof-oo'-lax/G1200from 1199 and 5441; a jailer (as guarding the prisoners):--jailor, keeper of the prison.
awakingγίνομαιginomai/ghin'-om-ahee/G1096a prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.):--arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought.
out
of
his
sleep,ἔξυπνοςexupnos/ex'-oop-nos/G1853from 1537 and 5258; awake:--X out of sleep.
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.
seeingοἶδα οιδα ὁράωeidoG1492a primary verb; used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent 3700 and 3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know:--be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) know(-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wish, wot. Compare 3700.
the
prisonφυλακήphulake/foo-lak-ay'/G5438from 5442; a guarding or (concretely, guard), the act, the person; figuratively, the place, the condition, or (specially), the time (as a division of day or night), literally or figuratively:--cage, hold, (im-)prison(-ment), ward, watch.
doorsθύραthura/thoo'-rah/G2374apparently a primary word (compare "door"); a portal or entrance (the opening or the closure, literally or figuratively):--door, gate.
open,ἀνοίγωanoigo/an-oy'-go/G455from 303 and oigo (to open); to open up (literally or figuratively, in various applications):--open.
he
drew
outσπάωspao/spah'-o/G4685a primary verb; to draw:--draw (out).
his
sword,μάχαιραmachaira/makh'-ahee-rah/G3162probably feminine of a presumed derivative of 3163; a knife, i.e. dirk; figuratively, war, judicial punishment:--sword.
and
wouldμέλλωmello/mel'-lo/G3195a strengthened form of 3199 (through the idea of expectation); to intend, i.e. be about to be, do, or suffer something (of persons or things, especially events; in the sense of purpose, duty, necessity, probability, possibility, or hesitation):--about, after that, be (almost), (that which is, things, + which was for) to come, intend, was to (be), mean, mind, be at the point, (be) ready, + return, shall (begin), (which, that) should (after, afterwards, hereafter) tarry, which was for, will, would, be yet.
have
killedἀναιρέωanaireo/an-ahee-reh'-o/G337from 303 and (the active of) 138; to take up, i.e. adopt; by implication, to take away (violently), i.e. abolish, murder:--put to death, kill, slay, take away, take up.
himself,G1438
supposingνομίζωnomizo/nom-id'-zo/G3543from 3551; properly, to do by law (usage), i.e. to accustom (passively, be usual); by extension, to deem or regard:-- suppose, thing, be wont.
that
the
prisonersδέσμιοςdesmios/des'-mee-os/G1198from 1199; a captive (as bound):--in bonds, prisoner.
had
been
fled.ἐκφεύγωekpheugo/ek-fyoo'-go/G1628from 1537 and 5343; to flee out:--escape, flee.

Topics

CriminalsFamilyJailerPaulPhilippiPrisonersPrisonsReadings, SelectSilasSword, the

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Acts 16:27.

Matthew 2:9

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

Matthew 3:7

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Acts 12:6

And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

Acts 16:23

And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

Acts 5:19

But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

Matthew 1:11

And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: Josias: some read, Josias begat Jakim, and Jakim begat Jechonias

Matthew 1:19

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

Matthew 1:2

Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;

Frequently asked questions

What does Acts 16:27 say?

Acts 16:27 (King James Version) reads: "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."

Is Acts 16:27 in the Old or New Testament?

Acts 16:27 is in the New Testament of the Bible, in the book of Acts.

Reflect

As you read Acts 16:27, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Acts 16:27
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