Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Acts 16:27

ἔξυπνος δὲ γενόμενος ὁ δεσμοφύλαξ, and the jailor awaking out of his sleep. For ἔξυπνος cf. 1Es 3:3, ὁ βασιλεὺς … ἐκοιμήθη καὶ ἔξυπνος ἐγένετο. It is only found in N.T. in this verse.

σπασάμενος μάχαιραν, having drawn his sword. The jailor probably slept in such a place that on rising he could observe at a glance whether the prison doors were secure, and had his weapon close at hand so that he might seize and use it on any emergency. He must also have been so near to the open doors before he manifested any design of suicide that the prisoners within could see what he was doing. St Paul out of the dark could observe him before the jailor could see farther than the opened doors.

ἤμελλεν ἑαντὸν�, he was about to kill himself. For he knew what his fate would be. See Acts 12:19; and compare Acts 27:42, for the way in which Roman officials must answer with their lives for the escape of prisoners. Suicide under such circumstances would to the jailor’s mind present the easiest way out of his difficulties, and the teaching of even the greatest minds both of Greece and Rome was that it was justifiable and under some circumstances praiseworthy. The suicide of Cato (Catonis nobile letum) furnished a constant text for such teaching. (Cf. Cic. Tusc. I. §§ 9–119; Plat. Apol. 40.)

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Acts 16:27

Old Testament

New Testament