Robertson's Word Pictures of the NT

Acts 16:26

Earthquake

(σεισμος). Old word from σειω, to shake. Luke regarded it as an answer to prayer as in Acts 4:31. He and Timothy were not in prison.So that the foundations of the prison house were shaken

(ωστε σαλευθηνα τα θεμελια του δεσμωτηριου). Regular construction of the first aorist passive infinitive and the accusative of general reference with ωστε for actual result just like the indicative. This old word for prison house already in Matthew 11:2; Acts 5:21; Acts 5:23 which see. Θεμελια is neuter plural of the adjective θεμελιος, from θεμα (thing laid down from τιθημ). So already in Luke 6:48; Luke 14:29. If the prison was excavated from rocks in the hillside, as was often the case, the earthquake would easily have slipped the bars of the doors loose and the chains would have fallen out of the walls.Were opened

(ηνεωιχθησαν). First aorist passive indicative of ανοιγω (or -νυμ) with triple augment (η, ε, ω), while there is no augment in ανεθη (first aorist passive indicative of ανιημ, were loosed), old verb, but in the N.T. only here and Acts 27:40; Ephesians 6:9; Hebrews 13:5.

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Robertson's Word Pictures of the NT

Acts 16:26

Old Testament

New Testament