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Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

Acts 16:27

keeper of the prison. Same as "jailor" (Acts 16:23).

awaking out of his sleep. Literally becoming awake. Greek. exupnos. Only here. The verb exupnizo only in John 11:11.

drew out. drew.

would have killed. was about to kill. Greek. anaireo. See note on Acts 2:23.

supposing. Greek. nomizo. See note on Acts 14:19.

been fled. escaped. Compare Acts 12:19; Acts 27:42. Roman soldiers were responsible with their lives for prisoners in their charge.

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See also Acts 16:27 in other biblical comments:

  • A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger

    ACTS 16:27 o` desmofu,lax After o` desmofu,lax several manuscripts, including 614 1799 and 2147, identify the jailer as o` pisto.j Stefana/j (“faithful Stephanas”)....

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Acts 16:27. _THE 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 jai...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    WOULD 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...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 16 _ 1. In Derbe and Lystra again. Timotheus (Acts 16:1)._ 2. The Preaching forbidden in Asia (Acts 16:6). 3. The Vision of the Man from Macedonia (Acts 16:9). 4. The Gospel in Europe ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    IMPRISONMENT OF PAUL AND SILAS. THE PRISON BROKEN. The rulers (Acts 16:19) are the heads of police; they are afterwards called _Strategi, which_ answers to the Roman _Prœ tores._ Philippi was a colony...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    A SON IN THE FAITH (Acts 16:1-5)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. I...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _And the keeper of the prison_ The word is rendered _jailor_in 23, and might well be so here (as _R. V._), otherwise the English reader supposes the Greek to be varied from this variation of translati...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    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 ΜΆΧ...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    PREACHING ON THE SABBATH AT PHILIPPI. CONVERSION AND BAPTISM OF LYDIA. A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION CAST OUT BY ST PAUL. ANGER OF THOSE WHO MADE GAIN THEREBY. PAUL AND SILAS ARE SEIZED, BROUGHT BEFORE THE A...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _THE CONVERSION OF THE JAILER IN PHILIPPI ACTS 16:16-40:_ At a place of prayer in Philippi Paul and Silas came across a girl that had a spirit of divination. Her masters made a lot of money from her p...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΈΞΥΠΝΟΣ (G1853) проснувшийся, бодрствующий, поднявшийся, ΓΕΝΌΜΕΝΟΣ _aor. med. (dep.) part., см._ Acts 16:16. Temp, или сопутств. _part._ ΊΔΏΝ _aor. act. part. (temp.) от_ ΌΡΆΩ (G3708) видеть, ΆΝΕΦΓΜ...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    HE DREW OUT HIS SWORD, &C.— By the Roman law, if a prisoner escaped, the gaoler was to suffer what the prisoner was to have suffered. When therefore this man apprehended that all the prisoners were fl...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    AT PHILLIPPI. Acts 16:12-40 a. A description of Philippi. Acts 16:12. Acts 16:12 and from thence to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the first of the district, a Roman colony: and we were in...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    27. The jailer seems not to have heard the singing, but was awakened by the motion of the earthquake, the slamming of the doors, and the clanking of the fetters which fell from the hands of the prison...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    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 KE...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    19 This is the first occasion in which the evangel comes into conflict with the religion of the nations and with the spirit powers back of it. Hitherto the Jews and Judaism opposed the evangel. At Lys...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    ST. PAUL IN EUROPE 1. Timotheus] was probably of Lystra, not Derbe. His mother Eunice was perhaps a widow, and she, together with his grandmother Lois, educated the lad in the religion of Israel, tho...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    By Roman custom a gaoler who allowed a prisoner to escape suffered the same penalty as the prisoner. If the charge was a capital one he suffered death. The non-escape of the prisoners was due to terro...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    Journey into Europe, Philippi. 6. RV 'And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden of the Holy Ghost to speak the word in Asia.' At Lystra (Acts 16:6) they received a...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE ACTS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 16 TIMOTHY WORKS WITH PAUL AND SILAS, 16:1-5 V1 Paul went to Derbe and then he went to Lystra. A *Christian called Timothy lived there. Timothy...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    HE DREW OUT HIS SWORD, AND WOULD HAVE KILLED HIMSELF. — We have seen in Acts 12:19 what was to be expected by a gaoler who, under any circumstances, allowed a prisoner to escape. (See also Note on Act...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    ἔξυπνος : only here in N.T., once in LXX, Esther 3:3; Esther 3:3, of Darius waking from sleep. μάχαιραν : article omitted in T.R., see critical note. Weiss thinks that the omission occurs since in Act...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    SALVATION IN THE JAIL Acts 16:25 Some, as we have seen, are converted by the gentle opening of the heart; others amid the convulsions of the storm. The first knowledge of salvation may have reached t...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Here begins the account of Pads second journey. At Lystra he found Timothy. His action in the circumcision of Timothy is startling in view of the recent decision of the council. Some charge him with i...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    The Conversion of the Jailor At midnight, while the other prisoners listened to Paul and Silas singing and praying, a great earthquake shook open all the prison doors and released all those bound in...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (16) 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) Th...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    The awakened and panic-stricken jailer, knowing that cruel Roman law will require his life as substitute for the fugitive prisoner, in the absence of Bible light on suicide, and with the noble example...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. (26) And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and i...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We now enter on the missionary journeys, as they are called, of the apostle Paul. The work, under the Spirit, opens to the glory of the Lord. Not merely are Gentiles met in grace and brought into the...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    − 27._When the keeper of the prison was awaked. _He would have slain himself that he might prevent punishment; for it had been a foolish answer to have said that the doors were opened of their own acc...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    There is perhaps no example of this more remarkable than that which Paul does with regard to Timothy. He uses circumcision in all liberty to set aside Jewish prejudice. It is very doubtful whether, ac...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND THE KEEPER OF THE PRISON AWAKING OUT OF HIS SLEEP,.... Not so much by the loud voices of Paul and Silas, as by the uncommon motion of the earth, which so shook him, as thoroughly to awake him: AN...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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. Ver. 27. _An...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _At midnight Paul and Silas prayed_ Doubtless, for their persecutors as well as for themselves; _and sang praises unto God_ Notwithstanding weariness, hunger, stripes, and blood; _and the prisoners he...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    WOULD HAVE KILLED HIMSELF; to avoid the punishment of death, to which those were liable who allowed prisoners to escape. Compare chap Acts 12:19....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The earthquake at midnight:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    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....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Coming to Derbe and Lystra, where he and Barnabas had been persecuted before, Paul was favorably impressed with the young man, Timothy, who had evidently been converted through Paul on his first visit...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    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. 1. The jailer wakes up from his slee...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    "And the jailor, 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"Roused out of sleep" The Jailer had...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    AWAKING OUT OF HIS SLEEP, by the earthquake, which being upon an extraordinary occasion, could not fail to do all that God intended by it. WOULD HAVE KILLED HIMSELF, for fear of suffering a more cruel...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    27. The jailer seems not to have heard the singing, but was awakened by the motion of the earthquake, the slamming of the doors, and the clanking of the fetters which fell from the hands of the prison...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 16:27 And G1161 prison G1200 awaking G1096 (G5637) sleep G1853 and G2532 seeing G1492 (G5631) prison...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And the jailor, 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.' The jailer, aroused by the earthqu...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    MINISTRY IN PHILIPPI FROM THE HOUSE OF LYDIA (16:12B-40). The arrival in Europe was clearly seen by Luke as very important. He illustrates the successful ministry there by a threefold description of P...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT LEAD TO ADDITIONS TO THE CHURCH IN PHILIPPI (16:19-34). But the problem was that what he had done would hit at men's pockets. They did not care about the girl herself, they had...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Acts 16:27. AND THE KEEPER OF THE PRISON AWAKING OUT OF HIS SLEEP, AND SEEING THE PRISON DOORS OPEN, HE DREW HIS SWORD, AND WOULD HAVE KILLED HIMSELF, SUPPOSING THAT THE PRISONERS HAD FLED. The jailor...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    BEING ROUSED OUT OF SLEEP (εξυπνος γενομενος). Becoming εξυπνος (rare word, only here in N.T., in LXX and Josephus). An earthquake like that would wake up any one.OPEN (ανεωιγμενος). Perfect pass...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Acts 16:9. _And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us._ Our dreams often follow the leading thoughts of...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Paul finds Timothy. Paul's Macedonian vision. The first convert in Europe. Demons cast out of a damsel. Paul and Silas beaten. Conversion of the Philippian jailer. CHARACTERS: Jesus, Holy S...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Acts 16:1. _Then came he to Lystra,_ as in Acts 14:6. In their former labours in that city, Lois a jewess, her daughter Eunice, and Timothy her son, had embraced the faith. Now, they found Timothy gro...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    ABOUT MIDNIGHT. Note they were praying and singing in spite of their physical condition and the place where they were! SUDDENLY THERE WAS A VIOLENT EARTHQUAKE. This was God's answer. Compare Acts 4:31...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And the keeper of the prison … would have killed himself._ SUICIDE Suicide is not to fear death, but yet to be afraid of life. It is a brave act of valour to contemn death; but where life is more t...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 16:11 Philippi was the first Macedonian city in which Paul witnessed. ⇐ ⇔...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL REMARKS_ Acts 16:19. THE RULERS, ἄρχοντες, were the town magistrates (Luke 12:58). Acts 16:20. The MAGISTRATES, στρατηγοί, were the two chief civic authorities (dunmviri) in a Roman colony...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ACTS 16:1 _And he came also _for _then came he, _A.V._ _and T.R.; _to Lystra _for _Lystra, _A.V._; Timothy _for _Timotheus, _A.V._; of a Jewess _for _of a certain woman which was a Jewess,...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    We remember at the end of our study last week there arose a contention between Paul and Barnabas who had been close companions on the first missionary venture of the church. But because Barnabas was i...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Kings 16:18; 1 Samuel 31:4; 1 Samuel 31:5; 2 Samuel 17:23; Acts 16:

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Would have killed [ε μ ε λ λ ε ν α ν α ι ρ ε ι ν]. Rev., more correctly, was about to kill. Knowing that he must suffer death for the escape of his prisoners....

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