Acts 16:26
What does Acts 16:26 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 16:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 16:26 means
Suddenly, a great earthquake shakes the prison’s foundations; doors open and everyone’s chains fall off. This is no ordinary tremor. Nature serves the God who frees captives and confirms His witnesses. The timing, scope, and specific effects point to a miraculous intervention. Yet the opening is not for escape but for evangelism. God disrupts structures to break spiritual bondage. The loosening of all prisoners’ bonds suggests a work far beyond Paul and Silas, foreshadowing a wider liberty. This act displays the Lord’s sovereignty over creation and circumstances, demonstrating that He can overturn any human security system when it serves His saving purposes.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison-house were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened; and every one’s bands were loosed.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison-house were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened; and every one’s bands were loosed.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And suddenly there was an earth-shock, so that the base of the prison was moved: and all the doors came open, and everyone's chains came off.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and suddenly a great earthquake came, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, opened also presently were all the doors, and of all--the bands were loosed;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened and the bands of all were loosed.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison shook, and all the doors were immediately opened, and the bonds of all loosed.
Context
Following the midnight worship in verse 25, verse 26 brings divine power into the scene. The physical liberation creates a crisis for the jailor in verse 27, who assumes the worst and prepares to take his life. Paul’s intervention in verse 28 will redirect the moment from tragedy to testimony, leading to personal encounter and salvation for the jailor and his household (verses 29–34).
v.25But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God, and the prisoners were listening to them;
v.26This passage
v.27And 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.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 42:7
to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house.
- Acts 4:31
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
- Psalms 102:20
To hear the sighing of the prisoner; To loose those that are appointed to death;
- Psalms 146:7
Who executeth justice for the oppressed; Who giveth food to the hungry. Jehovah looseth the prisoners;
- Matthew 28:2
And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it.
- Zechariah 9:11
As for thee also, because of the blood of thy covenant I have set free thy prisoners from the pit wherein is no water.
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