Acts 16:27
What does Acts 16:27 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 16:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 16:27 means
Awakened by the quake and seeing doors open, the jailor draws his sword to kill himself, supposing the prisoners escaped. Roman law held jailors accountable with their lives for lost prisoners. Fear, shame, and duty converge in despair. He believes his story is over. But God has written another page. The gospel often reaches people at the brink, when self-reliance collapses. The truest prison here is hopelessness. The Lord will save not only prisoners from chains but a keeper from suicide. Even in a justice system that punishes without mercy, God’s mercy finds a way to intervene through His servants’ timely word.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the keeper, coming out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, took his sword and was about to put himself to death, fearing that the prisoners had got away.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and the jailor having come out of sleep, and having seen the doors of the prison open, having drawn a sword, was about to kill himself, supposing the prisoners to be fled,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the keeper of the prison, awakening out of his sleep and seeing the doors of the prison open, drawing his sword, would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the jailor being awakened out of his sleep, and seeing the doors of the prison opened, having drawn a sword was going to kill himself, thinking the prisoners had fled.
Context
This verse follows the miraculous opening of doors and release of bonds in verse 26. The jailor’s reaction introduces a new focus: his life is now at stake. Verse 28 will feature Paul’s loud assurance that no one has fled, halting the suicide attempt. That act of mercy sets the stage for the jailor’s trembling approach in verse 29 and his salvation inquiry in verse 30, culminating in gospel instruction and baptism (verses 31–33).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 27:5
And he cast down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.
- 2 Samuel 17:23
And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home, unto his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
- 1 Kings 16:18
And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the castle of the king’s house, and burnt the king’s house over him with fire, and died,
- Judges 9:54
Then he called hastily unto the young man his armorbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and kill me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
- 1 Samuel 31:4
Then said Saul to his armorbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armorbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell upon it.
- Acts 12:19
And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judæa to Cæsarea, and tarried there.
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