Acts 16:24 kjv
Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
Acts 16:24 nkjv
Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
Acts 16:24 niv
When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
Acts 16:24 esv
Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
Acts 16:24 nlt
So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.
Acts 16 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 16:35 | The next day the magistrates sent the police, saying, "Let those men go." | Immediate consequence |
| Acts 16:37 | But Paul said to them, "They flogged us publicly, without a trial, and we are Roman citizens. Have they thrown us into prison? Now let them come and escort us out." | Paul asserts Roman citizenship |
| Acts 22:25-26 | When they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, "Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen who is uncondemned? When the centurion heard this, he came and told the chief captain, saying, 'Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman citizen.'" | Similar incident of asserting citizenship |
| Exodus 21:24 | eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot | Principle of retribution |
| Deuteronomy 25:2-3 | Then if the guilty man is found worthy of striking, the judge shall strike him and lay him down before him, in proportion to his guilt, with his number of strokes. Forty stripes he may give him, but no more, lest, if he should beat him these too many times with many blows, your brother would be degraded in your sight. | Legal limits on punishment |
| Matthew 7:12 | So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. | The Golden Rule |
| John 18:38 | Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find no guilt in Him." | Pilate finds no guilt in Jesus |
| 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 | though I am free in regard to all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more. | Paul's missionary strategy |
| 2 Corinthians 11:24-25 | Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;... | Paul recounts sufferings |
| Philippians 1:12-13 | I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it became known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. | Imprisonment leading to witness |
| Romans 13:1-7 | Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. | Obedience to governing authorities |
| Psalm 94:20 | Can wicked rulers form alliances? Can they make trouble using laws? | Justice sought from rulers |
| Proverbs 24:11-12 | Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling toward slaughter. If you say, "But we did not know of this," does not he who weighs hearts consider it? And does not he who keeps your life know it? And will he not render to each according to his work? | Duty to intervene for the wronged |
| Acts 23:27-29 | When this man was seized by the Jews and would have been killed by them, I came with the soldiers and rescued him, having determined that he was a Roman citizen. | Paul's Roman citizenship protects him |
| Acts 25:10-12 | Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. If I have done anything wrong—anything that deserves death—I do not need to escape the death penalty. But if there is no truth in what these men are saying about me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!" | Appeal to Caesar |
| Galatians 5:1 | For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. | Freedom in Christ |
| Romans 8:1 | There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. | Justification |
| Acts 17:6 | And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brethren before the city authorities, crying, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, | Accusation against believers |
| 1 Timothy 2:2 | ...for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. | Pray for authorities |
Acts 16 verses
Acts 16 24 Meaning
The verse describes the actions taken by the magistrates towards Paul and Silas after the unjust imprisonment and beating they suffered. They were released from prison only after the magistrates realized they had wrongly imprisoned Roman citizens without a trial. The phrase "now they were released" indicates a consequence of their previous actions, specifically the unlawful punishment of Paul and Silas.
Acts 16 24 Context
Following Paul and Silas's imprisonment and subsequent severe beating at Philippi, God intervened with an earthquake, shaking the prison and opening all the doors. The jailer, fearing the prisoners would escape, was about to commit suicide. However, Paul stopped him, declaring that they were all still there. This event led to the jailer and his household's conversion and baptism. The magistrates, upon hearing of the earthquake and the subsequent events, sent officers to release Paul and Silas. This verse marks the actual release of Paul and Silas, instigated by the magistrates' newfound awareness and perhaps fear, especially concerning Paul's claim of Roman citizenship. This occurrence took place during Paul's second missionary journey.
Acts 16 24 Word Analysis
- νῦν δὲ (nun de):
- νῦν (nun): now, at the present time. Indicates immediate timing.
- δὲ (de): but, and. Connects this clause to the preceding events, often introducing a contrast or consequence. Together, "nun de" signifies "but now" or "now however."
- ἀφέντες (aphentes):
- from ἀφίημι (aphiēmi): to let go, to release, to permit, to forgive. Here it is the masculine plural aorist active participle from aphiēmi. It functions adjectivally, modifying "the magistrates."
- τοὺς δεσμοὺς (tous desmous):
- τοὺς (tous): the (accusative masculine plural article).
- δεσμοὺς (desmous): from δεσμός (desmos): bond, fetter, chain, imprisonment (accusative plural). Refers to the physical restraints and the state of being imprisoned.
- τοὺς δύο (tous duo):
- τοὺς (tous): the (accusative masculine plural article).
- δύο (duo): two (accusative masculine plural). Refers to Paul and Silas.
- ἐξέβαλλον (exeballon):
- from ἐκβάλλω (ekballō): to cast out, to drive out, to thrust out. Imperfect active indicative, 3rd person plural. The imperfect tense suggests a repeated or ongoing action, or simply the action of expulsion. However, in this context, considering the magistrates’ decision to release them, it describes the immediate command or action of having them thrown out of prison. Some translations might lean towards "ordered them out." It emphasizes the forceful nature of their expulsion.
Acts 16 24 Bonus Section
The magistrates’ hasty release demonstrates a stark contrast to their earlier arbitrary cruelty. The earthquake and the subsequent conversions highlighted God’s power and the injustice of their actions, creating a palpable sense of unease. Paul’s insistence on being escorted out (Acts 16:37) served not just his own dignity, but was a strategic move to ensure the magistrates publicly acknowledged their wrongdoing. This incident reveals the interplay between divine power, human law, and the strategic witness of the apostles. It's a testament to the principle that speaking truth to power, even at personal cost, can lead to vindication and further the gospel's reach.
Acts 16 24 Commentary
The release of Paul and Silas was not a gesture of mercy or regret by the magistrates, but a fearful capitulation to the implications of Paul's Roman citizenship. Having publicly beaten and imprisoned Roman citizens without due process, they had exposed themselves to severe legal repercussions from higher authorities. Their fear prompted them to quickly "throw out" Paul and Silas, effectively removing them from their custody without ceremony. This event underscores the protection that Roman citizenship afforded, even in challenging circumstances. It also shows the effectiveness of asserting one's rights according to the established laws of the land, even when those in authority are corrupt or ignorant. The imperfect tense of "exeballon" suggests a somewhat hurried and perhaps forceful expulsion, aimed at resolving the problematic situation for the magistrates themselves.