Acts 16 24

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 verses

Acts 16 24 Meaning

Acts 16:24 describes the extreme measures taken by the Philippian jailer to secure Paul and Silas, in direct response to the stern command issued by the city magistrates. Having received such a severe charge, the jailer confined them to the innermost and most secure part of the prison. Further, he fastened their feet in wooden stocks, an instrument designed to cause discomfort and immobility, thereby preventing any possibility of escape and adding to their suffering, especially after being scourged. This act signifies the heightened level of perceived threat from Paul and Silas, despite their innocence, and emphasizes the severity of their imprisonment.

Acts 16 24 Context

Acts 16:24 takes place in Philippi, a prominent Roman colony. Paul and Silas have been violently attacked and accused of disturbing the city by proclaiming customs unlawful for Romans, following Paul's exorcism of a fortune-telling spirit from a young slave girl. This act severely impacted her owners' livelihood, who then stirred up the crowd against the apostles. Without a proper trial or opportunity to defend themselves (violating Roman legal procedure, especially for Roman citizens), the magistrates ordered them to be stripped, beaten with rods (flogged), and then thrown into prison. The immediate prior verse (Acts 16:23) describes them suffering "many blows." Acts 16:24 details the specific, harsh conditions of their imprisonment as mandated by the magistrates to the jailer, setting the stage for the miraculous earthquake and the jailer's conversion in the subsequent verses. This event highlights the resistance the gospel faced and the illegal actions of the Roman authorities.

Acts 16 24 Word analysis

• Who, (Ὅς - Hos): Refers directly to the jailer (δε σμο φύλακι - desmophylaki) mentioned in the preceding verse (Acts 16:23). It indicates his specific action stemming from the instruction he received.
• having received (λαβών - labōn): A participle from "lambanō," meaning "to take," "to receive," or "to grasp." It emphasizes that the jailer heard, understood, and was compelled to act upon the instruction. It denotes a ready compliance to official orders.
• such (τοιαύτην - toiautēn): This emphatic adjective signifies the weight, importance, or severity of the command. It implies the order was particularly strict, urgent, and perhaps exaggerated in its portrayal of Paul and Silas's danger.
• a charge (παραγγελίαν - parangelian): This Greek word denotes an official "command," "order," or "instruction," typically from a superior. Here, it signifies a mandate from the Philippian magistrates to the jailer, emphasizing the legal and authoritative nature of the directive to secure the prisoners. It also highlights the jailer's accountability if the prisoners escaped.
• cast (ἔβαλεν - ebalen): From "ballō," meaning "to throw" or "to cast." The verb choice suggests a forceful, possibly abrupt, and uncaring action by the jailer, reflective of how prisoners were often treated in the Roman world. It was not a gentle escort but a rough imposition of confinement.
• them (αὐτοὺς - autous): Refers to Paul and Silas.
• into the inner (εἰς τὴν ἐσωτέραν - eis tēn esōteran):
  • inner (ἐσωτέραν - esōteran): A comparative adjective, meaning "inner," "innermost," or "further in." It specifically points to the most secure, difficult to access, and often most unpleasant part of the prison facility. This might have been a deeper, darker, or more isolated cell. It signifies maximum security.
• prison (φυλακήν - phylakēn): General term for a "prison," "guard," or "place of detention." In this context, it is the building where people are held captive.
• and made their (καὶ τοὺς πόδας αὐτῶν - kai tous podas autōn): Connects the two actions taken by the jailer: casting them into the inner prison and securing their feet. "Autōn" means "their" (referring to Paul and Silas).
• feet (πόδας - podas): Explicitly states the body part that was secured. This specification is crucial because the stocks targeted the feet, rendering the prisoners immobile and often in an uncomfortable, painful position.
• fast (ἠσφαλίσατο - ēssaphalisato): From "asphalizomai," meaning "to make safe," "to secure," "to fasten firmly." It conveys the intention to prevent any movement or escape. It implies a binding, making them immobile and utterly secure.
• in the stocks (εἰς τὸ ξύλον - eis to xylon):
  • stocks (ξύλον - xylon): Literally "wood" or "a piece of wood." In this context, it specifically refers to an instrument of restraint, a wooden frame with holes for a prisoner's feet (and sometimes hands or neck). This was a common Roman device for confinement and punishment, often causing great discomfort, cramping, and pain, especially given Paul and Silas were already beaten. It served both as a security measure and an additional torment.

Acts 16 24 Bonus section

• The mistreatment of Paul, a Roman citizen (Acts 22:25-29, 16:37), through flogging and confinement in stocks without proper trial was a flagrant violation of the Porcian and Valerian Laws, laws specifically designed to protect Roman citizens from such indignities. This highlights the illegal and arbitrary nature of the magistrates' actions due to mob pressure.
• The "stocks" (xylon) as an instrument of confinement not only immobilized but also inflicted psychological torment by forcing prisoners into an awkward, painful, and often humiliating posture, underscoring their degradation and helplessness.
• This specific imagery of imprisonment and physical restraint sets up a dramatic contrast with the freedom and power of the Holy Spirit, which will manifest in the subsequent earthquake, showing that no human restraint can ultimately hinder God's purposes.
• The meticulous detailing of their secure confinement in verse 24 adds impact to the supernatural deliverance in verse 26, emphasizing the undeniable power of God at work, as their release was humanly impossible.

Acts 16 24 Commentary

Acts 16:24 provides a stark picture of severe Roman penal practice and the profound suffering inflicted upon Paul and Silas for preaching the Gospel. The magistrates' "charge" reflects a heightened perceived threat, escalating the punishment beyond a mere detention. The "inner prison" was not a standard holding cell but the deepest, darkest, and most secure section, typically reserved for dangerous criminals or those deemed highest flight risks. It would have been damp, cold, and unsanitary. Coupling this with being "fastened in the stocks"—a wooden contraption designed to stretch and hold the legs in an agonizing position—amplified their physical torment, especially after their previous scourging (Acts 16:23). This act served both as maximum security and a form of punitive degradation. The jailer's prompt and rigorous obedience underscored the Roman system's severe accountability. Yet, it is within these dark and painful conditions that Paul and Silas would soon sing praises to God, setting the stage for a divine intervention that profoundly demonstrates God's sovereignty over earthly powers and transforms even the most hardened hearts, illustrating the paradoxical power of the Gospel amidst persecution.