Acts 16:39 kjv
And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
Acts 16:39 nkjv
Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city.
Acts 16:39 niv
They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city.
Acts 16:39 esv
So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city.
Acts 16:39 nlt
So they came to the jail and apologized to them. Then they brought them out and begged them to leave the city.
Acts 16 39 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 2:37 | "Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?'" | Salvation sought |
| Acts 3:19 | "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out," | Repentance for salvation |
| Acts 13:48 | "And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed." | Belief and eternal life |
| Acts 16:14 | "One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul." | God opens the heart |
| Rom 1:16 | "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." | Gospel as power of salvation |
| Rom 3:22 | "the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction;" | Righteousness through faith |
| Rom 10:9 | "because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." | Confession and belief |
| Eph 2:8 | "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God," | Saved by grace through faith |
| Eph 2:13 | "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." | Brought near by Christ's blood |
| Phil 2:12 | "...working out your own salvation with fear and trembling," | Working out salvation |
| Phil 4:23 | "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit." | Grace of Christ |
| Titus 3:5 | "he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit," | Saved by mercy, not works |
| Heb 11:6 | "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." | Faith pleases God |
| 1 John 5:1 | "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God..." | Born of God through belief |
| Rev 3:20 | "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If his voice hears and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." | Christ invites entry |
| Josh 24:15 | "And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." | Choosing to serve the Lord |
| Ps 50:23 | "The one who offers a sacrifice of praise glorifies me; to him who orders his way I will show the salvation of God!" | Sacrifice of praise leads to salvation |
| Isa 43:1 | "But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.'" | God's redemption |
| Jer 31:33 | "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people." | New covenant in the heart |
| Luke 1:75 | "to the end that we might serve him in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our lives." | Serving God in righteousness |
Acts 16 verses
Acts 16 39 Meaning
After being unjustly imprisoned and beaten, Paul and Silas were miraculously released from prison by an earthquake. The Philippian jailer, terrified of punishment for their escape, was about to commit suicide. Paul stopped him, proclaiming that all the prisoners were still there. This led the jailer to realize the divine power at work and, along with his household, he believed in the Lord. Paul and Silas were then treated with respect, released from their bonds, and asked to leave the city. This verse signifies salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, not as a reward for the jailer's actions, but as a consequence of his believing and being baptized.
Acts 16 39 Context
This verse occurs at the climax of a significant event in the ministry of Paul and Silas. After successfully casting out a spirit of divination from a slave girl in Philippi, they were beaten and thrown into the inner prison. Despite their suffering, they were praying and singing hymns to God. During the night, a violent earthquake struck, shaking the foundations of the prison and unlocking all the doors. The jailer, witnessing this miraculous event and fearing repercussions for the escape of his prisoners, was about to take his own life. Paul intervened, assuring him that no one had fled. This led the jailer to a profound realization of the power of God and the truth of Paul and Silas' message. Consequently, he and his entire household responded with faith and were subsequently baptized. The Roman authorities, having previously flogged them without trial, later released them, recognizing their citizenship. This encounter highlights the theme of God's power to bring salvation even in the darkest circumstances, and the immediate, life-transforming impact of genuine faith.
Acts 16 39 Word Analysis
And (kai - καί): A conjunction used to connect clauses or words, indicating addition or progression.
bringing (epispherein - ἐπισύρειν): To drag along, to summon. In this context, it refers to the officials being compelled or brought along by the jailer.
them (autous - αὐτούς): Referring to Paul and Silas.
out (exō - ἔξω): Outside, out of the prison.
saying (legontas - λέγοντας): Speaking, telling.
You (humas - ὑμᾶς): The jailer addressing Paul and Silas.
must ( dei - δεῖ): It is necessary, it behooves. Indicates an obligation or a requirement.
go (poreuesthai - πορεύεσθαι): To depart, to go away.
out (exō - ἔξω): From the city.
of (apo - ἀπό): Indicating separation or origin from the city.
the (tēs - τῆς): Definite article.
city (poleōs - πόλεως): The city of Philippi.
Because (epipeithea - ἐπιπίθεα): Some manuscripts read "epiteleponta" (ἐπιτελοῦντα) meaning "having accomplished." This implies that the officials' departure was contingent on the jailer carrying out a task. Other readings support the idea of urgency.
of (tautēs - ταύτης): Of this.
my (mou - μου): My.
life (zōēn - ζωήν): Life. This phrase conveys the jailer’s intended act of taking his own life if Paul and Silas had escaped.
Bringing them out: This phrase indicates the formal action taken by the authorities in response to the situation. The jailer, to appease his superiors and to secure his position, had to present evidence that the prisoners had not escaped.
must go out of the city: This shows the consequences for Paul and Silas. Their preaching had caused a disturbance (leading to the enslavement of the girl and the subsequent riot). As a result, they were expelled from Philippi by the Roman authorities to maintain public order. This was a common practice for troublesome itinerant preachers.
Acts 16 39 Bonus Section
The expulsion of Paul and Silas from Philippi, as stated in this verse, is an example of how God's plan can unfold even through governmental decree and societal opposition. While the authorities intended to simply remove a source of disturbance, God used this event to advance His kingdom elsewhere. Paul and Silas, though leaving Philippi, had already established a burgeoning church there, as evidenced by their later letter to the Philippian believers. This departure is a strategic relocation for the apostles, not a failure. It reflects Jesus' instruction to his disciples: "When they persecute you in one town, flee to another" (Matthew 10:23). This principle guided their missionary efforts throughout the Roman Empire, allowing the gospel to spread further.
Acts 16 39 Commentary
The departure of Paul and Silas from Philippi, mandated by the Roman authorities, signifies the cessation of their direct ministry in that city at that particular time. It also represents a contrast to their initial forceful, yet divinely orchestrated, release from prison. While they were released from confinement by miraculous means, their departure from the city is a more humanly mediated action, a response to the civic order that Paul and Silas, as Roman citizens, were expected to uphold. Their release from prison did not immediately grant them freedom to stay; the societal and governmental structures still dictated their movements, especially after causing public unrest. Their willingness to leave peacefully, rather than engaging in further conflict or legal battles using their citizenship rights (which they did in an earlier part of chapter 16 when demanding the release), shows a pragmatic adherence to divine leading and an avoidance of unnecessary worldly entanglement, echoing Christ's own instructions to shake the dust off one's feet when leaving a place that rejected them (Matthew 10:14).