Acts 16:27

The jailer, 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.

New Heart English Bible

In The King James Version

And 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.

In Context

26Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were loosened.

28But Paul shouted loudly, saying, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!"

Read all of Acts 16

Cross References

Judges 9:54Then he called quickly to the young man his armor bearer, and said to him, "Draw your sword, and kill me, that men not say of me, 'A woman killed him.'" So the young man thrust him through, and he died.

2 Samuel 17:23When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey, and arose, and went home, to his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the tomb of his father.

Matthew 27:5He threw down the pieces of silver in the sanctuary, and departed. He went away and hanged himself.

Acts 16:23When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely,

Matthew Henry on Acts 16:26-35

Paul and Silas in Prison; Conversion of the Philippian Jailer. 25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And 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. 27 And 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… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Acts 16:27