And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
Parallel translations
- WEB When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely,
- BSB And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely.
- NKJV And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.
- NASB When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely;
- NLT They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
After a severe flogging they were imprisoned, and the jailer was charged to guard them securely.
Overview
The order for secure custody treats them as dangerous criminals, deepening the injustice. Yet this very imprisonment becomes the stage for one of Acts' most striking conversions. God's providence is at work even in the dungeon, turning the schemes of opponents into opportunities for the gospel.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Rev 2:10Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
- 2 Tim 2:9Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
- 1 Sam 23:22–23Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly.
- Matt 27:63–66Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
- Eph 3:1For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
- Acts 12:4And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
- Acts 16:27And 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.
- Acts 5:18And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
- Acts 12:18Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
- Matt 26:48Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
- Phlm 1:9Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
- Acts 16:36And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
- Luke 21:12But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.
- Acts 8:3As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
- Eph 4:1I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
- Acts 9:2And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
- Acts 5:23Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
- Rev 1:9I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 16:23 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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