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And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.
Acts 16:23 · New King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely,
  • KJV And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor 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.
  • 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 2:10Don’t be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.
  • 2 Tim 2:9in which I suffer hardship to the point of chains as a criminal. But God’s word isn’t chained.
  • 1 Sam 23:22–23Please go make yet more sure, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who has seen him there; for I have been told that he deals very crafty.
  • Matt 27:63–66saying, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise again.’
  • Eph 3:1For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles,
  • Acts 12:4When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.
  • Acts 16:27The 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.
  • Acts 5:18and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public custody.
  • Acts 12:18Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter.
  • Matt 26:48Now he who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, “Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him.”
  • Phlm 1:9yet for love’s sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
  • Acts 16:36The jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore come out, and go in peace.”
  • Luke 21:12But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake.
  • Acts 8:3But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house, and dragged both men and women off to prison.
  • Eph 4:1I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called,
  • Acts 9:2and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
  • Acts 5:23“We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”
  • Rev 1:9I John, your brother and partner with you in the oppression, Kingdom, and perseverance in Christ Jesus, was on the isle that is called Patmos because of God’s Word and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (7)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Acts videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Acts 16:23YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ActsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.