But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself! We are all here!”
Parallel translations
- WEB But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, “Don’t harm yourself, for we are all here!”
- KJV But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
- NKJV But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”
- NASB But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!”
- NLT But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”
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
Paul shouted that the jailer should not harm himself, for all the prisoners remained.
Overview
Rather than seizing freedom, Paul and the others stayed, sparing the jailer's life and his soul. This act of restraint and compassion toward their captor embodies the love of Christ for enemies. Paul's concern is not merely escape but the salvation of the man who had locked them in chains.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- 1 Th 5:15Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.
- Luke 6:27–28But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
- Luke 23:34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.
- Eccl 7:17Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time?
- Luke 10:32–37So too, when a Levite came to that spot and saw him, he passed by on the other side.
- Exod 20:13You shall not murder.
- Matt 5:44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
- Ps 7:4if I have rewarded my ally with evil, if I have plundered my foe without cause,
- Prov 24:11–12Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.
- Lev 19:18Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
- Luke 22:51But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him.
- Prov 8:36But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”
- Ps 35:14I paced about as for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for his mother.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 16:28 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.