But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
Parallel translations
- WEB But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, “Don’t harm yourself, for we are all here!”
- BSB But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself! 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 5:15See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
- Luke 6:27–28But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
- Luke 23:34Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
- Eccl 7:17Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
- Luke 10:32–37And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
- Exod 20:13Thou shalt not kill.
- Matt 5:44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
- Ps 7:4If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)
- Prov 24:11–12If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
- Lev 19:18Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
- Luke 22:51And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.
- Prov 8:36But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
- Ps 35:14I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 16:28 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.