The jailer informed Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders to release you. Now you may go on your way in peace.”
Parallel translations
- WEB The jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore come out, and go in peace.”
- KJV And 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.
- NKJV So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.”
- NASB And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The chief magistrates have sent word that you be released. So come out now and go in peace.”
- NLT So the jailer told Paul, “The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace.”
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
The jailer joyfully told Paul they were free to leave in peace.
Overview
The new convert eagerly relayed the good news, glad for his friends' release. Yet Paul would not simply slip away, for more than personal freedom was at stake. His response in the next verse shows wisdom in defending the gospel's standing against the charge of being a lawless movement.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Acts 15:33After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers in peace to return to those who had sent them.
- John 14:27Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.
- 1 Sam 29:7Therefore turn back now and go in peace, so that you will not do anything to displease the leaders of the Philistines.”
- 1 Sam 20:42And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine forever.’” Then David got up and departed, and Jonathan went back into the city.
- 1 Sam 1:17“Go in peace,” Eli replied, “and may the God of Israel grant the petition you have asked of Him.”
- Exod 4:18Then Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro and said to him, “Please let me return to my brothers in Egypt to see if they are still alive.” “Go in peace,” Jethro replied.
- 2 Kgs 5:19“Go in peace,” said Elisha. But after Naaman had traveled a short distance,
- Mark 5:34“Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”
- Acts 16:27When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, presuming that the prisoners had escaped.
- 1 Sam 25:35Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him, and he said to her, “Go home in peace. See, I have heeded your voice and granted your request.”
- Judg 18:6And the priest told them, “Go in peace. The LORD is watching over your journey.”
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 16:36 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.