“We found the jail securely locked, with the guards posted at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
Parallel translations
- WEB “We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”
- KJV Saying, 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.
- NKJV saying, “Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”
- NASB saying, “We found the prison locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
- NLT “The jail was securely locked, with the guards standing outside, but when we opened the gates, no one was there!”
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 guards confirm the prison was securely locked yet empty. The miracle is verified by careful, baffled witnesses.
Overview
Every security measure had been intact, ruling out a natural escape and underscoring the supernatural release. The officers' precise testimony heightens the wonder of God's intervention. Their bewilderment foreshadows the leaders' growing inability to stop the movement they oppose.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Ps 2:4The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord taunts them.
- Ps 33:10The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples.
- Acts 5:19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying,
- Lam 3:37Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has ordained it?
- Prov 21:30There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
- Lam 3:55–58I called on Your name, O LORD, out of the depths of the Pit.
- John 8:59At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area.
- Matt 27:63–66“Sir,” they said, “we remember that while He was alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’
- Dan 3:11–25and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.
- Dan 6:22–24My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O king.”
- Matt 28:12–15And after the chief priests had met with the elders and formed a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money
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 5:23 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.