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.
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!”
- BSB “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards posted at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
- 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 2:4He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.
- Ps 33:10The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
- Acts 5:19But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
- Lam 3:37Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
- Prov 21:30There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
- Lam 3:55–58I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon.
- John 8:59Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
- Matt 27:63–66Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
- Dan 3:11–25And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
- Dan 6:22–24My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
- Matt 28:12–15And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
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.