Acts 5:23

“We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

“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.”

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.

ASV

saying, The prison-house we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing at the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

BBE

Saying, The doors of the prison were safely shut, and the keepers were at the doors, but when they were open, there was nobody inside.

Original Greek

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λέγοντες legontes saying G3004 ὅτι hoti that G3754 τὸ to The G3588 μὲν men indeed G3303 δεσμωτήριον desmōtērion prison house G1201 εὕρομεν heuromen we found G2147 κεκλεισμένον kekleismenon shut G2808 ἐν en with G1722 πάσῃ pasē all G3956 ἀσφαλείᾳ asphaleia security G803 καὶ kai and G2532 τοὺς tous the G3588 φύλακας phulakas guards G5441 ἔξω exō outside G1854 ἑστῶτας hestōtas already standing G2476 ἐπὶ epi before G1909 τῶν tōn the G3588 θυρῶν thurōn doors G2374 ἀνοίξαντες anoixantes having opened [them] G455 δὲ de however G1161 ἔσω esō inside G2080 οὐδένα oudena no [one] G3762 εὕρομεν heuromen we found G2147

The early church

A twofold security this; as was the case at the sepulchre, where was both the seal, and the men to watch. See how they fought against God! Say, was this of man's doing, that happened to them? Who led them forth, when the doors were shut? How came they out, with the keepers standing before the door? Verily they must be mad or drunken to talk so. Here are men, whom neither prison, nor bonds, nor closed doors, had been able to keep in; and yet they expect to overpower them: such is their childish folly!
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Acts
It is well ordered that the information was not brought to them at once, but they are first utterly at a loss what to think, that when they have considered it well and seen that there is a Divine Power in the case, then they may learn the whole state of the case.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Acts

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 17–25

There is no prison so dark, so strong, but God can visit his people in it, and, if he pleases, fetch them out. Recoveries from sickness, releases out of trouble, are granted, not that we may enjoy the comforts of life, but that God may be honoured with the services of our life. It is not for the preachers of Christ's gospel to retire into corners, as long as they can have any opportunity of preaching in the great congregation. They must preach to the lowest, whose souls are as precious to Christ as the souls of the greatest. Speak to all, for all are concerned. Speak as those who resolve to stand to it, to live and die by it. Speak all the words of this heavenly, divine life, in comparison with which the present earthly life does not deserve the name. These words of life, which the Holy Ghost puts into your mouth. The words of the gospel are the words of life; words whereby we may be saved. How wretched are those who are vexed at the success of the gospel! They cannot but see that the word and power of the Lord are against them; and they tremble for the consequences, yet they will go on.

Read Matthew Henry on Acts 5 →

Cross-references

11

Topics

Defense

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.