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Acts 16:27

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

26 Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.

When 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.

28 But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself! We are all here!”

29 Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
When 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.
KJV
And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
WEB
The jailer, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
ASV
And the jailor, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
DARBY
And the jailor being awakened out of his sleep, and seeing the doors of the prison opened, having drawn a sword was going to kill himself, thinking the prisoners had fled.
BLB
And the jailer, having been awoken and having seen the doors of the prison open, having drawn his sword, was about to kill himself, supposing the prisoners to have escaped.
ÅB
Fangevokteren fór da opp av søvne, og da han så fengslets dører åpne, dro han et sverd og ville drepe seg, fordi han trodde at fangene var rømt.
OTB
Da fangevokteren våknet og så fengselsdørene åpne, trakk han sitt sverd og var i ferd med å drepe seg selv, i troen på at fangene hadde rømt.
B1930
Fangevokteren fór da op av søvne, og da han så fengslets dører åpne, drog han et sverd og vilde drepe sig, fordi han trodde at fangene var rømt.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Acts 12:19

    After Herod had searched for him unsuccessfully, he examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent some time there.

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  • Matthew 27:5

    So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

    Read in context

  • 1 Kings 16:18

    When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he entered the citadel of the royal palace and burned it down upon himself. So he died

    Read in context

  • 2 Samuel 17:23

    When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 31:4–5

    Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run it through me, or these uncircumcised men will come and run me through and torture me!” But his armor-bearer was terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.

    Read in context

  • Judges 9:54

    He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So Abimelech’s armor-bearer ran his sword through him, and he died.

    Read in context

  • Acts 16:23–24

    And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely.

    Read in context