Acts 16 · Verse 23

Acts 16:23

And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
Acts 16:23, King James Version

Acts 16:23 in other translations

BSBAnd after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely.
WEBWhen they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely.
ASVAnd when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
YLTmany blows also having laid upon them, they cast them to prison, having given charge to the jailor to keep them safely,
DARBYAnd having laid many stripes upon them they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely;
BBEAnd when they had given them a great number of blows, they put them in prison, giving orders to the keeper of the prison to keep them safely:
WebsterAnd when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely.

What does Acts 16:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 16:23-24
23-24. when they had laid many stripes upon them--the bleeding wounds from which they were not washed till it was done by the converted jailer (Ac 16:33). charged the jailer ... who ... thrust them into the inner prison--"pestilential cells, damp and cold, from which the light was excluded, and where the chains rusted on the prisoners. One such place may be seen to this day on the slope of the Capitol at Rome" [Howson].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 23. And when they had laid many stripes upon them. The Jews were by law prohibited from inflicting more than forty stripes, and usually inflicted but thirty-nine, 2Cor 11:24. But there was no such law among the Romans. They were unrestricted in regard to the number of lashes; and probably inflicted many more. Perhaps Paul refers to this when he says, (2Cor 11:23,) "In stripes above measure," i. e., beyond the usual measure among the Jews, or beyond moderation.

They cast them into prison. The magistrates, Acts 16:36,37, as a punishment; and probably with a view hereafter of taking vengeance on them, more according to the forms of law.

(a) "many stripes" 2Cor 6:5, 11:23,25, 1Thes 2:2

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 Laid many stripes upon them - The Jews never gave more than thirty-nine stripes to any criminal; but the Romans had no law relative to this: they gave as many as they chose; and the apostles had, undoubtedly, the fullest measure. And perhaps St. Paul refers to this, where he says, 2Cor 11:23 : εν πληγαις ὑπερβαλλοντως, in stripes beyond measure or moderation.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 16:16-24

Satan, though the father of lies, will declare the most important truths, when he can thereby serve his purposes. But much mischief is done to the real servants of Christ, by unholy and false preachers of the gospel, who are confounded with them by careless observers. Those who do good by drawing men from sin, may expect to be reviled as troublers of the city. While they teach men to fear God, to believe in Christ…

Read the full comment on Acts 16:16-24 →

Acts 16:23 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

πολλάςpollasManyG4183
τεtethenG5037
ἐπιθέντεςepithenteshaving laidG2007
αὐτοῖςautoison themG846
πληγὰςplēgasblowsG4127
ἔβαλονebalonthey cast [them]G906
εἰςeisintoG1519
φυλακὴνphulakēnprisonG5438
παραγγείλαντεςparangeilanteshaving chargedG3853
τῷtōtheG3588
δεσμοφύλακιdesmophulakito jailerG1200
ἀσφαλῶςasphalōsstrictlyG806
τηρεῖνtēreinto keepG5083
αὐτούς·autousthem;G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 16:23

  • Revelation 2:10

    Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

  • 2 Timothy 2:9

    Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

  • 1 Samuel 23:22-23

    Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly. See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.

  • Matthew 27:63-66

    Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

  • Ephesians 3:1

    For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

  • Philemon 1:9

    Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

  • Acts 8:3

    As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

  • Acts 5:23

    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.

  • Matthew 26:48

    Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.

  • Acts 9:2

    And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

  • Acts 12:18

    Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.

  • Ephesians 4:1

    I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
they cast.
5:18; 8:3; 9:2; 12:4; Lu 21:12; Eph 3:1; 4:1; 2Ti 2:9; Phm 1:9; Re 1:9
Re 2:10
to keep.
5:23; 12:18; 1Sa 23:22,23; Mt 26:48; 27:63-66

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 16:22

    And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

  • Acts 16:23

    And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

  • Acts 16:24

    Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

Read all of Acts 16

Acts 16:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y después que los hubieron herido de muchos azotes, los echaron en la cárcel, mandando al carcelero que los guardase con diligencia:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et leur ayant fait donner un grand nombre de coups, ils les jetèrent en prison, en commandant au geôlier de les garder sûrement.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und als sie ihnen viele Schläge gegeben hatten, warfen sie sie ins Gefängnis und befahlen dem Kerkermeister, sie sicher zu verwahren.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et cum multas plagas eis imposuissent, miserunt eos in carcerem, præcipientes custodi ut diligenter custodiret eos.