Acts 16 · Verse 25

Acts 16:25

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

Acts 16:25, King James Version

Acts 16:25 in other translations

BSB	About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
WEB	But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
ASV	But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God, and the prisoners were listening to them;
YLT	And at midnight Paul and Silas praying, were singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were hearing them,
DARBY	And at midnight Paul and Silas, in praying, were praising God with singing, and the prisoners listened to them.
BBE	But about the middle of the night, Paul and Silas were making prayers and songs to God in the hearing of the prisoners;
Webster	And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises to God: and the prisoners heard them.

What does Acts 16:25 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

25. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises--literally, "praying, were singing praises"; that is, while engaged in pouring out their hearts in prayer, had broken forth into singing, and were hymning loud their joy. As the word here employed is that used to denote the Paschal hymn sung by our Lord and His disciples after their last Passover (Mt 26:30), and which we know to have consisted of Psa 113:1-118:29, which was chanted at that festival, it is probable that it was portions of the Psalms, so rich in such matter, which our joyous sufferers chanted forth; nor could any be more seasonable and inspiring to them than those very six Psalms, which every devout Jew would no doubt know by heart. "He giveth songs in the night" (Job 35:10). Though their bodies were still bleeding and tortured in the stocks, their spirits, under "the expulsive power of a new affection," rose above suffering, and made the prison wails resound with their song. "In these midnight hymns, by the imprisoned witnesses for Jesus Christ, the whole might of Roman injustice and violence against the Church is not only set at naught, but converted into a foil to set forth more completely the majesty and spiritual power of the Church, which as yet the world knew nothing of. And if the sufferings of these two witnesses of Christ are the beginning and the type of numberless martyrdoms which were to flow upon the Church from the same source, in like manner the unparalleled triumph of the Spirit over suffering was the beginning and the pledge of a spiritual power which we afterwards see shining forth so triumphantly and irresistibly in the many martyrs of Christ who were given up as a prey to the same imperial might of Rome" [Neander in Baumgarten]. and the prisoners heard them--literally, "were listening to them," that is, when the astounding events immediately to be related took place; not asleep, but wide awake and rapt (no doubt) in wonder at what they heard.

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 25. And at midnight. Probably their painful posture, the sufferings of their recent scourging, prevented their sleeping. Yet, though they had no repose, they had a quiet conscience, and the supports of religion.

Prayed. Though they had suffered much, yet they had reason to apprehend more. They sought, therefore, the sustaining grace of God.

And sang praises. Nothing but religion would have enabled them to do this. They had endured much, but they had cause still for gratitude. A Christian may find more true joy in a prison, than the monarch on his throne.

And the prisoners heard them. And doubtless with astonishment. Prayer and praise were not common in a prison. The song of rejoicing and the language of praise is not usual among men lying bound in a dungeon, From this narrative we may learn,

(1.) that the Christian has the sources of his happiness within him. External circumstances cannot destroy his peace and joy. In a dungeon he may find as real happiness as on a throne. On the cold earth, beaten and bruised, he may be as truly happy as on a bed of down.

(2.) The enemies of Christians cannot destroy their peace. They may incarcerate the body, but they cannot bind the spirit. They may exclude from earthly comforts, but they cannot shut them out from the presence and sustaining grace of God.

(3.) We see the value of a good conscience. Nothing else can give peace; and amidst the wakeful hours of the night, whether in a dungeon or on a bed of sickness, it is of more value than all the wealth of the world.

(4.) We see the inestimable worth of the religion of Christ. It fits for all scenes; supports in all trims; upholds by day or by night; inspires the soul with confidence in God; and puts into the lips the songs of praise and thanksgiving.

(5.) We have here a sublime and holy scene, which sin and infidelity could never furnish. What more sublime spectacle has the earth witnessed than that of scourged and incarcerated men, suffering from unjust and cruel inflictions, and anticipating still greater sorrows; yet, with a calm mind, a pure conscience, a holy joy, pouring forth their desires and praises at midnight, into the ear of the God, who always hears prayer! The darkness, the stillness, the loneliness, all give sublimity to the scene, and teach us how invaluable is the privilege of access to the throne of mercy in this suffering world.

(b) "prayed" Jas 5:13 (c) "praises" Ps 34:1

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 25 At midnight Paul and Silas - sang praises - Though these holy men felt much, and had reason to fear more, yet they are undismayed, and even happy in their sufferings: they were so fully satisfied that they were right, and had done their duty, that there was no room for regret or self-reproach. At the same times they had such consolations from God as could render any circumstances not only tolerable, but delightful. They prayed, first, for grace to support them, and for pardon and salvation for their persecutors; and then, secondly, sang praises to God, who had called them to such a state of salvation, and had accounted them worthy to suffer shame for the testimony of Jesus. And, although they were in the inner prison, they sang so loud and so heartily that the prisoners heard them.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 16:25-34

The consolations of God to his suffering servants are neither few nor small. How much more happy are true Christians than their prosperous enemies! As in the dark, so out of the depths, we may cry unto God. No place, no time is amiss for prayer, if the heart be lifted up to God. No trouble, however grievous, should hinder us from praise. Christianity proves itself to be of God, in that it obliges us to be just to our own lives. Paul cried aloud to make the jailer hear, and to make him heed, saying, Do thyself no harm. All the cautions of the word of God against sin, and all appearances of it, and approaches to it, have this tendency. Man, woman, do not ruin thyself; hurt not thyself, and then none else can hurt thee; do not sin, for nothing but that can hurt thee. Even as to the body, we are cautioned against the sins which do harm to that. Converting grace changes people's language of and to good people and good ministers. How serious the jailer's inquiry! His salvation becomes his great concern; that lies nearest his heart, which before was furthest from his thoughts. It is his own precious soul that he is concerned about. Those who are thoroughly convinced of sin, and truly concerned about their salvation, will give themselves up to Christ. Here is the sum of the whole gospel, the covenant of grace in a few words; Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. The Lord so blessed the word, that the jailer was at once softened and humbled. He treated them with kindness and compassion, and, professing faith in Christ, was baptized in that name, with his family. The Spirit of grace worked such a strong faith in them, as did away further doubt; and Paul and Silas knew by the Spirit, that a work of God was wrought in them. When sinners are thus converted, they will love and honour those whom they before despised and hated, and will seek to lessen the suffering they before desired to increase. When the fruits of faith begin to appear, terrors will be followed by confidence and joy in God.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Acts 16:25 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.

ΚατὰKataTowardG2596

δὲdenowG1161

τὸto<the>G3588

μεσονύκτιονmesonuktionmidnightG3317

ΠαῦλοςPaulosPaulG3972

καὶkaiandG2532

ΣιλᾶςSilasSilasG4609

προσευχόμενοιproseuchomenoiprayingG4336

ὕμνουνhumnounthey were singing praises toG5214

τὸνton<the>G3588

θεόν·theonGod;G2316

ἐπηκροῶντοepēkroōntoWere listeningG1874

δὲdenowG1161

αὐτῶνautōnto themG846

οἱhoitheG3588

δέσμιοι.desmioiprisoners.G1198

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

Cross references for Acts 16:25

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Psalms 119:62
At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.
James 1:2
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Romans 5:3
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
1 Peter 1:6-8
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Psalms 77:6
I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.
Matthew 5:10-11
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Hebrews 5:7
Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Colossians 3:15-17
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Psalms 50:15
And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

at midnight.
Job 35:10; Ps 22:2; 42:8; 77:6; 119:55,62; Isa 30:29
prayed.
Ps 50:15; 77:2; 91:15; Mt 26:38,39; Lu 22:44; Heb 5:7; Jas 5:13
sang.
5:41; Ps 34:1; Mt 5:10,11; Lu 6:22,23; Ro 5:3; 12:12; 2Co 4:8,9,16
2Co 4:17; 6:10; Php 2:17; 4:4-7; Col 1:24; 3:15-17; 1Th 5:16-18
Jas 1:2; 1Pe 1:6-8; 4:14
and the.
Ezr 3:12,13; Ps 71:7; Zec 3:8

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

Context

Acts 16:24
Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
Acts 16:25
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
Acts 16:26
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.

Read all of Acts 16

Acts 16:25 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Mas á media noche, orando Pablo y Silas, cantaban himnos á Dios: y los que estaban presos los oían.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Or sur le minuit, Paul et Silas, en priant, chantaient les louanges de Dieu; et les prisonniers les écoutaient.
German Elberfelder 1871	Um Mitternacht aber beteten Paulus und Silas und lobsangen Gott; und die Gefangenen hörten ihnen zu.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Media autem nocte Paulus et Silas orantes, laudabant Deum: et audiebant eos qui in custodia erant.