Acts 16 · Verse 27

Acts 16:27

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.
Acts 16:27, King James Version

Acts 16:27 in other translations

BSBWhen 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.
WEBThe 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.
ASVAnd 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.
YLTand the jailor having come out of sleep, and having seen the doors of the prison open, having drawn a sword, was about to kill himself, supposing the prisoners to be fled,
DARBYAnd 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.
BBEAnd the keeper, coming out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, took his sword and was about to put himself to death, fearing that the prisoners had got away.
WebsterAnd 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 fled.

What does Acts 16:27 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 16:26-28

26-28. And suddenly there was a great earthquake--in answer, doubtless, to the prayers and expectations of the sufferers that, for the truth's sake and the honor of their Lord, some interposition would take place. every one's bands--that is, the bands of all the prisoners. were loosed--not by the earthquake, of course, but by a miraculous energy accompanying it. By this and the joyous strains which they had heard…

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Barnes' Notes
Verse 27. Would have killed himself. This was all done in the midst of agitation and alarm. He supposed that the prisoners had fled. He presumed that their escape would be charged on him. It was customary to hold a jailer responsible for the safe keeping of prisoners, and to subject him to the punishment due to them, if he suffered them to escape. See Acts 12:19. It should be added, that it was common, and approved among the Greeks and Romans, for a man to commit suicide when he was encompassed with dangers from which he could not escape. Thus Cato was guilty of self-murder in Utica; and thus, at this very place at Philippi--Brutus and Cassius, and many of their friends, fell on their own swords, and ended their lives by suicide. The custom was thus sanctioned by the authority and example of the great; and we are not to wonder that the jailer, in a moment of alarm, should also attempt to destroy his own life. It is not one of the least benefits of Christianity, that it has proclaimed the evil of self-murder, and that it has done so much to drive it from the world.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 27 The keeper of the prison - would have killed himself - Every jailor was made responsible for his prisoner, under the same penalty to which the prisoner himself was exposed. The jailor, awaking, and finding the prison-doors open, taking it for granted that all the prisoners had made their escape, and that he must lose his life on the account, chose rather to die by his own hand than by that of others. For it was customary among the heathens, when they found death inevitable, to take away their own lives. This custom was applauded by their philosophers, and sanctioned by some of their greatest men.

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…

Read the full comment on Acts 16:25-34 →

Acts 16:27 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.

ἔξυπνοςexupnosAwokenG1853
δὲdethenG1161
γενόμενοςgenomenoshaving beenG1096
ὁhotheG3588
δεσμοφύλαξdesmophulaxjailerG1200
καὶkaiandG2532
ἰδὼνidōnwas seeingG1492
ἀνεῳγμέναςaneōgmenashaving openedG455
τὰςtastheG3588
θύραςthurasdoorsG2374
τῆςtēsof theG3588
φυλακῆς,phulakēsprison,G5438
σπασάμενοςspasamenoshaving drawnG4685
μάχαιρανmachairan[his] swordG3162
ἤμελλενēmellenhe was aboutG3195
ἑαυτὸνhe'autonhimselfG1438
ἀναιρεῖνanaireinto executeG337
νομίζωνnomizōnsupposingG3543
ἐκπεφευγέναιekpepheugenaito have escapedG1628
τοὺςtoustheG3588
δεσμίους.¶desmiousprisoners.G1198

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

Cross references for Acts 16:27

  • Acts 12:19

    And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Cesarea, and there abode.

  • Matthew 27:5

    And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

  • 1 Kings 16:18

    And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king’s house, and burnt the king’s house over him with fire, and died,

  • 2 Samuel 17:23

    And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

  • 1 Samuel 31:4-5

    Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.

  • Judges 9:54

    Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

  • Acts 16:23-24

    And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the keeper.
23,24
he drew.
Jud 9:54; 1Sa 31:4,5; 2Sa 17:23; 1Ki 16:18; Mt 27:5

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Acts 16:27

    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.

  • Acts 16:28

    But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

Read all of Acts 16

Acts 16:27 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y despertado el carcelero, como vió abiertas las puertas de la cárcel, sacando la espada se quería matar, pensando que los presos se habían huído.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et le geôlier, s’étant éveillé et voyant les portes de la prison ouvertes, tira son épée et allait se tuer, croyant que les prisonniers s’étaient enfuis.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als aber der Kerkermeister aus dem Schlafe aufwachte und die Türen des Gefängnisses geöffnet sah, zog er das Schwert und wollte sich umbringen, indem er meinte, die Gefangenen wären entflohen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Expergefactus autem custos carceris, et videns januas apertas carceris, evaginato gladio volebat se interficere, æstimans fugisse vinctos.