Acts 16 · Verse 28

Acts 16:28

But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
Acts 16:28, King James Version

Acts 16:28 in other translations

BSBBut Paul called out in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself! We are all here!”
WEBBut Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, “Don’t harm yourself, for we are all here!”
ASVBut Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
YLTand Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Thou mayest not do thyself any harm, for we are all here.'
DARBYBut Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm, for we are all here.
BBEBut Paul said in a loud voice, Do yourself no damage, for we are all here.
WebsterBut Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

What does Acts 16:28 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…

Read the full comment on Acts 16:26-28 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 28. Do thyself no harm. This is the solemn command of religion in his case, and in all others. It enjoins on men to do themselves no harm--by self-murder, whether by the sword, the pistol, the halter; or by intemperance, and lust, and dissipation. In all cases Christianity seeks the true welfare of man. In all cases, if it were obeyed, men would do themselves no harm. They would promote their own best interests here, and their eternal welfare hereafter.

(b) "Paul cried" Prov 24:11,12, 1Thes 5:15

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 28 Do thyself no harm - As it was now dark, being midnight, St. Paul must have had a Divine intimation of what the jailor was going to do; and, to prevent it, cried out aloud, Do thyself no harm, for we are all here.

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 16:28 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.

ἘφώνησενEphōnēsenCalled outG5455
δὲdehoweverG1161
μεγάλῃmegalēin a loudG3173
φωνῇphōnēavoiceG5456
ὁho<the>G3588
ΠαῦλοςPaulosPaulG3972
λέγων·legōnsaying;G3004
μηδὲνmēdenNotG3367
πράξῃςpraxēsmay doG4238
σεαυτῷseautōto yourselfG4771
κακόν·kakonharm;G2556
ἅπαντεςhapantesallG537
γάρgarforG1063
ἐσμενesmenwe areG1510
ἐνθάδε.enthadehere.G1759

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

Cross references for Acts 16:28

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:15

    See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

  • Luke 6:27-28

    But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

  • Luke 23:34

    Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

  • Exodus 20:13

    Thou shalt not kill.

  • Matthew 5:44

    But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

  • Luke 10:32-37

    And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. …

  • Ecclesiastes 7:17

    Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

  • Psalms 35:14

    I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.

  • Psalms 7:4

    If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)

  • Proverbs 24:11-12

    If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

  • Leviticus 19:18

    Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.

  • Proverbs 8:36

    But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
cried.
Le 19:18; Ps 7:4; 35:14; Pr 24:11,12; Mt 5:44; Lu 6:27,28; 10:32-37
Lu 22:51; 23:34; 1Th 5:15
Do.
Ex 20:13; Pr 8:36; Ec 7:17

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Acts 16:29

    Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

Read all of Acts 16

Acts 16:28 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Mas Pablo clamó á gran voz, diciendo: No te hagas ningún mal; que todos estamos aquí.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Mais Paul cria à haute voix, disant: Ne te fais point de mal, car nous sommes tous ici.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Paulus aber rief mit lauter Stimme und sprach: Tue dir nichts Übles, denn wir sind alle hier.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Clamavit autem Paulus voce magna, dicens: Nihil tibi mali feceris: universi enim hic sumus.