Acts 5 · Verse 23

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.
Acts 5:23, King James Version

Acts 5:23 in other translations

BSB“We found the jail securely locked, with the guards posted at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
WEB“We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”
ASVsaying, The prison-house we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing at the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
YLTsaying--‘The prison indeed we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors, and having opened--within we found no one.'
DARBYsaying, We found the prison shut with all security, and the keepers standing at the doors; but when we had opened them, within we found no one.
BBESaying, The doors of the prison were safely shut, and the keepers were at the doors, but when they were open, there was nobody inside.
WebsterSaying, The prison truly we found shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

What does Acts 5:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 5:17-23

17-23. sect of the Sadducees--See on Ac 4:1 for the reason why this is specified.

Read the full comment on Acts 5:17-23 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 23. Found we shut. It had not been broken open; and there was therefore clear proof that they had been delivered by the interposition of God. Nor could they have been released by the guard, for they were keeping watch, as if unconscious that anything had happened, and the officers had the only means of entering the prison.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 The prison truly found we shut - All the doors were properly bolted, and the keepers at their post; but when we had opened, for it appears they were alone in possession of the keys; how much must this have increased their astonishment when they found that the doors were not broken open, the guards properly posted, and every thing as they left it, for they themselves had put the apostles in prison; but, when they had opened, there was no man within!

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 5:17-25

There is no prison so dark, so strong, but God can visit his people in it, and, if he pleases, fetch them out. Recoveries from sickness, releases out of trouble, are granted, not that we may enjoy the comforts of life, but that God may be honoured with the services of our life. It is not for the preachers of Christ's gospel to retire into corners, as long as they can have any opportunity of preaching in the great…

Read the full comment on Acts 5:17-25 →

Acts 5:23 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.

λέγοντεςlegontessayingG3004
ὅτιhotithatG3754
τὸtoTheG3588
δεσμωτήριονdesmōtērionprison houseG1201
εὕρομενheuromenwe foundG2147
κεκλεισμένονkekleismenonshutG2808
ἐνenwithG1722
πάσῃpasēallG3956
ἀσφαλείᾳasphaleiasecurityG803
καὶkaiandG2532
τοὺςtoustheG3588
φύλακαςphulakasguardsG5441
ἔξωexōoutsideG1854
ἑστῶταςhestōtasalready standingG2476
ἐπὶepibeforeG1909
τῶνtōntheG3588
θυρῶν,thurōndoors,G2374
ἀνοίξαντεςanoixanteshaving opened [them]G455
δὲdehoweverG1161
ἔσωesōinsideG2080
οὐδέναoudenano [one]G3762
εὕρομεν.heuromenwe found.G2147

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

Cross references for Acts 5:23

  • Psalms 33:10

    The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.

  • Psalms 2:4

    He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

  • Lamentations 3:55-58

    I called upon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not. O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.

  • Lamentations 3:37

    Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?

  • Daniel 3:11-25

    And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? …

  • Acts 5:19

    But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

  • Matthew 28:12-15

    And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

  • 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.

  • Daniel 6:22-24

    My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

  • Proverbs 21:30

    There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.

  • John 8:59

    Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
The prison.
19; Ps 2:4; 33:10; Pr 21:30; La 3:37,55-58; Da 3:11-25; 6:22-24
Mt 27:63-66; 28:12-15; Joh 8:59

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

Context

  • Acts 5:22

    But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,

  • 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.

  • Acts 5:24

    Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.

Read all of Acts 5

Acts 5:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Diciendo: Por cierto, la cárcel hemos hallado cerrada con toda seguridad, y los guardas que estaban delante de las puertas; mas cuando abrimos, á nadie hallamos dentro.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		disant: Nous avons trouvé la prison fermée avec toute sûreté, et les gardes se tenant aux portes; mais, ayant ouvert, nous n’avons trouvé personne dedans.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und sagten: Wir fanden das Gefängnis mit aller Sorgfalt verschlossen und die Wachen an den Türen stehen; als wir aber aufgemacht hatten, fanden wir niemanden darin.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		dicentes: Carcerem quidem invenimus clausum cum omni diligentia, et custodes stantes ante januas: aperientes autem neminem intus invenimus.