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Acts 16:26

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Acts 16:26

Verse 26 of 40

Scripture focus

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 16:26 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Acts 16:26

Theological / Devotional

Great earthquake. Indicative of divine intervention (cf. Matt. 28:2; Rev. 16:18; cf. on Acts 4:31), for angels came to deliver God’s faithful servants (AA 215). The effects of such an upheaval would not be restricted to the prison, but would be felt throughout the city, and would condition the minds of magistrates and people, when the connection between the earthquake and the Christian prisoners became known.

Doors were opened. The severity of the earthquake was sufficient to account for this effect. The foundations of the prison had been shaken, and doors were probably unfastened (cf. on chs. 5:19; 12:10).

Bands. Or, “fetters.” The prisoners were held with chains that were doubtless fastened to the walls. The violence of the earthquake was sufficient to have released these chains, and thus set the prisoners free. The deliverance could also have been wrought by angels (AA 215), although angels are not mentioned as in chs. 5:19; 12:7.

By SdaBc