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Acts 16:27

King James Version (KJV)

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Acts 16:27

Verse 27 of 40

Scripture focus

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 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Acts 16:27

Theological / Devotional

Keeper of the prison. See on v. 23.

Awaking. Startled out of sleep by the earthquake. Either he slept where, upon waking, he could instantly see whether the prison doors were secure, or, because of the earthquake, he hurried to see whether his prisoners had escaped.

Would have killed himself. Rather, “was about to kill himself.” The jailer knew that, according to Roman law, he would have to answer with his life if the prisoners escaped (see on ch. 12:19). Under such circumstances suicide appeared preferable. Some of the greatest minds of the pagan classical world held such suicide to be justifiable, and even praiseworthy.

By SdaBc