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Acts 16

Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:

Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;

And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.

And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

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.

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

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.

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.

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

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

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.

And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.

But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.

And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.

And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.

And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

What does Acts 16:26 mean?

Explanation

Acts 16:26 describes a miraculous event in which an earthquake leads to the liberation of the Apostle Paul and his companion Silas from prison.

The literal meaning of this verse is straightforward: a powerful earthquake occurred, resulting in the prison's structural foundations being shaken.

This physical upheaval caused the prison doors to open without human intervention and chains restraining the prisoners to come loose.

The deeper meaning behind these events can be interpreted as divine intervention.

The earthquake was not a mere coincidence but is presented as an act of God to free His servants who were imprisoned for their faith.

It signifies God's power to break through physical and spiritual bondage, indicating that no earthly power can ultimately prevent the spread of the Gospel.

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Historical Context

During the time of Paul and Silas, the city of Philippi was a Roman colony.

Christianity was spreading, but it often came into conflict with local customs and authorities. Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten, and imprisoned as a result of casting out a spirit of divination from a slave girl, which led to a loss of income for her masters.

They were put into an inner cell and fastened with stocks, which was a method of securing prisoners firmly in place, thus preventing any hope of escape.

The events that followed, including the miracle described in Acts 16:26, are situated in the context of Roman legal practice and the environment of a Roman prison.

Theological Insights

Many theological interpretations can be drawn from Acts 16:26.

Some Christian denominations view this verse as evidence of God's direct involvement in the lives of believers, especially when they face persecution.

It is seen as an affirmation of the promise that God will be with His followers in times of trial.

On the other hand, some may view this as a prescriptive event, where prayer and worship, like that of Paul and Silas, will result in miraculous deliverance.

Yet others may interpret it more metaphorically, suggesting that the earthquake represents the transformative power of the Gospel to liberate individuals from the bonds of sin, rather than always resulting in physical miracles.

Practical Applications

This verse can encourage believers to remain steadfast in faith during difficult times. It can be applied in daily life as an assurance that God is sovereign and can provide deliverance in unexpected ways.

However, it also calls for discernment. Not every challenge will result in miraculous intervention, and thus, faith should not be measured by the frequency of miracles one experiences. Rather, believers are encouraged to find hope and continue in prayer and worship, regardless of circumstances.

Cross-References

Acts 5:19 - "But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,"
Psalm 146:7 - "Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry.

The Lord looseth the prisoners:"

Isaiah 61:1 - "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;"

Language Study

In the original Greek text, some of the key words used in Acts 16:26 have significant meanings:

"earthquake" (σεισμός, seismos): This word means a shaking or commotion, from which we derive the term 'seismic.' It implies a significant and unusual natural event.
"foundations" (θεμέλιοι, themelioi): This refers to the base or ground upon which the prison was built, suggesting the shaking was intense enough to affect the prison's stability.
"doors were opened" (ἀνεῴχθησαν αἱ θύραι, aneōchthēsan hai thyrai): This expression indicates an instantaneous and complete opening, providing a means for escape.
"bands were loosed" (πάντων τὰ δεσμὰ ἤνοιγξαν, pantōn ta desma ēnoixan): Here 'bands' refer to the shackles or chains.

The term 'loosed' (ἤνοιγξαν) indicates a releasing or unfastening.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Miraculous jailbreaks and divine interventions have parallels in other cultures. Ancient myths frequently have stories of gods or supernatural forces liberating heroes or devotees in spectacular fashion.

In some other religious traditions, such as Hinduism or Norse mythology, deities directly interfere in the human realm to assist their followers.

However, the context and the motivations in these stories can differ widely from the Christian perspective of an all-powerful and loving God working towards a moral and redemptive purpose.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, earthquakes are natural events caused by the shifting of tectonic plates beneath the Earth's surface. They are typically not associated with spiritual or divine causation in secular science.

However, the timing of the earthquake described in Acts 16:26, coinciding with Paul's and Silas's predicament, raises questions about divine providence versus coincidence.

While science can explain the mechanics of an earthquake, it remains silent on the occurrence or timing of such events in relation to human affairs.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and commentators offer different insights into Acts 16:26:

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary emphasizes the timing of the earthquake and its role in facilitating the spread of the Gospel.

Henry sees the event as a clear indication of divine power and mercy.

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible discusses the miraculous nature of the earthquake, emphasizing that it was specifically designed to release Paul and Silas without harming anyone.
The Pulpit Commentary points out that the prisoners could have escaped but did not, sensing something extraordinary in the event, which speaks to the awe and fear of God instilled by the miracle.
Modern scholarly commentaries often focus on the symbolic nature of the event, suggesting that liberation from physical captivity mirrors the spiritual freedom offered by Christ.

Each of these commentaries contributes to a nuanced understanding of Acts 16:26, offering a blend of historical, theological, and practical applications for readers and believers.

Acts 16

Acts 16

What does Acts 16:26 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 16:26 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?