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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 16:28 mean?

Explanation

Acts 16:28 captures a moment of urgency and intervention. The Apostle Paul, imprisoned with Silas in Philippi, shouts at the jailer who was about to commit suicide, believing his prisoners had escaped following a violent earthquake.

The verse reflects Paul's concern for the jailer's life, urging him not to harm himself because all the prisoners were still present.

This not only highlights the miraculous nature of their imprisonment, where despite an earthquake, no prisoners escaped, but it also shows an act of compassion and the value of a single human life within Christian teaching.

The deeper implication is that Paul's ministry transcends physical liberation and extends to spiritual and emotional salvation.

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Historical Context

Acts 16 takes place during Paul's second missionary journey, approximately in the years 49-51 AD.

The setting is a Roman colony in Philippi, which was a leading city of the district of Macedonia. Paul and Silas had been imprisoned after casting out a spirit from a slave girl, much to the ire of her masters who profited from her divination.

The cultural context is one where Roman law prevailed, and a jailer would have been held responsible, potentially to the point of execution, for the escape of prisoners.

The verse represents a critical and climactic moment where the boundaries between captor and captive are blurred by a mutual recognition of humanity and divine intervention.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse is emblematic of the Christian notion of the sanctity of life.

Paul intervenes to prevent the suicide of the jailer, even though the jailer holds power over him.

This act aligns with Christian teachings about loving one's enemies and valuing all human life.

It also reflects the Christian doctrine of grace; Paul could escape but chooses to stay and share the good news with the jailer.

Differing theological viewpoints might analyze this event as a divine appointment for the jailer's salvation or as an example of the peace and assurance that accompanies faith in God.

Practical Applications

Practically, Acts 16:28 teaches several lessons applicable to daily life. It encourages individuals to act with compassion towards those who may be perceived as 'enemies' or those in despair.

It suggests a call to a higher moral responsibility, intervening in situations of potential harm and fostering a culture of life preservation.

Furthermore, it exemplifies moral courage, doing the right thing in difficult circumstances, which can sometimes mean going against one's instinct for self-preservation.

Cross-References

Acts 16:25-27: The context leading to the verse, where Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns in prison before the earthquake occurred.
Acts 27:31-32: Similar to Acts 16:28, Paul urges everyone to stay on the ship to be saved during a shipwreck.
Proverbs 24:11: "If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;"
Luke 6:27: "But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,"

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the phrase "Do thyself no harm" is translated from "μηδὲν πρᾶξαι σεαυτῷ κακόν" (meden praxai seautō kakon).

The word "κακόν" (kakon) typically means "evil" or "harm," indicating the severity of what the jailer was about to do to himself. The command "μηδέν" (meden) as "nothing" or "do not" reinforces the prohibition and urgency.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various ancient cultures, the notion of suicide due to dishonor or to avoid punishment was not uncommon, especially within the Roman context. Honor and personal accountability were so intensely ingrained that suicide could be seen as an honorable escape.

In contrast, Judaism, Christianity, and later Islam, emphasized the sanctity of life, which discouraged suicide.

Therefore, Acts 16:28 can be seen as running counter to the predominant cultural acceptance of suicide for honor, emphasizing a contrast between Christian values and wider Roman beliefs.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern psychological perspectives support the idea of intervention in suicide prevention.

The verse speaks to the act of intervening when someone is in distress, a practice that aligns with current mental health protocols.

From a scientific viewpoint, the provision of support and assurance can be crucial in preventing an individual from engaging in self-harm.

While the Bible doesn't delve into psychological theory, its stories often parallel modern understandings of human behavior and the importance of compassion and community support in crisis situations.

Commentaries

Commentators often discuss Acts 16:28 in terms of divine providence and the power of witness.

John Chrysostom, an early church father, highlighted Paul's calm and divine foresight in preventing the jailer's suicide, seeing it as evidence of Paul's deep faith and concern for others.

Contemporary scholars like William Barclay note the miraculous nature of the prisoners' non-escape and credit it to an example of early Christians' commitment to their faith and care for their captors.

Many agree that this verse showcases the transformative power of the Gospel message through Paul’s actions and the subsequent conversion of the jailer.

Acts 16

Acts 16

What does Acts 16:28 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 16:28 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?