Acts 16:24

KJV

Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

KJV (with Strong's)

Who {G3739}, having received {G2983} such {G5108} a charge {G3852}, thrust {G906} them {G846} into {G1519} the inner {G2082} prison {G5438}, and {G2532} made {G805} their {G846} feet {G4228} fast {G805} in {G1519} the stocks {G3586}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Upon receiving such an order, he threw them into the inner cell and clamped their feet securely between heavy blocks of wood.

Berean Standard Bible

On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

American Standard Version

who, having received such a charge, cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 16:24 vividly details the severe imprisonment of the apostles Paul and Silas in Philippi. Following a strict command from the city magistrates, the jailer zealously confined them to the deepest and most secure part of the prison and painfully secured their feet in stocks. This harsh treatment underscores the immediate and brutal consequences of their evangelistic work, setting the stage for a dramatic divine intervention and a profound display of God's redemptive power.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the unjust and brutal treatment of Paul and Silas by the Philippian magistrates. Having been publicly stripped and severely beaten with rods ([Acts 16:22](/acts/16-22 "Acts 16:22 - Paul and Silas Beaten")), they were then handed over to the jailer with a strict command to "keep them safely" ([Acts 16:23](/acts/16-23 "Acts 16:23 - The Jailer's Charge")). Acts 16:24 describes the jailer's zealous execution of this order, going beyond mere security to inflict maximum discomfort and incapacitation. This extreme confinement then serves as the direct prelude to the miraculous earthquake, the jailer's conversion, and the subsequent establishment of the church in Philippi, as detailed in the verses that follow ([Acts 16:25-40](/acts/16-25-40 "Acts 16:25-40 - The Philippian Jailer's Conversion")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Philippi was a Roman colony, proud of its Roman citizenship and customs. The accusation against Paul and Silas was that they were "troubling our city" and advocating "customs which are not lawful for us to receive or observe, being Romans" ([Acts 16:20-21](/acts/16-20-21 "Acts 16:20-21 - Accusations in Philippi")). Roman law was strict, and any perceived disruption of public order or introduction of foreign, unauthorized cults could lead to severe punishment. Prisons in the Roman world were not primarily for rehabilitation but for holding prisoners before trial or execution, or as a form of punishment. The "inner prison" (carcer interior) was the most secure and often most deplorable part, typically dark, damp, and unsanitary. Stocks (xylons) were common instruments for restraining prisoners, often designed to cause extreme discomfort, pain, and immobility, sometimes even dislocating limbs, serving as both security and torture.
* **Key Themes:** The events in [Acts 16](/acts/16 "Acts 16 - Paul and Silas in Philippi") vividly illustrate the theme of **persecution and suffering for the Gospel**, demonstrating the hostility faced by early Christian missionaries. It also highlights the **sovereignty of God amidst adversity**, as the severe imprisonment of Paul and Silas ultimately becomes the catalyst for a profound spiritual breakthrough, leading to the conversion of the jailer and his entire household ([Acts 16:30-34](/acts/16-30-34 "Acts 16:30-34 - The Jailer's Conversion")). Furthermore, the narrative underscores the **transformative power of the Gospel**, capable of reaching even those in positions of authority and violence, turning a persecutor into a convert and caregiver. This episode also implicitly contrasts human injustice with divine justice and redemption.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **received (Greek, _lambánō_):** G2983. This verb signifies "to take" or "to get hold of," often with the nuance of actively acquiring something. Here, it emphasizes that the jailer willingly and actively "received" or took hold of the "charge" (parangelía) given by the magistrates. It suggests a deliberate acceptance and readiness to execute the command, rather than a passive reception.
* **inner (Greek, _esṓteros_):** G2082. This is a comparative form meaning "interior" or "more inward." Its use here emphasizes the deepest, most secure, and likely most unpleasant part of the prison. It implies maximum security and isolation, often associated with the most dangerous or troublesome prisoners, or those intended for the harshest treatment.
* **stocks (Greek, _xýlon_):** G3586. Literally meaning "wood" or "timber," in this context, it refers to a wooden instrument of restraint. These stocks were designed to hold a prisoner's feet (and sometimes hands or neck) in a fixed, often painfully stretched or bent position. This device not only prevented escape but also inflicted severe discomfort, cramping, and even injury, serving as a form of torture in addition to security.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Who, having received such a charge,"**: This clause refers to the Philippian jailer. The "charge" (parangelía) he received was a direct, emphatic command from the magistrates to "keep them safely" ([Acts 16:23](/acts/16-23 "Acts 16:23 - The Jailer's Command")). The jailer's actions that follow demonstrate his zealous and perhaps overzealous interpretation and execution of this command, aiming for absolute security.
* **"thrust them into the inner prison,"**: The verb "thrust" (bállō) implies a forceful, perhaps violent, action. The "inner prison" (esōteros phylakē) was the deepest, most secure, and most uncomfortable part of the jail, typically dark, damp, and unsanitary. This was not a standard holding cell but a place reserved for high-risk prisoners or those intended for severe punishment, indicating the magistrates' desire for extreme measures against Paul and Silas.
* **"and made their feet fast in the stocks."**: This phrase describes an additional, severe measure of restraint and torture. The "stocks" (xylon) were a wooden device designed to immobilize the feet, often forcing them into an unnatural and painful position, causing cramping, numbness, and intense discomfort. This act was not merely for security but was a deliberate infliction of suffering, ensuring the apostles' complete incapacitation and adding to their humiliation.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs vivid **Imagery** to convey the harshness of Paul and Silas's imprisonment. The phrases "inner prison" and "feet fast in the stocks" paint a clear, visceral picture of their physical suffering and confinement, allowing the reader to almost feel the darkness, dampness, and pain. This detailed description serves to heighten the sense of their plight. Furthermore, the verse functions as **Foreshadowing**, setting the stage for the miraculous events that immediately follow. The extreme nature of their confinement makes the subsequent earthquake and the jailer's conversion all the more dramatic and divinely orchestrated, highlighting God's power to work even in the most dire circumstances. There is also an implicit **Contrast** between the human attempt to completely suppress and control the apostles through physical means, and the spiritual freedom and joy they would soon demonstrate through their singing and praying, which transcends their physical bonds.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 16:24 powerfully illustrates the reality of suffering for the sake of the Gospel, a recurring theme throughout the New Testament. The unjust treatment of Paul and Silas, culminating in their brutal imprisonment, serves as a stark reminder that faithfulness to Christ often entails hardship and persecution. However, this suffering is never outside of God's sovereign plan; rather, it often becomes the very means through which His redemptive purposes are advanced. The extreme measures taken against the apostles inadvertently set the stage for a profound demonstration of divine power and grace, leading to the conversion of the jailer and his household, thus expanding the reach of the Gospel into an unexpected place. This episode underscores the truth that God works all things, even evil intentions and human cruelty, for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

* [Matthew 5:10-12](/matthew/5-10-12 "Matthew 5:10-12 - Blessed are the Persecuted")
* [Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "Romans 8:28 - God Works for Good")
* [2 Corinthians 4:8-9](/2_corinthians/4-8-9 "2 Corinthians 4:8-9 - Hard Pressed but Not Crushed")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The scene in Acts 16:24, though ancient, resonates deeply with timeless truths about faith, suffering, and divine sovereignty. For believers today, it serves as a powerful reminder that following Christ does not guarantee an easy life, but often invites opposition and hardship. Yet, it also implicitly sets the stage for God's miraculous intervention, reminding us that even in our darkest moments of confinement or distress, God is present and actively working. Our response to injustice and suffering, like that of Paul and Silas who would soon sing praises, becomes a profound testimony to the world. This verse challenges us to cultivate a resilient faith that trusts in God's overarching plan, even when circumstances seem bleak and painful. It calls us to find spiritual freedom even when physically bound, and to recognize that our trials can be fertile ground for God's redemptive work in the lives of others, just as the jailer was transformed.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I respond when I face unfair treatment or hardship because of my faith?**
* **In what "inner prisons" or "stocks" of life (physical, emotional, spiritual) might God be preparing a miraculous work?**
* **How can I cultivate a spirit of praise and prayer even amidst difficult circumstances, mirroring Paul and Silas?**

### FAQ

**Why were Paul and Silas put in the "inner prison" and "stocks" specifically?**

Answer: Paul and Silas were placed in the "inner prison" and had their feet secured in "stocks" due to the magistrates' explicit command to the jailer to "keep them safely" ([Acts 16:23](/acts/16-23 "Acts 16:23 - The Jailer's Command")). The jailer, likely acting out of an abundance of caution or zeal to please his superiors, interpreted this command to mean maximum security and incapacitation. The "inner prison" ([Acts 16:24](/acts/16-24 "Acts 16:24 - Inner Prison")) was the most secure, often most uncomfortable, and least accessible part of the jail, reserved for high-risk prisoners. The "stocks" (xylon) were a painful wooden device designed to immobilize the prisoner's feet, serving not only as a restraint but also as a form of torture, ensuring they could not move or attempt escape. This extreme measure highlights the severity of the perceived threat Paul and Silas posed to the Philippian authorities and their determination to prevent any further "disturbance" ([Acts 16:20](/acts/16-20 "Acts 16:20 - Accusation of Disturbing the City")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Acts 16:24 describes the suffering of Paul and Silas, it implicitly points to the greater suffering of Christ, who endured the ultimate "inner prison" of human sin and the "stocks" of the cross for the redemption of humanity. Just as Paul and Silas were unjustly condemned and physically bound, Jesus, the innocent Lamb of God, was delivered into the hands of sinful men, scourged, mocked, and ultimately crucified ([Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - Wounded for Our Transgressions"); [Matthew 27:26-31](/matthew/27-26-31 "Matthew 27:26-31 - Jesus is Scourged and Mocked")). His confinement in the tomb for three days foreshadowed the triumph over death, just as the apostles' imprisonment led to a miraculous release and the jailer's conversion. The willing endurance of Paul and Silas in the face of such brutality, which would soon lead to their singing praises to God ([Acts 16:25](/acts/16-25 "Acts 16:25 - Paul and Silas Pray and Sing")), echoes the steadfast obedience of Christ, who "for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame" ([Hebrews 12:2](/hebrews/12-2 "Hebrews 12:2 - Jesus, the Author and Finisher of Our Faith")). Thus, the suffering depicted in Acts 16:24, while a testament to the apostles' faith, ultimately magnifies the redemptive work of Christ, who suffered so that all who believe might find true freedom from the bondage of sin and death ([John 8:36](/john/8-36 "John 8:36 - The Son Sets You Free")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Job 33:11

He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.

Job 13:27

Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.

Jeremiah 29:26

The LORD hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the LORD, for every man [that is] mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in prison, and in the stocks.

Jeremiah 38:26

Then thou shalt say unto them, I presented my supplication before the king, that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan's house, to die there.

Jeremiah 20:2

Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that [were] in the high gate of Benjamin, which [was] by the house of the LORD.

Jeremiah 20:3

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, The LORD hath not called thy name Pashur, but Magormissabib.

Psalms 105:18

Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: