John Chrysostom — Commentary on Scripture

And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

"And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison" - great was their wrath - "charging the jailer to keep them safely": "And the magistrates," charging the jailer to keep them safely: that they may be the means of a greater miracle. The stricter the custody, the greater the miracle. It was probably from the wish to cut short the disturbance, that the magistrates did these things; because they saw the crowd urgent, and wished to stay their passion at the instant, therefore they inflicted the stripes: at the same time it was their wish to hear the matter, and that was why they cast them into prison and gave charge "to keep them safely."

Acts 16:24 · 2 passages

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

Do you see how his power was perfected in weakness? If Paul had been freed and had shaken that building, the event would not have been so wonderful. "Therefore," he says, "remain in chains! Let the walls be shaken from every side, and let the prisoners be freed!—so that my power may appear all the greater, when through you, the one confined and in fetters, all who are in chains are freed." This is what amazed the jailer, that Paul, held in such constraints, was able, through prayer alone, to shake the foundations, open the doors of the prison and free all who were in chains.

"Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks." Observe, he also again thrust them into the "inner" prison: and this too was done providentially, because there was to be a great miracle.

And, it says, "he made them fast in the stocks," as we should say, the nervum.

Acts 16:25-26 · 6 passages

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

Mark how Peter slept. Both there, it was wisely ordered that he should be asleep; for the Angel came to him, and it behooved that none should see what happened; and on the other hand it was well ordered here that Paul should be awake, in order that the keeper of the prison might be prevented from killing himself.

What could equal these souls? These men had been scourged, had received many stripes, they had been misused, were in peril of their lives, were thrust into the inner prison, and set fast in the stocks: and for all this they did not suffer themselves to sleep, but kept vigil all the night. And at midnight, it says, and the prisoners listened to them: it was so strange and surprising!

Let us compare, beloved, with that night these nights of ours, with their revellings, their drunkenness, and wanton excesses, with their sleep which might as well be death, their watchings which are worse than sleep. For while some sleep without sense or feeling, others lie awake to pitiable and wretched purpose, plotting deceits, anxiously thinking about money, studying how they may be revenged upon those who do them wrong, meditating enmity, reckoning up the abusive words spoken during the day: thus do they rake up the smouldering embers of wrath, doing things intolerable.

What could equal these souls? These men had been scourged, had received many stripes, they had been misused, were in peril of their lives, were thrust into the inner prison, and set fast in the stocks: and for all this they did not suffer themselves to sleep, but kept vigil all the night. Do you mark what a blessing tribulation is? But we, in our soft beds, with none to be afraid of, pass the whole night in sleep. But belike this is why they kept vigil, because they were in this condition. Not the tyranny of sleep could overpower them, not the smart of pain could bow them, not the fear of evil cast them into helpless dejection: no, these were the very things that made them wakeful: and they were even filled with exceeding delight.

This let us also do, and we shall open for ourselves - not a prison, but - heaven. If we pray, we shall be able even to open heaven. Elias both shut and opened heaven by prayer. There is a prison in heaven also. Whatsoever, He saith, ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven. Let us pray by night, and we shall loose these bonds. For that prayers loose sins, let that widow convince us, let that friend convince us, who at that untimely hour of the night persists and knocks: let Cornelius convince us, for, thy prayers, it says, and thine alms are come up before God.

Who is equal to these souls? After being whipped they received numerous blows and underwent insults and extreme dangers. While fastened in stocks in the innermost cell, they stayed awake not wanting to fall asleep. Do you see how great the affliction of the righteous is? We sleep in soft beds without any fear throughout the night. Maybe they stayed awake because they were in this state. The tyrant sleep did not catch them, pain did not bend them, fear did not make them dispirited, but these things spurred them on even more.

Acts 16:26 · 2 passages

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.

The prison shook to disrupt the mindset of the faithless, to set the prison guard free and to proclaim the word of God.… You see how the nature of shackles destroys the shackles, for just as the death of the Lord put death to death, so also the shackles of Paul set the captives free, shook the prison, opened the doors. And yet this is not the nature of shackles, but they do the opposite—they hold the prisoner in security, they do not open up the walls for him. But while the simple nature of shackles is not this, the nature of these shackles is such because of Christ.

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 why did no other miracle take place? Because this was, of all others, the thing sufficient for his conversion, seeing he was personally in danger: for it is not so much miracles that overpower us, as the things which issue in our own deliverance. That the earthquake should not seem to have come of itself, there was this concurrent circumstance, bearing witness to it: the doors were opened, and all their bonds were loosed. And it appears in the night-time; for the Apostles did not work for display, but for men's salvation.

Acts 16:27

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.

And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. The keeper was not an evil-disposed man that he thrust them into the inner prison, was because of his having received such a command, not of himself. The man was all in a tumult of perturbation.

Acts 16:28 · 2 passages

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

But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. He wondered more at Paul's kindness; he was amazed at his manly boldness, that he had not escaped when he had it in his power, that he hindered him from killing himself. Paul shouted, until he saw, and is beforehand with him saying, We are all here.

For whom did that event happen at midnight? And for whom was it accompanied by an earthquake? Listen to God’s dispensation and be filled with wonder! The chains were loosed and the doors opened. But this event happened for the jailer alone. It was not for show but salvation. That the prisoners did not know they were freed is clear from what Paul says …, “He cried out with a loud voice and said, ‘Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.’ ” They would not have stayed within if they had known that the doors had been opened and they had been freed. Those who break through walls, leap over roofs and eaves and dare anything even when they are bound would have not tolerated staying when their chains had been loosed and the doors had been opened and the jailer sleeping.… And the imprisoned are usually bound during the night, and not during the day. With much care, therefore, he was able to see them carefully bound again and sleeping. If these things had been done during the day, there would have been a big riot. Why was the prison shaken by the earthquake? In order that the jailer might ge…

For whom did that event happen at midnight? And for whom was it accompanied by an earthquake? Listen to God’s dispensation and be filled with wonder! The chains were loosed and the doors opened. But this event happened for the jailer alone. It was not for show but salvation. That the prisoners did not know they were freed is clear from what Paul says …, “He cried out with a loud voice and said, ‘Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.’ ” They would not have stayed within if they had known that the doors had been opened and they had been freed. Those who break through walls, leap over roofs and eaves and dare anything even when they are bound would have not tolerated staying when their chains had been loosed and the doors had been opened and the jailer sleeping.… And the imprisoned are usually bound during the night, and not during the day. With much care, therefore, he was able to see them carefully bound again and sleeping. If these things had been done during the day, there would have been a big riot. Why was the prison shaken by the earthquake? In order that the jailer might get up to see that spectacle: only he was worthy of salvation.

Acts 16:29-30 · 2 passages

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

Then he called for lights, 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? Do you mark how the wonder overpowered him? And having called for lights, it says, he sprang in, and fell down at the feet of the prisoner; he, the prison keeper, saying, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Why, what had they said? Observe, he does not, on finding himself safe, think all is well; he is overcome with awe at the miraculous power.

Do you mark what happened in the former case, and what here? There a girl was released from a spirit, and they cast them into prison, because they had liberated her from the spirit. Here, they did but show the doors standing open, and it opened the doors of his heart, it loosed two sorts of chains; that prisoner kindled the true light; for the light in his heart was shining. And he sprang in, and fell before them; and he does not ask, How is this? What is this? but straightway he says, What must I do to be saved?

Acts 16:31

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

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. What then answers Paul? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thine house. For this above all, wins men: that one's house also should be saved.

Acts 16:32-33

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

And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house, and so immediately gave proof of their kindness towards him. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. He washed them, and was himself baptized, he and his house. And they spake the word to him, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes: washed them and was washed: those he washed from their stripes, himself was washed from his sins: he fed and was fed.

Acts 16:34

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 he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. And rejoiced, it says: although there was nothing but words only and good hopes: having believed in God with all his house: this was the token of his having believed - that he was released of all. What worse than a jailer, what more ruthless, more savage? He entertained them with great honor. Not, because he was safe, he made merry, but, having believed God.

Acts 16:35-36

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

And when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, Let those men go. It is likely the magistrates had learnt what had happened, and did not dare of themselves to dismiss them. And the keeper of the prison told these words to Paul, saying, the magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace - that is, in safety, fearing no man.