Acts 16:27

27 And the keeper of the prison, awakening out of his sleep and seeing the doors of the prison open, drawing his sword, would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

Acts 16:27 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 16:27

And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep
Not so much by the loud voices of Paul and Silas, as by the uncommon motion of the earth, which so shook him, as thoroughly to awake him: and seeing the prison doors open;
which was the first thing in his fright he was looking after, and careful of, and which he might perceive, though it was midnight, and though as yet he had no light: he drew out his sword;
from its scabbard, which was girt about him; for it may be he had slept with his clothes on, and his sword girt to him; or if he had put on his clothes upon awaking, he had also girt himself with his sword: and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been
fled;
especially Paul and Silas, concerning whom he had received such a strict charge from the magistrates; and he knew that according to law, he must suffer the same punishment that was designed for them; and therefore in fear of the magistrates, and what they would inflict upon him, he was just going to destroy himself.

Acts 16:27 In-Context

25 And at midnight, Paul and Silas, praying, praised God. And they that were in prison heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened and the bands of all were loosed.
27 And the keeper of the prison, awakening out of his sleep and seeing the doors of the prison open, drawing his sword, would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying: Do thyself no harm, for we all are here.
29 Then calling for a light, he went in: and trembling, fell down at the feet of Paul and Silas.
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