Actes 16:26

26 Tout à coup il se fit un grand tremblement de terre, en sorte que les fondements de la prison furent ébranlés; au même instant, toutes les portes s'ouvrirent, et les liens de tous les prisonniers furent rompus.

Actes 16:26 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 16:26

And suddenly there was a great earthquake
An extraordinary and unusual one; which did not arise from natural causes, from wind being pent up in the earth, but from the prayers and praises of the saints, going up to heaven; when God was pleased to testify his presence and power this way; and the effects which followed upon this earthquake, show it to be a supernatural one: so that the foundations of the prison were shaken;
not the roof and walls only, as is common in earthquakes, but the very foundation also; and yet the edifice was not thrown down, as is usual when the foundation is shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened;
both of the outer and inner prisons, which is another unusual effect of earthquakes: and everyone's bands were loosed;
not only the bands of Paul and Silas, but of the rest of the prisoners; though the Arabic version reads, "all the fetters and bands of both were loosed", referring it only to Paul and Silas; this circumstance shows also, that the earthquake was miraculous, for when was it ever known that such an effect ever followed one?

Actes 16:26 In-Context

24 Le geôlier, ayant reçu cet ordre, les jeta dans la prison intérieure, et leur mit les ceps aux pieds.

25 Vers le milieu de la nuit, Paul et Silas priaient et chantaient les louanges de Dieu, et les prisonniers les entendaient.

26 Tout à coup il se fit un grand tremblement de terre, en sorte que les fondements de la prison furent ébranlés; au même instant, toutes les portes s'ouvrirent, et les liens de tous les prisonniers furent rompus.

27 Le geôlier se réveilla, et, lorsqu'il vit les portes de la prison ouvertes, il tira son épée et allait se tuer, pensant que les prisonniers s'étaient enfuis.

28 Mais Paul cria d'une voix forte: Ne te fais point de mal, nous sommes tous ici.