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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Acts 16:23–27

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
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.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

25 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 23

  1. Revelation 2:10Rank 1 from verse 23
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    10Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

  2. 2 Timothy 2:9Rank 2 from verse 23
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    9Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

  3. 1 Samuel 23:22–23Rank 3 from verse 23
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    22Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly.

    23See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.

  4. Matthew 27:63–66Rank 4 from verse 23
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    63Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

    64Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

    65Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

    66So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

  5. Acts 12:18Rank 5 from verse 23
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    18Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.

From verse 24

  1. Job 13:27Rank 1 from verse 24
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    27Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.

  2. Job 33:11Rank 2 from verse 24
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    11He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.

  3. Jeremiah 29:26Rank 3 from verse 24
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    26The 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.

  4. Jeremiah 38:26Rank 4 from verse 24
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    26Then 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.

  5. 1 Kings 22:27Rank 5 from verse 24
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    27And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.

From verse 25

  1. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18Rank 1 from verse 25
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    16Rejoice evermore.

    17Pray without ceasing.

    18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

  2. Psalms 119:62Rank 2 from verse 25
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    62At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.

  3. James 1:2Rank 3 from verse 25
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    2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

  4. 1 Peter 1:6–8Rank 4 from verse 25
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    6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

    7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

    8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

  5. Romans 5:3Rank 5 from verse 25
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    3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

From verse 26

  1. Acts 4:31Rank 1 from verse 26
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    31¶ And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

  2. Acts 5:19Rank 2 from verse 26
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    19But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

  3. Acts 12:10Rank 3 from verse 26
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    10When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

  4. Acts 12:7Rank 4 from verse 26
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    7And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

  5. Psalms 146:7Rank 5 from verse 26
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    7Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners:

From verse 27

  1. Acts 12:19Rank 1 from verse 27
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    19And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judæa to Cæsarea, and there abode.

  2. 1 Kings 16:18Rank 2 from verse 27
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    18And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king’s house, and burnt the king’s house over him with fire, and died,

  3. 1 Samuel 31:4–5Rank 3 from verse 27
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    4Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.

    5And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.

  4. 2 Samuel 17:23Rank 4 from verse 27
    Open

    23¶ And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

  5. Judges 9:54Rank 5 from verse 27
    Open

    54Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 16:23

COMBINED MEANING

laid

↗

Sense 1: Placed, set, put down, deposited, arranged, established, founded, imposed, applied, stored, buried, or overlaid. Sense 2: Reclined or brought to rest.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

upon

↗

1. Marks the person, place, thing, or basis to which something is related: on or onto; above or over; toward or against as the target of action, speech, thought, attention, or force; resting on, assigned to, or affecting as a state, gift, burden, duty, guilt, or judgment; supported by or based on; or one placed, added, or repeated on or after another. 2. With a stated time or occasion, or a preceding event, at that time or point, or at or after that event: on, at, when, then, or following it.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

cast

↗

1. To throw, send, put, lay, or direct a person or thing into, upon, around, toward, or away from a place, or into a stated condition. 2. To put away, reject, expel, remove, overthrow, or bring down. 3. To put forth or use a lot for choosing, dividing, or assigning. 4. To form an object by pouring molten material into a mould. 5. To shed, drop, or bring forth young, fruit, leaves, or flowers. 6. To raise, form, or prepare a bank, mount, trench, or way. 7. In "cast ... in his teeth," to reproach or charge something against him. 8. As a noun, the distance something may be thrown.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

charging

↗

Present-participial or verbal-noun form of charge. Sense 1: Commanding, enjoining, or solemnly requiring. Sense 2: Imputing, accusing, or charging with a fault. Sense 3: Burdening with a payment, obligation, or liability. Sense 4: Entrusting or making responsible for a person, duty, or burden.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

keep

↗

To guard, watch, protect, preserve, secure, retain, possess, hold, maintain, support, tend, manage, observe, obey, fulfil, celebrate, continue in, refrain from, or remain faithful to a person, place, trust, command, promise, way, time, or thing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 16:24

COMBINED MEANING

received

↗

Past-tense or past-participial form of receive (to take, accept, admit, welcome, or obtain).

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

charge

↗

Sense 1: To command, enjoin, or solemnly require; a command or injunction. Sense 2: A duty, trust, care, oversight, or a person or thing entrusted. Sense 3: To impute or accuse; an accusation or liability imputed. Sense 4: To impose a burden, payment, or obligation; a cost or expense. Sense 5: To entrust with or make responsible for a person, duty, or burden.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

inner

↗

Interior; farther inward than something else. Interior; internal; not outward.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

made

↗

Formed, caused, prepared, appointed, or brought into a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

fast

↗

Sense 1: Firm, fixed, or secure. Sense 2: Moving quickly. Sense 3: A period or act of abstaining from food. Sense 4: To abstain from food for a time.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

stocks

↗

A restraining frame or instrument in which the feet or body of a prisoner are fastened.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 16:25

COMBINED MEANING

midnight

↗

The middle of the night, conventionally about twelve o'clock at night.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

praises

↗

Sense 1: Expressions of approval, honour, or commendation. Sense 2: Commends, extols, or glorifies.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

heard

↗

Sense 1: Perceived by the ear. Sense 2: Received or learned by report. Sense 3: Listened to, regarded, or heeded. Sense 4: Favourably attended to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 16:26

COMBINED MEANING

shaken

↗

Past-tense or past-participial form of shake (to move violently, disturb, unsettle, or make unstable).

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

opened

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of open, meaning to uncover, reveal, or explain.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

every

↗

Each individual or member of the class, group, place, time, side, or kind named; all distributively.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

bands

↗

1. Groups or companies, especially of soldiers or raiders. 2. Bonds, cords, restraints, or ties that bind or join.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

loosed

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of loose, meaning to unbind, untie, detach, release, set free, relax, open, or end a restraint.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 16:27

COMBINED MEANING

awaking

↗

Present-participial or verbal-noun form of awake, meaning to cease sleeping, or to arouse from sleep or inactivity.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

out

↗

Outside, away from within, forth, absent, or no longer in a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sleep

↗

Sense 1: Natural bodily rest with suspended waking activity; figuratively, inattention or inactivity; or death described as sleep. Sense 2: To rest in sleep; figuratively, to lie in death.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

seeing

↗

1. As a connective, because, since, or in view of a stated fact. 2. Perceiving with the eyes; observing. 3. Recognizing, discerning, understanding, or foreseeing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

open

↗

Sense 1: Unclosed, uncovered, or manifest. Sense 2: As a verb, to uncover, reveal, or explain.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

drew

↗

1. Came or approached, especially in “drew near,” “drew nigh,” or “drew on.” 2. Pulled, dragged, led, or caused to move toward, along, away, or out. 3. Took or brought something out or up, as water, a sword, staves, or a shoe. 4. Bent a bow by pulling its string.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

killed

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of kill, meaning to cause death, slay, put to death, or destroy life.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

supposing

↗

Laying down or imagining to exist or be true; stating as a case that may be; imagining; receiving as true.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

fled

↗

Past-tense or past-participial form of flee (to run or hasten away, especially from danger or expected evil).

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

READ BEFORE AND AFTER

Surrounding Verses

Nearby Scripture remains separate from the selected passage until you add it.

22And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

23And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

Selected passage

24Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

Selected passage

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

Selected passage

26And 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.

Selected passage

27And 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.

Selected passage

28But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

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