Read the Bible
KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Acts 16:25–29

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
25¶ And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
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.
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.
28But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
Share
Email linkOpen a new message in your email app
Read chapterReport
More

PASSAGE SELECTION

Build from either side

5 selected · 35 available

Add or remove verses within this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

All 79 ranked passages are available for comparison.

Acts 16:25Cross-references · 35 ranked passages

  1. Open

    16Rejoice evermore.

    17Pray without ceasing.

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

  2. Open

    62At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.

  3. James 1:2Rank 3
    Open

    2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

  4. Open

    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. Open

    3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

  6. Open

    4Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

    5Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

    6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

    7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

  7. Open

    6I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.

  8. Open

    7Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

  9. Open

    10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

    11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

  10. Open

    15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

    16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

    17And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

  11. Open

    15And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

  12. Open

    8We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

    9Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

  13. Open

    19Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

  14. Open

    12Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

  15. Open

    24Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

  16. Job 35:10Rank 16
    Open

    10But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;

  17. Open

    29Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the mighty One of Israel.

  18. Open

    1I WILL bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

  19. Open

    22Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.

    23Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

  20. Open

    7I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.

  21. Open

    14If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

  22. Open

    16For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

    17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

  23. Open

    10As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

  24. Acts 5:41Rank 24
    Open

    41¶ And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

  25. Open

    12But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

    13So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

  26. Open

    38Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

    39And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

  27. Open

    17Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

  28. Open

    55I have remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night, and have kept thy law.

  29. Open

    8Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

  30. Open

    15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

  31. Open

    8Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.

  32. James 5:13Rank 32
    Open

    13Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

  33. Luke 22:44Rank 33
    Open

    44And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

  34. Open

    2In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.

  35. Open

    2O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

Acts 16:26Cross-references · 13 ranked passages

  1. Acts 4:31Rank 1
    Open

    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
    Open

    19But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

  3. Open

    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
    Open

    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. Open

    7Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners:

  6. Open

    2And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

  7. Open

    7To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

  8. Open

    20To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;

  9. Open

    1THE Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

  10. Open

    11Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;

  11. Open

    13And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

  12. Open

    12And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

  13. Open

    11As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.

    12¶ Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;

Acts 16:27Cross-references · 7 ranked passages

  1. Open

    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. Open

    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. Open

    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. 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. 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.

  6. Open

    5And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

  7. Open

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

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

Acts 16:28Cross-references · 13 ranked passages

  1. Open

    15See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

  2. Open

    34¶ Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

  3. Open

    27¶ But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

    28Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

  4. Open

    17Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

  5. Open

    13Thou shalt not kill.

  6. Open

    32And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

    33But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

    34And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

    35And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

    36Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

    37And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

  7. Open

    44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

  8. Open

    18¶ Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.

  9. Open

    51And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

  10. Open

    11If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;

    12If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

  11. Open

    36But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

  12. Open

    14I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.

  13. Psalms 7:4Rank 13
    Open

    4If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)

Acts 16:29Cross-references · 11 ranked passages

  1. Open

    9Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

  2. Open

    26I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

  3. Open

    10But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.

  4. Open

    25And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

  5. Open

    5And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

    6And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

  6. Open

    14The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

  7. Open

    2For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

  8. Open

    5¶ Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

  9. Open

    22Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

  10. Open

    120My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.

  11. Open

    1THE Lord reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

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

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 16:28

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

cried

↗

1. Called out, shouted, proclaimed, warned, wailed, or otherwise uttered, often loudly. 2. Appealed, prayed, complained, or called for help, justice, or attention.

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

COMBINED MEANING

harm

↗

Hurt, injury, damage, loss, or an adverse charge or report, according to the object and phrase.

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

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 16:29

COMBINED MEANING

called

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of call. Sense 1: To name. Sense 2: To summon or invite. Sense 3: To proclaim or address. Sense 4: To request.

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

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

light

↗

Sense 1: Brightness or illumination. Sense 2: A source or opening that gives light. Sense 3: Figuratively, truth, knowledge, revelation, life, or favour contrasted with darkness. Sense 4: To illuminate or kindle. Sense 5: To alight or come upon. Sense 6: Slight, easy, swift, or not heavy.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

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

fell

↗

1. Came or went down; dropped, bowed, lay flat, collapsed, or lost an upright or raised place. 2. Was slain, died, was overthrown, or came under another's hand or power. 3. Came upon, seized, or affected someone or something, or entered a stated condition such as sickness, sleep, fear, lusting, or a trance. 4. Attacked or set upon. 5. Happened or came to pass. 6. Joined, yielded, went over, or departed from a person, side, office, or former standing. 7. Was assigned or determined by lot or portion. 8. As the present verb fell, to cut or bring down a tree or other standing thing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

before

↗

Earlier than in time; in front of; in the presence of; or prior in order or rank.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

Suggested context · Acts 16:25–34

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

16:25¶ And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

Selected passage

16:26And 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

16:27And 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

16:28But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

Selected passage

16:29Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

Selected passage

16:30And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

16:31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

16:32And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

16:33And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

16:34And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

LOCAL PASTOR DIRECTORY

Ask a Pastor Near You

Enter a postal code or city and region to find nearby pastors committed to holding fast the faithful word.

Search runs in your browser using downloaded location data. It does not contact churches or a geocoding service. Approximate city and postal-area locations from GeoNames, licensed under CC BY 4.0.