Acts 16:29
in Acts 16Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And he called for lights and sprang in, and, trembling for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas,
KJV
Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
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This verse in Acts 16
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Ammonius of AlexandriaCATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 16.29-30 · Written before 300.
From this event it can be established that the faith of people is something in their power. See how, after such a fright, only the jailer believed. And yet, most of all, those imprisoned should have been moved to believe, since they had experienced a …
This site's exposition
called for a light
on Acts 16:29-31
Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, the jailor's terror turning at once to reverence once he sees them still present, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved, the earthquake and the mercy together driving the question past his physical safety to his soul's. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house, the gospel's answer stated in its simplest form anywhere in the book, faith alone the condition, exactly as Peter had argued it at the council in chapter fifteen. The household clause does not promise automatic salvation to unbelieving family members but opens the same door of faith to every member of his house.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
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?
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Then he called for a light,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Then he called for a light - Greek: lights, in the plural. Probably several torches were brought by his attendants. And came trembling - Alarmed at the earthquake; amazed that the prisoners were still there; confounded at the calmness of Paul and Silas and overwhelmed at the proof of the presence of God. Compare Jer 5:22, “Fear ye not me, saith the Lord? will ye not tremble at my presence? etc.” And fell down - This was an act of profound reverence. See the notes on Mat 2:
A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3372: “Conversion and Character” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) · Written before 1892.
proposed
THE work of God at Philippi went on very quietly and successfully in the hands of Paul and Silas. It was the commencement of the Gospel in Europe and very auspicious were its circumstances. The good work was intimately connected with Prayer Meetings, which for this reason should always wear a charm for Europeans. Godly women met together for devotion. Paul spoke to them and households were converted and baptized. The work went on delightfully, but the devil, as usual, must put in his foot!
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3372: “Conversion and Character” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) · Written before 1892.
proposed
THE work of God at Philippi went on very quietly and successfully in the hands of Paul and Silas. It was the commencement of the Gospel in Europe and very auspicious were its circumstances. The good work was intimately connected with Prayer Meetings, which for this reason should always wear a charm for Europeans. Godly women met together for devotion. Paul spoke to them and households were converted and baptized. The work went on delightfully, but the devil, as usual, must put in his foot! To any who judged according to the sight of the eyes, it must have seemed a most unfortunate circumstance that a poor woman having a spirit of divination came in Paul's way. It was a sad ruffling of the gentle stream of prosperity when, on account of his casting the demon out of her, the Apostle and his companion were dragged by the mob before the magistrates, shamefully beaten and thrown into prison. Now the preacher's mouth would be stopped, as far as the people of Philippi outside the jail gates were concerned. No more of those delightful Prayer Meetings and Bible readings and opening up of the Scriptures. Surely there was cause for the deepest regret. It might have appeared so, but like a great many other incidents connected with Christian work, the matter could not be judged by the outward appearance, for the Lord had a secret and blessed design which was being answered by the apparent disaster! Servants of Jesus Christ, never be discouraged when you are opposed, but when things run counter to your wishes, expect that the Lord has provided some better thing for you! He is driving you away from shallow waters and bringing you into deeper seas where your nets shall bring you larger draughts.
He called for a light - That he might see how things stood, and whether the words of Paul were true; for on this his personal safety depended. Came trembling - Terrified by the earthquake, and feeling the danger to which his own life was exposed. Fell down before Paul and Silas - The persons whom a few hours before he, according to his office, treated with so much asperity, if not cruelty, as some have supposed; though, by the way, it does not appear that he exceeded his orders in his treatment of the apostles.
The words behind it
13 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| αἰτήσας | aitesas | Having called for | G154 → | 70 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| φῶτα | phota | lights | G5457 → | 72 times |
| εἰσεπήδησεν | eisepedesen | he rushed in | G1530 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἔντρομος | entromos | terrified | G1790 → | |
| γενόμενος | genomenos | having become | G1096 → | 667 times |
| προσέπεσεν | prosepesen | he fell down before | G4363 → | |
| τῷ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Παύλῳ | paulo | Paul | G3972 → | 158 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τῷ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Σιλᾷ, | sila | Silas, | G4609 → | 12 times |
αἰτήσαςHaving called for
aitesasG154 →70 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
φῶταlights
photaG5457 →72 times
εἰσεπήδησενhe rushed in
eisepedesenG1530 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἔντρομοςterrified
entromosG1790 →
γενόμενοςhaving become
genomenosG1096 →667 times
προσέπεσενhe fell down before
prosepesenG4363 →
τῷ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
ΠαύλῳPaul
pauloG3972 →158 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τῷ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
Σιλᾷ,Silas,
silaG4609 →12 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 66:2Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles…
it leads to
- Isaiah 57:15
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit,…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 34:18
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.
- Psalms 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
- Matthew 5:3–4
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- 2 Chronicles 34:27–28
because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its people, and because you have humbled yourself before Me and you have…
- Isaiah 57:15
Through
Revelation 3:9Look at those who belong to the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews but are liars instead. I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know…
it leads to
- Isaiah 60:14
The sons of your oppressors will come and bow down to you; all who reviled you will fall facedown at your feet and call you the City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy…
- Revelation 2:9
I know your affliction and your poverty—though you are rich! And I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact a synagogue of Satan.
- Isaiah 49:23
Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow to you facedown and lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD;…
- Isaiah 60:14
Where this verse is studied
About Acts
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ammonius of Alexandria, CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 16.29-30; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3372: “Conversion and Character” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 36; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.