Acts 16:28
in Acts 16But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself! We are all here!”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
KJV
But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
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This verse in Acts 16
Commentary
12 notes on this verseDo thyself no harm - As it was now dark, being midnight, St. Paul must have had a Divine intimation of what the jailor was going to do; and, to prevent it, cried out aloud, Do thyself no harm, for we are all here.
This site's exposition
he drew his sword
on Acts 16:27-28
The jailer drew his sword to kill himself, since Roman law made a guard answer with his life for an escaped prisoner. Paul called out that all were there, so the men he had confined saved his life by staying in an opened prison.
This site's exposition
Do not harm yourself! We are all here!
In the dark the jailer saw open doors and drew his conclusion. Paul's word that every prisoner remained is the surprise, and the other prisoners stayed with Paul and Silas. Their staying left the jailer blameless.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
For whom did that event happen at midnight? And for whom was it accompanied by an earthquake? Listen to God's dispensation and be filled with wonder! The chains were loosed and the doors opened. But this event happened for the jailer alone. It was not for show but salvation. That the prisoners did not know they were freed is clear from what Paul says …, "He cried out with a loud voice and said, 'Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.' " They would not have stayed within if they had known that the doors had been opened and they had been freed. Those who break through walls, leap over roofs and eaves and dare anything even when they are bound would have not tolerated staying when their chains had been loosed and the doors had been opened and the jailer sleeping.… And the imprisoned are usually bound during the night, and not during the day. With much care, therefore, he was able to see them carefully bound again and sleeping. If these things had been done during the day, there would have been a big riot. Why was the prison shaken by the earthquake? In order that the jailer might get up to see that spectacle: only he was worthy of salvation.
But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. He wondered more at Paul's kindness; he was amazed at his manly boldness, that he had not escaped when he had it in his power, that he hindered him from killing himself. Paul shouted, until he saw, and is beforehand with him saying, We are all here.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
With a loud voice - Through earnestness, and because he was at some distance. Do thyself no harm - Although the Christian faith opens the prospect into another life, yet it absolutely forbids and effectually prevents a man's discharging himself from this.
But Paul cried with a loud voice,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
And suddenly there was a great earthquake--in answer, doubtless, to the prayers and expectations of the sufferers that, for the truth's sake and the honor of their Lord, some interposition would take place. every one's bands--that is, the bands of all the prisoners. were loosed--not by the earthquake, of course, but by a miraculous energy accompanying it.
4 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
But how, it has been asked by skeptical critics, could Paul in his inner prison know what the jailer was about to do? In many conceivable ways, without supposing any supernatural communication.
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!
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.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Do thyself no harm - This is the solemn command of religion in his case, and in all others. It enjoins upon people to do themselves no harm by self-murder, whether by the sword, the pistol, the halter; by intemperance, by lust, or by dissipation. In all cases, Christianity seeks the true welfare of man. In all cases, if it were obeyed, people would do themselves no harm. They would promote their own best interests here, and their eternal welfare hereafter.
The words behind it
15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἐφώνησεν | ephonesen | Called out | G5455 → | 43 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| μεγάλῃ | megale | in a loud | G3173 → | 243 times |
| φωνῇ | phonea | voice | G5456 → | 139 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Παῦλος | paulos | Paul | G3972 → | 158 times |
| λέγων· | legon | saying; | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| μηδὲν | meden | Not | G3367 → | 90 times |
| πράξῃς | praxes | may do | G4238 → | 39 times |
| σεαυτῷ | seauto | to yourself | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| κακόν· | kakon | harm; | G2556 → | 50 times |
| ἅπαντες | hapantes | all | G537 → | 33 times |
| γάρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ἐσμεν | esmen | we are | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἐνθάδε. | enthade | here. | G1759 → | 8 times |
ἘφώνησενCalled out
ephonesenG5455 →43 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
μεγάλῃin a loud
megaleG3173 →243 times
φωνῇvoice
phoneaG5456 →139 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
ΠαῦλοςPaul
paulosG3972 →158 times
λέγων·saying;
legonG3004 →1325 times
μηδὲνNot
medenG3367 →90 times
πράξῃςmay do
praxesG4238 →39 times
σεαυτῷto yourself
seautoG4771 →2973 times
κακόν·harm;
kakonG2556 →50 times
ἅπαντεςall
hapantesG537 →33 times
γάρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ἐσμενwe are
esmenG1510 →2333 times
ἐνθάδε.here.
enthadeG1759 →8 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
Luke 23:34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 3:9
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 5:44
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
- Acts 7:60
Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
- 1 Peter 2:20–23
How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
- Luke 6:27–28
But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
- 1 Peter 3:9
Through
Exodus 20:13You shall not murder.
it leads to
- Romans 13:9
The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
- Deuteronomy 5:17
You shall not murder.
- Romans 13:9
Through
1 Thessalonians 5:15Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.
it leads to
- Galatians 6:10
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.
- Galatians 6:10
Where this verse is studied
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About Acts
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3372: “Conversion and Character” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 16.25; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 36; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.