Acts 16:27 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Waking to find the doors open, the jailer draws his sword to kill himself, certain the prisoners have escaped.
What Does Acts 16:27 Mean?
A guard who lost his prisoners could pay with his own life (compare Acts 12:19). Seeing every door standing open, the jailer chooses his sword over disgrace and execution. He assumes the worst, because the worst is all his world has taught him to expect.
Here is a man at the end of himself, which is where grace is about to find him. Minutes from self-destruction, he stands nearer to salvation than he has ever been. God is often closest at the edge of despair, when every other hope has fled.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 16:27
What does Acts 16:27 mean?
Waking to find the doors open, the jailer draws his sword to kill himself, certain the prisoners have escaped.