Acts 16:27 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

²⁷ The jailor, who was awakened from sleep [by the commotion] saw the jail doors open so drew his [short] sword and prepared to kill himself, assuming that all the prisoners had escaped. [Note: He would have faced a humiliating execution himself if he had allowed capital offense criminals to escape. With that prospect in view, it was considered honorable by the Romans for a person to commit suicide].

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

²⁷ 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.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

²⁷ When the jailer, startled out of his sleep, saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, because he supposed that the prisoners had escaped.

American Standard Version (1901)

²⁷ And the jailor, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.

Common English Bible

²⁷ When the jailer awoke and saw the open doors of the prison, he thought the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword and was about to kill himself.

Catholic Public Domain Version

²⁷ Then the prison guard, having been jarred awake, and seeing the doors of the prison open, drew his sword and intended to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had fled.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

²⁷ And the keeper of the prison, awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the doors of the prison open, drawing his sword, would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

Acts 16:27 Cross References

Matthew 27:5

And he threw down the thirty silver coins in the Sanctuary [i.e., probably the outer area of the Temple], then left and went out and hanged himself.

Acts 12:19

When Herod’s search for him turned up nothing, he questioned the guards, and then ordered them to be led away and executed. He then left Judea and went to Caesarea, where he stayed for awhile.

Acts 16:28

But Paul shouted out, “Do not hurt yourself, for everyone is [still] here.”

Acts 16:36

The jailor then informed Paul [of the officials’ decision], saying, “The city officials have decided to release you so you may leave the jail [if] you go peacefully.”