Acts 5:23
◄  Acts 5:23  ►
New International Version (©2011)
"We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside."

New Living Translation (©2007)
"The jail was securely locked, with the guards standing outside, but when we opened the gates, no one was there!"

English Standard Version (©2001)
“We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
saying, "We found the prison house locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but when we had opened up, we found no one inside."

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing in front of the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!"

International Standard Version (©2012)
"We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside."

NET Bible (©2006)
"We found the jail locked securely and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside."

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
And they were saying, “We found the prison locked securely by the guards who were standing at the door, and we opened it and we found no one there.”

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
"We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors. However, when we opened the doors, we found no one inside."

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing outside before the doors: but when we had opened it, we found no man within.

American King James Version
Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

American Standard Version
saying, The prison-house we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing at the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Saying: The prison indeed we found shut with all diligence, and the keepers standing before the doors; but opening it, we found no man within.

Darby Bible Translation
saying, We found the prison shut with all security, and the keepers standing at the doors; but when we had opened them, within we found no one.

English Revised Version
saying, The prison-house we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing at the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

Webster's Bible Translation
Saying, The prison truly we found shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

Weymouth New Testament
saying, "The jail we found quite safely locked, and the warders were on guard at the doors, but upon going in we found no one there."

World English Bible
"We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!"

Young's Literal Translation
saying -- 'The prison indeed we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors, and having opened -- within we found no one.'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

5:17-25 There is no prison so dark, so strong, but God can visit his people in it, and, if he pleases, fetch them out. Recoveries from sickness, releases out of trouble, are granted, not that we may enjoy the comforts of life, but that God may be honoured with the services of our life. It is not for the preachers of Christ's gospel to retire into corners, as long as they can have any opportunity of preaching in the great congregation. They must preach to the lowest, whose souls are as precious to Christ as the souls of the greatest. Speak to all, for all are concerned. Speak as those who resolve to stand to it, to live and die by it. Speak all the words of this heavenly, divine life, in comparison with which the present earthly life does not deserve the name. These words of life, which the Holy Ghost puts into your mouth. The words of the gospel are the words of life; words whereby we may be saved. How wretched are those who are vexed at the success of the gospel! They cannot but see that the word and power of the Lord are against them; and they tremble for the consequences, yet they will go on.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 23. - Prison-house for prison, A.V., as in ver. 21; we found shut in all safety for truly found we shut with all safety, A.V. at the doors for without before the doors, A.V. and T.R. But the within at the end of the verse seems to require the without of the T.R.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Saying, the prison truly found we shut with all safety,.... Locked, barred and bolted;

and the keepers standing without before the doors; both inner and outer in their proper places, diligently discharging their office:

but when we had opened we found no man within; that is, none of the apostles, for there might be other prisoners in it, who were not released by this means.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

23. the prison … shut … keepers … before the doors, but … no man within—the reverse of the miracle in Ac 16:26; a similar contrast to that of the nets at the miraculous draughts of fishes (Lu 5:6; Joh 21:11).

Acts 5:23 Parallel Commentaries

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The Apostles Arrested and Freed
…21And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and told, 23Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

Acts 5:22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported,
Acts 5:24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.