Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, New Living Translation But when the Temple guards went to the jail, the men were gone. So they returned to the council and reported, English Standard Version But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, Berean Standard Bible But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they returned with the report: Berean Literal Bible But the officers, having come, did not find them in the prison. And having returned, they reported back, King James Bible But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, New King James Version But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, New American Standard Bible But the officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported, NASB 1995 But the officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported back, NASB 1977 But the officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned, and reported back, Legacy Standard Bible But the officers who came did not find them in the prison, and they returned and reported back, Amplified Bible But when the officers arrived, they did not find them in the prison; and they came back and reported, Berean Annotated Bible But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they returned with the report: Christian Standard Bible But when the servants got there, they did not find them in the jail; so they returned and reported, Holman Christian Standard Bible But when the temple police got there, they did not find them in the jail, so they returned and reported, “ American Standard Version But the officers that came found them not in the prison; and they returned, and told, Contemporary English Version The temple police who were sent to the jail did not find the apostles. They returned and said, English Revised Version But the officers that came found them not in the prison; and they returned, and told, GOD'S WORD® Translation When the temple guards arrived at the prison, they didn't find the apostles. The guards came back and reported, Good News Translation But when the officials arrived, they did not find the apostles in prison, so they returned to the Council and reported, International Standard Version When the Temple police got there, they did not find them in the prison. They came back and reported, NET Bible But the officers who came for them did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, New Heart English Bible But the officers who came did not find them in the prison. They returned and reported, Webster's Bible Translation But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, Weymouth New Testament But the officers went and could not find them in the prison. So they came back and brought word, Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBut on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they returned with the report: World English Bible But the officers who came didn’t find them in the prison. They returned and reported, Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand the officers having come, did not find them in the prison, and having turned back, they told, Berean Literal Bible But the officers, having come, did not find them in the prison. And having returned, they reported back, Young's Literal Translation and the officers having come, did not find them in the prison, and having turned back, they told, Smith's Literal Translation And the attendants having come near, found them not in the prison, and having returned, they announced, Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut when the ministers came, and opening the prison, found them not there, they returned and told, Catholic Public Domain Version But when the attendants had arrived, and, upon opening the prison, had not found them, they returned and reported to them, New American Bible But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison, so they came back and reported, New Revised Standard Version But when the temple police went there, they did not find them in the prison; so they returned and reported, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd when those who were sent by them, went, and did not find them in the prison, they returned, Aramaic Bible in Plain English And when those who were sent went from them, they did not find them in prison and they returned and came, NT Translations Anderson New TestamentBut when the attendants came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and reported, Godbey New Testament And the officers arriving found them not in the prison; and having returned, reported, Haweis New Testament But the officers, on their arrival, found them not in the prison: and returning, informed them, Mace New Testament but the officers who went there not finding them in the prison, returned, and made this report, Weymouth New Testament But the officers went and could not find them in the prison. So they came back and brought word, Worrell New Testament But the officers, having come, did not find them in the prison, and, returning, they told, Worsley New Testament But when the officers came they found them not in the prison: so they returned, Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Apostles Arrested and Freed…21At daybreak the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they returned with the report: 23“We found the jail securely locked, with the guards posted at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”… Cross References But on arriving at the jail, Acts 12:10-11 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city, which opened for them by itself. When they had gone outside and walked the length of one block, the angel suddenly left him. / Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.” Acts 16:25-26 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. / Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose. Luke 24:1-2 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. / They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, the officers did not find them there. Acts 12:18-19 At daybreak there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. / After Herod had searched for him unsuccessfully, he examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent some time there. Luke 24:3-6 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. / While they were puzzling over this, suddenly two men in radiant apparel stood beside them. / As the women bowed their faces to the ground in terror, the two men asked them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? … John 20:12-14 and she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and the other at the feet. / “Woman, why are you weeping?” they asked. “Because they have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I do not know where they have put Him.” / When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not recognize that it was Jesus. So they returned with the report: Luke 24:9-10 And when they returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. / It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. John 20:18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what He had said to her. Matthew 28:11-15 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. / And after the chief priests had met with the elders and formed a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money / and instructed them: “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ … Acts 4:3 They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in custody until the next day. Acts 16:27 When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, presuming that the prisoners had escaped. Acts 4:21 After further threats they let them go. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were glorifying God for what had happened. Acts 12:6-7 On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison. / Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists. Acts 16:23-24 And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely. / On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. Acts 16:35-36 When daylight came, the magistrates sent their officers with the order: “Release those men.” / The jailer informed Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders to release you. Now you may go on your way in peace.” Acts 4:7 They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” Treasury of Scripture But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and told, Jump to Previous Arriving Find Found Jail News Officers Prison Reported Turned WordJump to Next Arriving Find Found Jail News Officers Prison Reported Turned WordActs 5 1. After that Ananias and Sapphira his wife, 3. at Peter's rebuke had fallen down dead; 12. and that the rest of the apostles had wrought many miracles; 14. to the increase of the faith; 17. the apostles are again imprisoned; 19. but delivered by an angel bidding them preach openly to all; 21. when, after their teaching accordingly in the temple, 29. and before the council, 33. they are in danger to be killed; 34. but through the advice of Gamaliel, they are kept alive, and are only beaten; 41. for which they glorify God, and cease no day from preaching. But on arriving at the jail The context here is the miraculous escape of the apostles from prison. The apostles had been arrested for preaching about Jesus and performing miracles, which angered the religious leaders. The "jail" refers to the public prison in Jerusalem, a place where the apostles were held under guard. This event highlights the tension between the early Christian movement and the Jewish authorities. The apostles' imprisonment and subsequent escape underscore the divine intervention that often accompanied the early church's mission. the officers did not find them there So they returned with the report Persons / Places / Events 1. The ApostlesKey figures in the early Christian church, specifically Peter and John, who were imprisoned for preaching about Jesus. 2. The Officers Temple guards or officials responsible for maintaining order and executing the orders of the Sanhedrin. 3. The Jail The place where the apostles were held, symbolizing the opposition and persecution faced by early Christians. 4. The Sanhedrin The Jewish ruling council that opposed the apostles' teachings and sought to suppress the spread of Christianity. 5. The Angel of the Lord Although not mentioned in this specific verse, earlier in the chapter, an angel freed the apostles from jail, demonstrating divine intervention. Teaching Points Divine InterventionGod is sovereign and can intervene in human affairs to accomplish His purposes. Trust in His power and timing. Faithfulness in Persecution The apostles' experience encourages believers to remain faithful even when facing opposition or persecution for their faith. God's Protection Just as God protected the apostles, He is a refuge for those who trust in Him. Believers can find comfort in His promises of protection. Obedience to God's Call Despite being imprisoned, the apostles continued to preach the gospel. Believers are called to obey God rather than human authorities when the two are in conflict. Witnessing Boldly The apostles' boldness in sharing their faith serves as a model for Christians to witness courageously in their own contexts. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Acts 5:22?2. How does Acts 5:22 demonstrate God's sovereignty over human plans? 3. What can we learn about obedience to God from Acts 5:22? 4. How does Acts 5:22 connect with Romans 8:28 regarding God's purpose? 5. How should Acts 5:22 influence our response to unexpected challenges? 6. In what ways does Acts 5:22 encourage trust in God's ultimate plan? 7. Why were the apostles not found in the jail according to Acts 5:22? 8. How does Acts 5:22 challenge the reliability of human authority versus divine intervention? 9. What does Acts 5:22 reveal about the power dynamics between religious leaders and the apostles? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Acts 5? 11. What does 'Persecuted but not Forsaken' mean? 12. Who was Felix in the Bible? 13. Acts 18:9 - Can Paul's claimed divine vision be independently verified, or does it rely solely on Luke's narrative? 14. Acts 23:2-5 - Why would Paul insult the high priest if he claimed to follow Jewish law and respect its leaders? What Does Acts 5:22 Mean But on arriving at the jail- The temple officers approach the prison confidently, expecting the apostles to be exactly where they had left them (Acts 5:18). - Their arrival recalls similar moments when authorities sought God’s servants only to discover God had intervened—such as the women arriving at Jesus’ tomb and finding it empty (Luke 24:2–3). - God’s earlier rescue of Peter in a later chapter (Acts 12:6–10) reinforces the pattern: earthly locks are no match for the Lord’s purpose. - This scene underscores divine sovereignty. While human leaders plot, the Lord “sits enthroned in the heavens” and carries out His will (Psalm 2:1–4). the officers did not find them there - The officers encounter an undeniable fact: the apostles are gone. Angels had already opened the doors and released them (Acts 5:19). - Absence becomes testimony. • It exposes the futility of opposing the gospel (Isaiah 54:17). • It validates the apostles’ divine commission, echoing Jesus’ promise that His followers could not be ultimately restrained (Matthew 16:18). - This moment also mirrors earlier biblical rescues—Daniel from the lions (Daniel 6:19–23) and the three Hebrews from the furnace (Daniel 3:25–28)—each time, God visibly overrides human constraint. So they returned with the report - The officers, obligated to give account, report the baffling news to the Sanhedrin. Their words amplify the miracle: secure doors, guarded cells, yet no prisoners (Acts 5:23–24). - The report spreads amazement and fear among the leaders, just as the guards’ report of the empty tomb unsettled the chief priests decades earlier (Matthew 28:11–15). - God uses the officers’ honest testimony to advance the gospel. Instead of silencing the apostles, the authorities must now summon them again—this time from the temple courts where they boldly continue preaching (Acts 5:25). - The episode highlights a principle: every attempt to hinder God’s Word ultimately advertises its power (2 Timothy 2:9). summary Acts 5:22 shows that when the officers reached the jail, the apostles were gone, forcing the officials to admit a supernatural intervention they could not explain away. The verse underlines God’s unthwarted purpose, the impotence of human opposition, and the way He turns even enemy reports into witness for the truth. Verse 22. - The officers that came for when the officers came and, A.V. and T.R.; and they returned for they returned, A.V.Parallel Commentaries ... Greek Butδὲ (de) Conjunction Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc. on arriving παραγενόμενοι (paragenomenoi) Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 3854: From para and ginomai; to become near, i.e. Approach; by implication, to appear publicly. at ἐν (en) Preposition Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. the τῇ (tē) Article - Dative Feminine Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. jail, φυλακῇ (phylakē) Noun - Dative Feminine Singular Strong's 5438: From phulasso; a guarding or, the act, the person; figuratively, the place, the condition, or, the time, literally or figuratively. the οἱ (hoi) Article - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. officers ὑπηρέται (hypēretai) Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 5257: From hupo and a derivative of eresso; an under-oarsman, i.e. subordinate. did not find εὗρον (heuron) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 2147: A prolonged form of a primary heuro, which heureo is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect to find. them [there]. αὐτοὺς (autous) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. [So] δὲ (de) Conjunction Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc. they returned ἀναστρέψαντες (anastrepsantes) Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 390: From ana and strepho; to overturn; also to return; by implication, to busy oneself, i.e. Remain, live. with the report: ἀπήγγειλαν (apēngeilan) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 518: To report (from one place to another), bring a report, announce, declare. From apo and the base of aggelos; to announce. Links Acts 5:22 NIVActs 5:22 NLT Acts 5:22 ESV Acts 5:22 NASB Acts 5:22 KJV Acts 5:22 BibleApps.com Acts 5:22 Biblia Paralela Acts 5:22 Chinese Bible Acts 5:22 French Bible Acts 5:22 Catholic Bible NT Apostles: Acts 5:22 But the officers who came didn't find (Acts of the Apostles Ac) |
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