Lexical Summary desmophulax: Jailer, Prison Keeper Original Word: δεσμοφύλαξ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance jailor, keeper of the prison. From desmon and phulax; a jailer (as guarding the prisoners) -- jailor, keeper of the prison. see GREEK desmon see GREEK phulax NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom desmos and phulax Definition a prison keeper NASB Translation jailer (3). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1200: δεσμοφύλαξδεσμοφύλαξ, δεσμοφυλακος, ὁ (δεσμός and φύλαξ, like θησαυροφύλαξ (cf. with 100 (95))), a keeper of a prison, a jailer: Acts 16:23, 27, 36. (Josephus, Antiquities 2, 5, 1; Lucian, Tox. 30; (Artemidorus Daldianus, oneir. 3, 60; others); ἀρχιδεσμοφύλαξ, Genesis 39:21-23.) Topical Lexicon Meaning and Scope Strong’s Greek 1200 designates the official custodian of prisoners within a city or military jail. More than a mere watchman, this officer wielded civic authority, answered directly to magistrates, and bore full legal responsibility for every inmate under his charge. Failure to keep a prisoner could bring the penalty intended for the escapee upon the custodian himself (compare Acts 12:19). Thus the term carries the weight of life-and-death accountability. Occurrences in Scripture All three New Testament appearances occur in one narrative—Paul and Silas in Philippi: Acts 16:23, Acts 16:27, and Acts 16:36. Concentration in a single passage highlights the jailer’s pivotal part in God’s work at Philippi. Historical Background of First-Century Imprisonment Philippi, a Roman colony, was administered under Roman law. Local jails were typically attached to the praetorium or situated near the forum. Stocks, inner cells, and iron fetters were standard. A jailer such as the Philippian official would likely have been a retired soldier receiving a modest stipend for civic service. His oath bound him to maintain strict security; suicide was the honorable escape if duty failed. The narrative fits this milieu precisely: “When the jailer woke and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword to kill himself, supposing the prisoners had escaped” (Acts 16:27). The Philippian Jailer Narrative 1. Custody and Cruelty (Acts 16:23–24). After an unjust beating, Paul and Silas are handed over “to the jailer, commanding him to guard them securely” (Acts 16:23). He responds with bureaucratic rigor, thrusting them into the inner prison and fastening their feet in stocks. Theological Themes and Ministry Application • Sovereign Grace. God sovereignly uses a civil servant’s crisis to birth a church in Philippi (Philippians 1:1). Christ as the Liberator By opening prison doors yet keeping His servants inside, the Lord demonstrates that true freedom is not the absence of chains but the presence of Christ. This mirrors Jesus’ inaugural proclamation: “He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives” (Luke 4:18). The Church’s Mission to the Imprisoned The Philippian episode establishes an early precedent for evangelism behind bars. From first-century believers to modern prison chaplaincy, the Church continues to echo Paul’s words: “Remember my chains” (Colossians 4:18). Reflection in Church History The conversion of the Philippian jailer became a cherished illustration among early Christian writers of God’s ability to overturn human justice systems and claim servants from every social stratum. Throughout the centuries, ministers from John Bunyan to modern missionaries have cited Acts 16 to encourage faithfulness amid incarceration and to spark outreach to those in confinement. Summary Strong’s Greek 1200 encapsulates more than a job title; it frames an encounter where Roman duty met divine mercy, resulting in eternal liberation for a man once responsible for chains. The term’s brief scriptural footprint magnifies its message: no cell is too dark, no guard too hardened, for the gospel of Jesus Christ to break through. Forms and Transliterations δεσμοφυλακι δεσμοφύλακι δεσμοφυλαξ δεσμοφύλαξ desmophulaki desmophulax desmophylaki desmophýlaki desmophylax desmophýlaxLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 16:23 N-DMSGRK: παραγγείλαντες τῷ δεσμοφύλακι ἀσφαλῶς τηρεῖν NAS: commanding the jailer to guard KJV: charging the jailor to keep INT: having charged the jailor safely to keep Acts 16:27 N-NMS Acts 16:36 N-NMS Strong's Greek 1200 |
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