Acts 5:23

5:23 “We found the jail locked securely and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, ¹  we found no one inside.”

Acts 16:26

16:26 Suddenly a great earthquake occurred, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. Immediately all the doors flew open, and the bonds ²  of all the prisoners came loose.

Acts 5:21

5:21 When they heard this, they entered the temple courts ³  at daybreak and began teaching. ⁴ 

Now when the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin ⁵  – that is, the whole high council ⁶  of the Israelites ⁷  – and sent to the jail to have the apostles ⁸  brought before them. ⁹ 

[5:23]  ¹ tn The word “them” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.

[16:26]  ² tn Or perhaps, “chains.” The translation of τὰ δεσμά (ta desma) is to some extent affected by the understanding of ξύλον (xulon, “stocks”) in v. 24. It is possible (as mentioned in L&N 18.12) that this does not mean “stocks” but a block of wood (a log or wooden column) in the prison to which prisoners’ feet were chained or tied.

[5:21]  ³ tn Grk “the temple.” See the note on the same phrase in the preceding verse.

[5:21]  ⁴ tn The imperfect verb ἐδίδασκον (edidaskon) has been translated as an ingressive imperfect.

[5:21]  ⁵ tn Or “the council” (the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).

[5:21]  ⁶ tn A hendiadys (two different terms referring to a single thing) is likely here (a reference to a single legislative body rather than two separate ones) because the term γερουσίαν (gerousian) is used in both 1 Macc 12:6 and Josephus, Ant. 13.5.8 (13.166) to refer to the Sanhedrin.

[5:21]  ⁷ tn Grk “sons of Israel.”

[5:21]  ⁸ tn Grk “have them”; the referent (the apostles) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[5:21]  ⁹ tn The words “before them” are not in the Greek text but are implied.