The Meaning of Acts 16:23 Explained

Acts 16:23

KJV: And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

YLT: many blows also having laid upon them, they cast them to prison, having given charge to the jailor to keep them safely,

Darby: And having laid many stripes upon them they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely;

ASV: And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  when they had laid  many  stripes  upon them,  they cast  [them] into  prison,  charging  the jailor  to keep  them  safely: 

What does Acts 16:23 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 16:14-24 - Welcomed Attested Imprisoned
This was an epoch-making moment, but how quietly it is recorded. There was no heralding of the gospel which was to transform Europe. The need for it was unspoken and unfelt. It stole in like the dawn.
Paul's first experiences in Europe were not promising. In most cities there was a Jewish synagogue; but here only a small group of pious women in an arbor by the riverside. Let none despise the day of small things. What a contrast between Lydia, who had come over from Asia Minor, and employed a number of hands in the dyeing trade, and the poor girl who was possessed by the demon! Yet each of them recognized the divine ministry of the newly arrived messengers. What a contrast, also, between the gradual response of Lydia's heart in the revelation of the risen Christ, to whom it opened as a flower to the sun, and the sudden awakening of the jailor!
When Christ touches the pockets of worldly men, He arouses their direct opposition. The world is troubled when it loses its gains; the saints are troubled when they see Christ's property being injured! See Acts 16:18. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 16

1  Paul and Silas are Joined by Timothy,
7  and being called by the Spirit from one country to another,
14  convert Lydia,
16  and cast out a spirit of divination;
19  for which cause they are whipped and imprisoned
25  The prison doors are opened
31  The jailor is converted,
35  and they are delivered

Greek Commentary for Acts 16:23

When they had laid [επιτεντες]
Second aorist (constative) active participle of επιτιτημι — epitithēmi to place upon. [source]
Many stripes [πολλας πληγας]
The Jewish law was forty stripes save one (2 Corinthians 11:24). The Roman custom depended on the caprice of the judge and was a terrible ordeal. It was the custom to inflict the stripes on the naked body (back) as Livy 2.5 says: “Missique lictores ad sumendum supplicium, nudatos virgis caedunt.” On πληγας — plēgas (from πλησσω — plēssō to strike a blow) See note on Luke 10:30; and notes on Luke 12:47. The jailor (τωι δεσμοπυλακι — tōi desmophulaki). Late word (δεσμοσ πυλαχ — desmosαρχιδεσμοπυλαχ — phulax keeper of bonds), in the N.T. only here (Acts 16:23, Acts 16:27, Acts 16:36). The lxx has the word ασπαλως τηρειν — archidesmophulax (Genesis 39:21-23). Chrysostom calls this jailor Stephanus, he was of Achaia (1 Corinthians 16:15). To keep safely Present active infinitive, to keep on keeping safely, perhaps “as dangerous political prisoners” (Rackham). He had some rank and was not a mere turnkey. [source]
The jailor [τωι δεσμοπυλακι]
Late word The lxx has the word ασπαλως τηρειν — archidesmophulax (Genesis 39:21-23). Chrysostom calls this jailor Stephanus, he was of Achaia (1 Corinthians 16:15). [source]
To keep safely [asphalōs tērein)]
Present active infinitive, to keep on keeping safely, perhaps “as dangerous political prisoners” (Rackham). He had some rank and was not a mere turnkey. [source]
Prison []
See on Acts 5:21. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 16:23

Luke 10:30 Wounded [πληγὰς ἐπιθέντες]
Lit., having laid on blows. Blows or stripes is the usual sense of the word in the New Testament. See Luke 12:48; Acts 16:23. It has the metaphorical sense of plagues in Revelation 15:1, Revelation 15:6, Revelation 15:8, etc. [source]
Luke 10:30 Was going down [κατεβαινεν]
Imperfect active describing the journey.Fell among robbers (ληισταις περιεπεσεν — lēistais periepesen). Second aorist ingressive active indicative of περιπιπτω — peripiptō old verb with associative instrumental case, to fall among and to be encompassed by (περι — peri around), to be surrounded by robbers. A common experience to this day on the road to Jericho. The Romans placed a fort on this “red and bloody way.” These were bandits, not petty thieves.Stripped Of his clothing as well as of his money, the meanest sort of robbers.Beat him (πληγας επιτεντες — plēgas epithentes). Second aorist active participle of επιτιτημι — epitithēmi a common verb. Literally, “placing strokes or blows” (πληγας — plēgas plagues) upon him. See Luke 12:48; Acts 16:23; and Revelation 15:1, Revelation 15:6, and Revelation 15:8 for “plagues.”Half-dead Late word from ημι — hēmi half, and τνησκω — thnēskō to die. Only here in the N.T. Vivid picture of the robbery. [source]
Luke 10:30 Stripped [εκδυσαντες]
Of his clothing as well as of his money, the meanest sort of robbers.Beat him (πληγας επιτεντες — plēgas epithentes). Second aorist active participle of επιτιτημι — epitithēmi a common verb. Literally, “placing strokes or blows” (πληγας — plēgas plagues) upon him. See Luke 12:48; Acts 16:23; and Revelation 15:1, Revelation 15:6, and Revelation 15:8 for “plagues.”Half-dead Late word from ημι — hēmi half, and τνησκω — thnēskō to die. Only here in the N.T. Vivid picture of the robbery. [source]
Luke 10:30 Beat him [πληγας επιτεντες]
Second aorist active participle of επιτιτημι — epitithēmi a common verb. Literally, “placing strokes or blows” (πληγας — plēgas plagues) upon him. See Luke 12:48; Acts 16:23; and Revelation 15:1, Revelation 15:6, and Revelation 15:8 for “plagues.” [source]
Acts 16:23 Many stripes [πολλας πληγας]
The Jewish law was forty stripes save one (2 Corinthians 11:24). The Roman custom depended on the caprice of the judge and was a terrible ordeal. It was the custom to inflict the stripes on the naked body (back) as Livy 2.5 says: “Missique lictores ad sumendum supplicium, nudatos virgis caedunt.” On πληγας — plēgas (from πλησσω — plēssō to strike a blow) See note on Luke 10:30; and notes on Luke 12:47. The jailor (τωι δεσμοπυλακι — tōi desmophulaki). Late word (δεσμοσ πυλαχ — desmosαρχιδεσμοπυλαχ — phulax keeper of bonds), in the N.T. only here (Acts 16:23, Acts 16:27, Acts 16:36). The lxx has the word ασπαλως τηρειν — archidesmophulax (Genesis 39:21-23). Chrysostom calls this jailor Stephanus, he was of Achaia (1 Corinthians 16:15). To keep safely Present active infinitive, to keep on keeping safely, perhaps “as dangerous political prisoners” (Rackham). He had some rank and was not a mere turnkey. [source]
2 Corinthians 11:23 Stripes above measure [ὑπερβαλλόντως]
This peculiar form of suffering is emphasized by details. He specifies three Roman scourgings, and five at the hands of the Jews. Of the former, only one is recorded, that at Philippi (Acts 16:22, Acts 16:23. See on Acts 22:25), and none of the latter. The Jewish scourge consisted of two thongs made of calf's or ass's skin, passing through a hole in a handle. Thirteen blows were inflicted on the breast, thirteen on the right, and thirteen on the left shoulder. The law in Deuteronomy 25:3permitted forty blows, but only thirty-nine were given, in order to avoid a possible miscount. During the punishment the chief judge read aloud Deuteronomy 28:58, Deuteronomy 28:59; Deuteronomy 29:9; Acts href="/desk/?q=ac+16:37&sr=1">Acts 16:37), and from well-known instances of the scourging of even senators under the Empire. [source]
2 Corinthians 11:25 Thrice was I beaten with rods [τρις ερραβδιστην]
Roman (Gentile) punishment. It was forbidden to Roman citizens by the Lex Porcia, but Paul endured it in Philippi (Acts 16:23, Acts 16:37), the only one of the three named in Acts. First aorist passive of ραβδιζω — rabdizō from ραβδος — rabdos rod, Koiné{[28928]}š word, in N.T. only here and Acts 16:22 which see. [source]
2 Corinthians 6:5 In stripes [εν πληγαις]
In blows, wounds (Luke 10:30; Luke 12:48; Acts 16:23, Acts 16:33). Our plague. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 16:23 mean?

Many then having laid on them blows they cast [them] into prison having charged the jailer securely to keep them
πολλάς τε ἐπιθέντες αὐτοῖς πληγὰς ἔβαλον εἰς φυλακήν παραγγείλαντες τῷ δεσμοφύλακι ἀσφαλῶς τηρεῖν αὐτούς

πολλάς  Many 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: πολύς  
Sense: many, much, large.
ἐπιθέντες  having  laid 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἐπιτίθημι  
Sense: in the active voice.
αὐτοῖς  on  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
πληγὰς  blows 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: πληγή  
Sense: a blow, stripe, a wound.
ἔβαλον  they  cast  [them] 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: βάλλω 
Sense: to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls.
εἰς  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
φυλακήν  prison 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: φυλακή  
Sense: guard, watch.
παραγγείλαντες  having  charged 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: παραγγέλλω  
Sense: to transmit a message along from one to another, to declare, announce.
δεσμοφύλακι  jailer 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: δεσμοφύλαξ  
Sense: a keeper of a prison, a jailor.
ἀσφαλῶς  securely 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἀσφαλῶς  
Sense: safety (so as to prevent escape), assuredly.
τηρεῖν  to  keep 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: τηρέω  
Sense: to attend to carefully, take care of.