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Acts 5:23

New Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Acts 5:23 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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.
Acts 5:23 — American Standard Version

Context — Acts 5

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20Go ye, and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this Life.
21And when they heard [this], they entered into the temple about daybreak, 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-house to have them brought.
22But the officers that came found them not in the prison; and they returned, and told,
23saying, 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.
24Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed concerning them whereunto this would grow.
25And there came one and told them, Behold, the men whom ye put in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people.
26Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them, [but] without violence; for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.
← Acts 5:22Acts 5:24 →
← Full Chapter 5 Acts Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Saying, the prison truly found we shut with all safety, etc.] 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.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“the prison . . . shut . . . keepers . . . before the doors, but . . . no man within--the reverse of the miracle in Act 16:26; a similar contrast to that of the nets at the miraculous draughts of fishes (Luk 5:6; Joh 21:11).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Found we shut - It had not been broken open; and there was therefore clear proof that they had been delivered by the interposition of God. Nor could they have been released by the guard, for they were keeping watch, as if unconscious that anything had happened, and the officers had the only means of entering the prison. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“We found the prison shut - The angel probably had shut the doors again. Acts 5:24”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“The prison: Act 5:19; Psa 2:4, Psa 33:10; Pro 21:30; Lam 3:37, Lam 3:55-58; Dan 3:11-25, Dan 6:22-24; Mat 27:63-66, Mat 28:12-15; Joh 8:59 Acts 5:24”
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Related study paths

Read Acts 5 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification