Study it in the app“And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were unfastened.”
Paul and Silas, in prison, sing hymns at midnight while the prisoners listenPraise and worship
Andδὲsuddenlyἄφνωthere wasἐγένετοa greatμέγαςearthquake,σεισμὸςso thatὥστεthe foundationsτὰ θεμέλιαof the prisonτοῦ δεσμωτηρίουwere shaken;σαλευθῆναιandδὲimmediatelyπαραχρῆμαallπᾶσαιthe doorsαἱ θύραιwere opened,ἠνεῴχθησανandκαὶeveryone’sπάντωνchainsτὰ δεσμὰwere unfastened.ἀνέθη
suddenly
Suddenly.
Where else “aphnō” appearshappen
For an event to occur, for something to take place in history.
Where else “egeneto” appearsintense
Of great force or intensity, like an enormous joy or fear.
Where else “megas” appearsearthquake
A shaking of the ground.
Where else “seismos” appearsso that
So much that, to the point that.
Where else “hōste” appearsfoundation
Foundation, a foundation stone.
Where else “themelia” appearsprison
Prison, jail.
Where else “desmōtēriou” appearsshake
To rattle hard, make tremble.
Where else “saleuthēnai” appearsimmediately
Immediately, at that very moment, on the spot.
Where else “parachrēma” appearsdoor
The opening that closes the entrance of a house, a room or a tomb.
Where else “thyrai” appearsopen
Open.
Where else “ēneōichthēsan” appearsbond, chain
Bond, chain; prison.
Where else “desma” appearsloosen
To undo what was tied tight.
Where else “anethē” appears25And about midnight Paul and Silas, while praying, were singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
26 · This verse (above)
27And the jailer, waking up and seeing the doors of the prison opened, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
1. What it says
What do Paul and Silas do at midnight in prison, and what happens afterward? (vv. 25-26)
2. What it means
Why does the jailer ask what he must do, and how do Paul and Silas answer him? (vv. 27-31)
3. How I live it
Paul and Silas prayed and sang on a very hard night (v. 25). What gives you courage when you go through a night like that?
