74 Bible Verses about Prisoners

Most Relevant Verses

Genesis 37:24

And they took him and threw him into the pit (the pit [was] empty; there was no water in it).

Jeremiah 52:11

Then he made blind the eyes of Zedekiah, and they tied him up with bronze fetters, and the king of Babylon brought him [to] Babylon. And he put him in {prison} until the day of his death.

Genesis 39:19

And when his master heard the words of his wife that she spoke to him, "{This is what your servant did to me}," {he became very angry}.

Genesis 40:3

And he put them in custody in the house of the chief of the guard, into the prison where Joseph was confined.

Genesis 41:14

Then Pharaoh sent and called [for] Joseph, and they brought him quickly from the prison. And he shaved and changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh.

Genesis 42:16

Send one of you, and let him bring your brother, but you will be kept in prison so that your words might be tested [to see] if [there is] truth with you. And if not, by the life of Pharaoh surely you [are] spies."

Judges 16:21

And [the] Philistines seized him, gouged his eyes, and brought him to Gaza. They tied him up with bronze shackles, and he became a grinder {in the prison}.

2 Kings 17:4

But the king of Assyria found treachery in Hoshea, for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and he did not offer tribute to the king of Assyria as [he had] year after year; so the king of Assyria arrested him, and confined him [in] a house of imprisonment.

2 Kings 25:18

Then the commander of the imperial guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the second priest, and three of the threshold keepers.

2 Chronicles 28:5

Then Yahweh his God gave him into the hand of the king of Aram who defeated him and captured many captives from him and brought [them to] Damascus. Moreover, he was also given into the hand of the king of Israel, and he defeated him by a great attack.

2 Chronicles 33:11

So Yahweh brought the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria upon them, and they took Manasseh captive with hooks, and they bound him with bronze fetters and brought him to Babylon.

Isaiah 14:17

who made [the] world like the desert and destroyed its cities, [who] would not let his prisoners go home?'

Isaiah 20:4

so shall the king of Assyria lead the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old, naked and barefoot, {with bared buttocks}, the shame of Egypt.

Habakkuk 1:9

All of them come for violence, their faces pressing forward. They gather captives like the sand.

Ezra 7:26

All who do not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with diligence, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of goods and for imprisonment."

Matthew 27:16

And at that time they had a notorious prisoner named Jesus Barabbas.

Mark 15:6-7

Now at each feast he customarily released for them one prisoner whom they requested. And the one named Barabbas was imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder in the rebellion.

Luke 23:19

(who had been thrown in prison because of a certain insurrection that had taken place in the city, and [for] murder)

Exodus 12:29

{And} in the middle of the night, Yahweh struck all of the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh sitting on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who [was] in the prison house and every firstborn of an animal.

Isaiah 42:22-24

But this [is] a people plundered and looted; all of them are trapped in holes, and they are kept hidden in houses of imprisonment. They have become like plunder, and there is no one who saves; [like] booty, and there is no one who says, "Restore!" Who among you will heed this, will listen attentively and listen, for {the time to come}? Who gave Jacob to a plunderer and Israel to those who plunder? [Was it] not Yahweh, against whom we have sinned? And they were not willing to walk in his ways, and they would not {obey} his law.

1 Kings 22:27

and say, 'Thus says the king: "Put this [fellow in] the house of imprisonment and feed him reduced rations of food and water until I come in peace." '"

2 Chronicles 18:26

and say, 'Thus says the king: "Put this one into the prison house, and let him eat {a meager ration of bread and water} until I return in peace." '"

2 Chronicles 16:10

Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in {the prison}, for he was enraged with him concerning this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time.

Jeremiah 32:2

Now at that time the army of the king of Babylon [was] laying siege to Jerusalem and Jeremiah the prophet was confined in the courtyard of the guard that [was in] the palace of the king of Judah,

Jeremiah 33:1

And the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah second [time] while he [was] still held back in the courtyard of the guard, {saying},

Jeremiah 37:15

And the officials were angry at Jeremiah and they struck him. And they put him [in] {prison}, [in] the house of Jonathan the secretary, for they had converted it to the {prison}.

Jeremiah 38:6

So they took Jeremiah and threw him into the pit [of] Malchiah, the son of the king, which [was] in the courtyard of the guard. And they let Jeremiah down by ropes. Now in the pit there was no water, {but only} mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.

Jeremiah 39:15

And the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah at his confinement in the courtyard of the guard, {saying},

Matthew 4:12

Now [when he] heard that John {had been arrested}, he withdrew into Galilee.

Mark 1:14

And after John {had been taken into custody}, Jesus went into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God

Matthew 11:2

Now [when] John heard in prison the deeds of Christ, he sent [word] by his disciples

Matthew 14:3

For Herod, [after] arresting John, bound him and put [him] in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip,

Mark 6:17

For Herod himself had sent [and] arrested John and bound him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother, because he had married her.

Mark 6:27

And immediately the king sent an executioner [and] ordered [him] to bring his head. And he went [and] beheaded him in the prison.

Luke 3:20

added this also to them all: he also locked up John in prison.

Acts 8:3

But Saul was attempting to destroy the church. Entering {house after house}, he dragged off both men and women [and] delivered [them] to prison.

Acts 9:21

And all who heard [him] were amazed, and were saying, "Is this not the one who was wreaking havoc in Jerusalem [on] those who call upon this name, and had come here for this [reason], that he could bring them tied up to the chief priests?"

Acts 26:10

which I also did in Jerusalem, and not only did I lock up many of the saints in prison, having received authority from the chief priests, but also [when] they were being executed, I cast [my] vote against [them].

Acts 12:4

[After he] had arrested {him}, he also put [him] in prison, handing [him] over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him {out for public trial} after the Passover.

Acts 22:27

So the military tribune came [and] said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" And he said, "Yes."

Acts 23:29

I found {he} was accused concerning controversial questions of their law, but having no charge deserving death or imprisonment.

Acts 28:17

Now it happened that after three days, he called together those who were the most prominent of the Jews. And [when] they had assembled, he said to them, "Men [and] brothers, [although] I had done nothing against [our] people or the customs of our fathers, from Jerusalem I was delivered [as] a prisoner into the hands of the Romans,

2 Corinthians 11:23

Are they servants of Christ?--I am speaking as though I were beside myself--I [am] more so, with far greater labors, with far more imprisonments, with beatings to a much greater degree, in [danger of] death many times.

Ephesians 3:1

On account of this I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles

Acts 16:23-24

And [after they] had inflicted many blows on them, they threw [them] into prison, giving orders to the jailer to guard them securely. Having received such an order, {he} put them in the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Colossians 4:10

Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions--if he should come to you, welcome him),

Hebrews 11:36

And others {experienced mocking and flogging}, and in addition bonds and imprisonment.

Galatians 3:22-23

But the scripture imprisoned all under sin, in order that the promise could be given by faith in Jesus Christ to those who believe. But before faith came, we were detained under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed.

Psalm 142:7

Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name. [The] righteous will encircle me, because you will deal bountifully with me.

Isaiah 24:22

And they will be gathered [in] a gathering, [like] a prisoner {in} a pit. And they will be shut {in} a prison and be punished {after} many days.

Isaiah 42:6-7

"I [am] Yahweh; I have called you in righteousness, and I have grasped your hand and watched over you; and I have given you as a covenant of [the] people, as a light of [the] nations, to open [the] blind eyes, to bring [the] prisoner out from [the] dungeon, those who sit [in] darkness from [the] house of imprisonment.

Ezekiel 19:9

And they put him in a collar with hooks, and they brought him to the king of Babylon; they brought him into a prison, so that his voice [would] not be heard {any longer} on the mountains of Israel.

Zechariah 9:11-12

[As for] you also, because of the blood of your covenant, I will release your prisoners from {the waterless pit}. Return to [the] fortress, O prisoners of hope; today [I am] declaring [that] I will repay you double.

Matthew 18:30

But he did not want to, but rather he went [and] threw him into prison until he would repay what was owed.

Psalm 79:11

Let the groaning of the prisoner come before you. According to the greatness of your {power}, spare [the] children [appointed to] death.

Genesis 39:21

And Yahweh was with Joseph, and showed loyal love to him, and gave him favor in the eyes of the chief of the prison.

Psalm 69:33

because Yahweh hears [the] needy and does not despise his [own who are] prisoners.

Psalm 102:20

to hear [the] groaning of [the] prisoner, to liberate {those destined to die},

Psalm 146:7

[who] executes justice for the oppressed, [who] gives food for the hungry. Yahweh sets prisoners free;

Isaiah 49:8-9

Thus says Yahweh: "I have answered you in a time of favor, and helped you on a day of salvation, and watched over you, and given you as a covenant of [the] people, to raise up [the] land, to give [the] desolate hereditary property as an inheritance, saying to the {prisoners}, "Come out!" to those who [are] in darkness, "Show yourselves!" they shall feed {along} [the] ways, and their pasturage [shall be] on all [the] barren heights.

Lamentations 3:31-36

For the Lord will not reject forever. For even though he causes grief he has compassion according to the greatness of his royal love. He does not {afflict willingly}, or grieve {anyone}.read more.
To crush under his feet all [the] prisoners of [the] earth; {to deprive one of justice} before the face of the Most High; to subvert a person in a legal dispute --the Lord has not found delight [in these things].

From Thematic Bible


Prisoners » Of war » Put to death

1 Samuel 15:33

Samuel said, "Just as your sword bereaved women, so will your mother be bereaved among women!" Then Samuel hacked Agag to pieces in the presence of Yahweh at Gilgal.

2 Samuel 12:31

He also brought out the people who [were] in it and put them to the saws and to the iron picks and to the iron axes, and he sent them to the place of the brickmakers. Thus he used to do to all the cities of the {Ammonites}, and he and all of the army returned to Jerusalem.

Amos 1:13

Thus says Yahweh: "For three transgressions of Ammon and for four I will not revoke [the punishment], because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to enlarge their territory!

2 Kings 25:7

They slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes; then they blinded the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in bronze fetters and brought him [to] Babylon.

1 Chronicles 20:3

And the people who [were] in it he brought out, and {he set them to work with saws and iron implements and axes}. Thus David did to all the cities of the {Ammonites}. Then David returned, and all the nation [went] with him.

Prisoners » Jesus

Matthew 26:47-75

And [while] he was still speaking, behold, Judas--one of the twelve--arrived, and with him a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now the one who was betraying him had given them a sign, saying, "[The one] whom I kiss--he is [the one]. Arrest him!" And he came up to Jesus immediately [and] said, "Greetings, Rabbi," and kissed him. read more.
And Jesus said to him, "Friend, [do that] for which you have come." Then they came up [and] laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. And behold, one of those with Jesus extended his hand [and] drew his sword, and striking the slave of the high priest, cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place! For all who take up the sword will die by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot call upon my Father, and he would put at my disposal at once more than twelve legions of angels? How then would the scriptures be fulfilled that it must happen in this way?" At that time Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out with swords and clubs, as against a robber, to arrest me? Every day in the temple [courts] I sat teaching, and you did not arrest me! But all this has happened in order that the scriptures of the prophets would be fulfilled." Then the disciples all abandoned him [and] fled. Now those who had arrested Jesus led [him] away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter was following him from a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest. And he went inside [and] was sitting with the officers to see the outcome. Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus in order that they could put him to death. And they did not find [it], [although] many false witnesses came forward. And finally two came forward [and] said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild [it] within three days.'" And the high priest stood up [and] said to him, "Do you reply nothing? What are these [people] testifying against you?" But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, "I put you under oath by the living God, that you tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!" Jesus said to him, "You have said [it]. But I tell you, from now [on] you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his robes, saying, "He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have just now heard the blasphemy! What do you think?" And they answered [and] said, "{He deserves death}!" Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists, and they slapped [him], saying, "Prophesy for us, [you] Christ! Who is it who hit you?" Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a female slave came up to him [and] said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied [it] in the presence of [them] all, saying, "I do not know what you mean!" And [when he] went out to the gateway, another [female slave] saw him and said to those [who were] there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazarene." And again he denied [it] with an oath, "I do not know the man!" And after a little [while] those who were standing there came up [and] said to Peter, "You really are [one] of them also, because even your accent {reveals who you are}." Then he began to curse and to swear with an oath, "I do not know the man!" And immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the statement Jesus had said, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times," and he went outside [and] wept bitterly.

Mark 14:43-72

And immediately, [while] he was still speaking, Judas--one of the twelve--arrived, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now the one who was betraying him had given them a sign, saying, "[The one] whom I kiss--he is [the one]. Arrest him and lead [him] away under guard!" And [when he] arrived, he came up to him immediately [and] said, "Rabbi," and kissed him. read more.
So they laid hands on him and arrested him. But a certain one of the bystanders, drawing [his] sword, struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. And Jesus answered [and] said to them, "Have you come out with swords and clubs, as against a robber, to arrest me? Every day I was with you in the temple [courts] teaching, and you did not arrest me! But [this has happened] in order that the scriptures would be fulfilled. And they all abandoned him [and] fled. And a certain young man was following him, clothed [only] in a linen cloth on [his] naked body. And they attempted to seize him, but he left behind the linen cloth [and] fled naked. And they led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. And Peter followed him from a distance, right inside, into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the officers and warming himself by the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, and they did not find [it]. For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony was not consistent. And some stood up [and] began to give false testimony against him, saying, "We heard him saying, 'I will destroy this temple made by hands, and within three days I will build another not made by hands." And their testimony was not even consistent about this. And the high priest stood up in the midst [of them] [and] asked Jesus, saying, "Do you not reply anything? What are these [people] testifying against you?" But he was silent and did not reply anything. Again the high priest asked him and said to him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" And Jesus said, "I am, and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven." And the high priest tore his clothes [and] said, "What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy! What {do you think}?" And they all condemned him {as deserving death}. And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him with their fists, and to say to him "Prophesy!" And the officers received him with slaps in the face. And [while] Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the female slaves of the high priest came up And [when] she saw Peter warming himself, she looked intently at him [and] said, "You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus." But he denied [it], saying, "I neither know nor understand what you mean!" And he went out into the gateway, and a rooster crowed. And the female slave, [when she] saw him, began to say again to the bystanders, "This man is one of them!" But he denied [it] again. And after a little [while], again the bystanders began to say to Peter, "You really are [one] of them, because you also are a Galilean, and your accent {shows it}!" And he began to curse and to swear with an oath, "I do not know this man whom you are talking about!" And immediately a rooster crowed for the second time. And Peter remembered the statement, how Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times," and throwing himself down, he began to weep.

Luke 22:47-71

[While] he was still speaking, behold, [there came] a crowd, and the one named Judas, one of the twelve, leading them. And he approached Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" And [when] those around him saw what was about to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with the sword?" read more.
And a certain one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered [and] said, "{Stop! No more of this!}" And he touched [his] ear [and] healed him. And Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come out against him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs, as against a robber? Every day [when] I was with you in the temple [courts], you did not stretch out [your] hands against me! But this is your hour and the domain of darkness!" And they arrested him [and] led [him] away and brought [him] into the house of the high priest. But Peter was following at a distance. And [when they] had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. And a certain female slave, seeing him sitting in the light and looking intently at him, said, "This man also was with him!" But he denied [it], saying, "Woman, I do not know him!" And after a short time another person saw him [and] said, "You also are [one] of them!" But Peter said, "Man, I am not!" And [after] about one hour had passed, someone else was insisting, saying, "In truth this man also was with him, because he is also a Galilean!" But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about!" And immediately, [while] he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. And the Lord turned around [and] looked intently at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he said to him, "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times." And he went outside [and] wept bitterly. And the men who were guarding him began to mock him [while] they beat [him], and [after] blindfolding him they repeatedly asked [him], saying, "Prophesy! Who is the one who struck you?" And they were saying many other [things] against him, reviling [him]. And when day came, the council of elders of the people gathered, both chief priests and scribes, and they led him away to their Sanhedrin, saying, "If you are the Christ, tell us!" But he said to them, "If I tell you, you will never believe, and if I ask [you], you will never answer! But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." So they all said, "Are you then the Son of God?" And he said to them, "You say that I am." And they said, "Why do we have need [of] further testimony? For [we] ourselves have heard [it] from his mouth!"

John 18:3-40

So Judas, taking the cohort and officers from the chief priests and from the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, [because he] knew all the things that were coming upon him, went out and said to them, "Who are you looking for?" They replied to him, "Jesus the Nazarene." He said to them, "I am [he]." (Now Judas, the one who betrayed him, was also standing with them.) read more.
So when he said to them, "I am [he]," {they drew back} and fell to the ground. Then he asked them again, "Who are you looking for?" And they said, "Jesus the Nazarene." Jesus replied, "I said to you that I am [he]! So if you are looking for me, let these [men] go," in order that the word that he had spoken would be fulfilled: "Those whom you have given to me--I have not lost anyone of them." Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. (Now the name of the slave was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, "Put the sword into [its] sheath! The cup that the Father has given me--shall I not drink it?" Then the cohort and the military tribune and the officers of the Jews seized Jesus and tied him up, and brought [him] to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. (Now it was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was better [that] one man die for the people.) So Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. (Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.) But Peter was standing by the door outside. So the other disciple [who was] known to the high priest went out and spoke to the doorkeeper and brought Peter in. Then the female slave [who was] the doorkeeper said to Peter, "You are not also [one] of the disciples of this man, [are you]?" He said, "I am not!" (Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were warming themselves. And Peter was also standing there with them and warming himself.) So the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus replied to him, "I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple [courts] where all the Jews assemble, and I have said nothing in secret. Why are you asking me? Ask those who heard what I have said to them! Behold, these [people] know what I said." Now [when] he had said these [things], one of the officers who was standing by gave a slap in the face to Jesus, saying, "Do you reply to the high priest in this way?" Jesus replied to him, "If I have spoken wrongly, testify about what [is] wrong! But if [I have spoken] correctly, why do you strike me?" Then Annas sent him, tied up, to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing there and warming himself. So they said to him, "You are not also [one] of his disciples, [are you]?" He denied [it] and said, "I am not!" One of the slaves of the high priest, who was related to the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" So Peter denied [it] again, and immediately a rooster crowed. Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor's residence. Now it was early, and they did not enter into the governor's residence so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. So Pilate came outside to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?" They answered and said to him, "If this man were not doing evil, we would not have handed him over to you!" So Pilate said to them, "You take him and judge him according to your law!" The Jews said to him, "It is not permitted for us to kill anyone," in order that the word of Jesus would be fulfilled that he had spoken, indicating by what sort of death he was going to die. Then Pilate entered again into the governor's residence and summoned Jesus and said to him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus replied, "Do you say this from yourself, or have others said [this] to you about me?" Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, [am I]? Your people and the chief priests handed you over to me! What have you done?" Jesus replied, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here." Then Pilate said to him, "So then you are a king!" Jesus replied, "You say that I am a king. For this [reason] I was born, and for this reason I have come into the world: in order that I can testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice." Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" And [when he] had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, "I find no basis for an accusation against him. But it is your custom that I release for you one [prisoner] at the Passover. So do you want [me] to release for you the king of the Jews?" Then they shouted again, saying, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" (Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.)

Prisoners » Scourged

Acts 16:23

And [after they] had inflicted many blows on them, they threw [them] into prison, giving orders to the jailer to guard them securely.

Acts 16:33

And he took them at that [very] hour of the night [and] washed [their] wounds, and he himself was baptized at once, and all those of his [household].

Mark 15:15

So Pilate, [because he] wanted {to satisfy} the crowd, released for them Barabbas. And [after] he had Jesus flogged, he handed [him] over so that he could be crucified.

More verses: 2 Corinthians 11:23-24

Prisoners » Paul

Acts 16:19-40

But [when] her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas [and] dragged [them] into the marketplace before the rulers. And [when they] had brought them to the chief magistrates, they said, "These men are throwing our city into confusion, being Jews, and are proclaiming customs that are not permitted for us to accept or to practice, [because we] are Romans!" read more.
And the crowd joined in attacking them, and the chief magistrates tore off their clothing [and] gave orders to beat [them] with rods. And [after they] had inflicted many blows on them, they threw [them] into prison, giving orders to the jailer to guard them securely. Having received such an order, {he} put them in the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. Now about midnight, Paul and Silas were praying [and] singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened and all the bonds were unfastened. And [after] the jailer was awake and saw the doors of the prison open, he drew [his] sword [and] was about to kill himself, [because he] thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, "Do no harm to yourself, for we are all here!" And demanding lights, he rushed in and, {beginning to tremble}, fell down at the feet of Paul and Silas. And he brought them outside [and] said, "Sirs, what must I do so that I can be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household!" And they spoke the message of the Lord to him, together with all those in his house. And he took them at that [very] hour of the night [and] washed [their] wounds, and he himself was baptized at once, and all those of his [household]. And he brought them up into [his] house [and] set a meal before [them], and rejoiced greatly that he had believed in God with his whole household. And [when it] was day, the chief magistrates sent the police officers, saying, "Release those men." And the jailer reported these words to Paul: "The chief magistrates have sent [an order] that you should be released. So come out now [and] go in peace!" But Paul said to them, "They beat us in public without due process--men who are Roman citizens--[and] threw [us] into prison, and now they are wanting to release us secretly? Certainly not! Rather let them come themselves [and] bring us out!" So the police officers reported these words to the chief magistrates, and they were afraid [when they] heard that they were Roman citizens. And they came [and] apologized to them, and [after they] brought [them] out they asked [them] to depart from the city. And [when they] came out of the prison, they went to Lydia and [when they] saw [them], they encouraged the brothers and departed.

Acts 21:27-40

But when the seven days were about to be completed, the Jews from Asia who had seen him in the temple [courts] stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, shouting, "Israelite men, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place! And furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple, and has defiled this holy place!" (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, whom they thought that Paul had brought into the temple.) read more.
And the whole city was stirred up, and the people came running together, and they seized Paul [and] dragged him outside of the temple [courts], and immediately the doors were shut. And [as they] were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the military tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. {He} immediately took along soldiers and centurions [and] ran down to them. And [when] they saw the military tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. Then the military tribune came up [and] arrested him and ordered [him] to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what it was that he had done. But some in the crowd were shouting one thing [and] others [another], and [because] he was not able to find out the truth on account of the commotion, he gave orders to bring him into the barracks. And when he came to the steps, it happened that he had to be carried by the soldiers on account of the violence of the crowd, for the crowd of people was following [them], shouting, "Away with him!" And [as he] was about to be brought into the barracks, Paul said to the military tribune, "Is it permitted for me to say something to you?" And he said, "Do you know Greek? Then you are not the Egyptian who before these days raised a revolt and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?" But Paul said, "I am a Jewish man from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no unimportant city. Now I ask you, allow me to speak to the people." So [when] he permitted [him], Paul, standing there on the steps, motioned with [his] hand to the people. And [when there] was a great silence, he addressed [them] in the Aramaic language, saying,

Prisoners » Released at feasts

Mark 15:6

Now at each feast he customarily released for them one prisoner whom they requested.

John 18:39

But it is your custom that I release for you one [prisoner] at the Passover. So do you want [me] to release for you the king of the Jews?"

Matthew 27:15-17

Now at each feast, the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd--the one whom they wanted. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner named Jesus Barabbas. So [after] they had assembled, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you--Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?"

Prisoners » John the baptist

Matthew 11:2

Now [when] John heard in prison the deeds of Christ, he sent [word] by his disciples

Mark 6:17

For Herod himself had sent [and] arrested John and bound him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother, because he had married her.

Matthew 14:3-12

For Herod, [after] arresting John, bound him and put [him] in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because John had been saying to him, "It is not permitted for you to have her." And [although he] wanted to kill him, he feared the crowd, because they looked upon him as a prophet. read more.
But [when] Herod's birthday celebration took place, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst [of them] and pleased Herod. Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. And coached by her mother, she said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter!" And [although] the king was distressed, because of his oaths and his {dinner guests} he commanded [the request] to be granted. And he sent [orders] [and] had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought [it] to her mother. And his disciples came [and] took away the corpse and buried it, and went [and] told Jesus.

Luke 3:20

added this also to them all: he also locked up John in prison.

Prisoners » Of war » Consolations for

Psalm 69:33

because Yahweh hears [the] needy and does not despise his [own who are] prisoners.

Psalm 146:7

[who] executes justice for the oppressed, [who] gives food for the hungry. Yahweh sets prisoners free;

Psalm 79:11

Let the groaning of the prisoner come before you. According to the greatness of your {power}, spare [the] children [appointed to] death.

Psalm 102:19-20

that he looked down from his holy height. Yahweh looked from heaven over [the] earth to hear [the] groaning of [the] prisoner, to liberate {those destined to die},

Prisoners » Permitted to make defense

Acts 26:1

So Agrippa said to Paul, "It is permitted for you to speak for yourself." Then Paul extended [his] hand [and] began to defend himself:

2 Timothy 4:16

At my first defense, no one came to my [aid], but [they] all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.

Acts 25:16

To {them} I replied that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up any man before the one who had been accused met [his] accusers face to [face] and received an opportunity for a defense concerning the accusation.

Acts 24:10

And [when] the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, "[Because I] know you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I defend myself cheerfully [with respect to] the things concerning myself.

Acts 25:8

[while] Paul said in his defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews nor against the temple nor against Caesar have I sinned with reference to anything!"

Prisoners » In stocks

Proverbs 7:22

He goes after her suddenly; like an ox to the slaughter he goes, and like a stag to the instruction of a fool,

Jeremiah 29:26

"Yahweh made you priest instead of Jehoiada the priest, so that there are overseers [in] the house of Yahweh over any mad man [who] exhibits the behavior of a prophet, and you must put him into the stocks and into the neck iron,

Acts 16:24

Having received such an order, {he} put them in the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Prisoners » Joseph

Genesis 39:20-23

And Joseph's master took him and put him into prison, the place that the king's prisoners were confined. And he was there in prison. And Yahweh was with Joseph, and showed loyal love to him, and gave him favor in the eyes of the chief of the prison. And the chief of the prison put all the prisoners that [were] in the prison into the hand of Joseph. And everything that was done there, he [was] the one who did [it]. read more.
The chief of the prison {did not worry about} anything in his hand, since Yahweh [was] with him. And whatever he did Yahweh made [it] successful.

Genesis 41:1-44

And it happened [that] after {two full years} Pharaoh dreamed, and behold, he was standing by the Nile. And behold, seven cows, {well built and fat}, were coming up from the Nile, and they grazed among the reeds. And behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, {ugly and gaunt}, and they stood beside those cows on the bank of the Nile. read more.
And the {ugly and gaunt} cows ate the seven {well built and fat} cows. Then Pharaoh awoke. And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time, and behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were coming out of one stalk. And behold, seven thin ears of grain, scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them. And the thin ears of grain swallowed up the seven plump and full ears of grain. Then Pharaoh awoke, and behold, [it was] a dream. And it happened [that] in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called all of the magicians of Egypt, and all its wise men, and Pharaoh told his dream to them. But {they had no interpretation} for Pharaoh. Then the chief of the cupbearers spoke with Pharaoh, saying, "I remember my sins today. Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the house of the chief of the guard. And we dreamed a dream one night, I and he, {each with a dream that had a meaning}. And there with us [was] a young man, a Hebrew servant of the chief of the guard, and we told him [the dream], and he interpreted our dreams for us, each according to his dream he interpreted. And it happened just as he interpreted to us, so it was. He restored me to my office, and him he hanged." Then Pharaoh sent and called [for] Joseph, and they brought him quickly from the prison. And he shaved and changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I dreamed a dream, but there is none to interpret it. Now, I have heard concerning you [that when] you hear a dream [you can] interpret it." Then Joseph answered Pharaoh saying, "{It is not in my power}; God will answer [concerning] the well-being of Pharaoh." And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "[Now] in my dream, behold, I was standing on the bank of the Nile, and behold, seven cows, {well built and fat}, were coming up from the Nile, and they grazed among the reeds. And behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, very {ugly and gaunt}--never have I seen [any] as them in all the land of Egypt for ugliness. And the thin and ugly cows ate the former seven healthy cows. But [when] they went into their bellies it could not be known that they went into their bellies, for their appearance [was] as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke. Then I saw in my dream and behold, seven ears of grain were coming out of one stalk, full and good. And behold, seven withered ears of grain, thin [and] scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them. And the thin ears of grain swallowed up the seven good ears of grain. And I told the magicians, but there was none to explain [it] to me." Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh [are] one. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good cows, they are seven years, and the seven good ears of grain, they [are] seven years. The dreams [are] one. And the seven thin and ugly cows coming up after them, they [are] seven years, and the seven empty ears of grain, scorched by the east wind, they are [also] seven years of famine. This [is] the word that I have spoken to Pharaoh; God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the whole land of Egypt. Then seven years of famine will arise after them, and all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten. The famine will consume the land. Abundance in the land will not be known because of the famine {that follows}, for it will be very heavy. Now concerning the repetition of the dream twice to Pharaoh, [it is] because the matter [is] established by God, and God will do [it] quickly. Now then, let Pharaoh select a man [who is] discerning and wise, and let him set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do [this], and let him appoint supervisors over the land, and let him take one-fifth from the land of Egypt in the seven years of abundance. Then let them gather all the food of these coming good years and let them pile up grain under the hand of Pharaoh [for] food in the cities, and let them keep [it]. Then the food shall be as a deposit for the land for the seven years of the famine that will be in the land of Egypt, that the land will not perish on account of the famine." And the plan was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. Then Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find a man like this in whom is the spirit of God?" Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all of this known to you there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and to your word all my people shall submit. Only [with respect to] the throne will I be greater than you." Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his finger and put it on the finger of Joseph. And he clothed him with garments of fine linen, and he put a chain of gold around his neck. And he had him ride in his second chariot. And they cried out before him, "Kneel!" And Pharaoh set him over all the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I [am] Pharaoh, but without your consent no one will lift his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt."

Prisoners » Kindness to » By julius, the centurion

Acts 27:1

And when it was decided [that] we would sail away to Italy, they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion {named} Julius of the Augustan Cohort.

Acts 28:16

And when we entered into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who was guarding him.

Acts 27:3

And on the next [day], we put in at Sidon. And Julius, treating Paul kindly, allowed [him] to go to [his] friends {to be cared for}.

Acts 28:30-31

So he stayed two whole years in his own rented house, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the [things] concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance.

Prisoners » Cruelty to

Jeremiah 38:6

So they took Jeremiah and threw him into the pit [of] Malchiah, the son of the king, which [was] in the courtyard of the guard. And they let Jeremiah down by ropes. Now in the pit there was no water, {but only} mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.

Lamentations 3:53-54

{They have silenced me in a pit}, they have thrown a stone at me. Water has flown over my head, I said, "I am cut off."

Prisoners » Jeremiah

Jeremiah 39:14

And they sent and took Jeremiah from the courtyard of the guard and gave him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him to the house, so he stayed in the midst of the people.

Jeremiah 38:6-28

So they took Jeremiah and threw him into the pit [of] Malchiah, the son of the king, which [was] in the courtyard of the guard. And they let Jeremiah down by ropes. Now in the pit there was no water, {but only} mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud. When Ebed-melech the Cushite, {a eunuch} who [was] in the house of the king, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the pit--now the king [was] sitting at the Gate of Benjamin-- Ebed-melech went out from the house of the king and spoke to the king, {saying}, read more.
"My lord the king, these men have done evil [in] all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, [in] that they have thrown [him] into the pit, and he will die {there} {because of} starvation, for there is no longer any bread in the city." Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Cushite, {saying}, "Take {with you} these thirty men and pull Jeremiah the prophet up from the pit {before} he dies." So Ebed-melech took the men {with him} and went [to] the palace of the king, to [a place] beneath the storehouse, and he took from there {rags} and {worn-out clothes}. And he let them down into the pit by ropes to Jeremiah. Then Ebed-melech the Cushite said to Jeremiah, "Please put {the rags} and {worn-out clothes} under the joints of your arms under the ropes," and Jeremiah did so. And they pulled Jeremiah by the ropes and brought him up from the pit. And Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the guard. And Zedekiah the king sent and made someone bring Jeremiah the prophet to him, to [the] third entrance that [was] at the {temple} of Yahweh. And the king said to Jeremiah, "I [am] asking you {something}, you must not hide {anything} from me." And Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "If I tell you, will you not surely kill me? {Besides}, if I advise you, you will not listen to me. So Zedekiah the king swore to Jeremiah in secret, {saying}, "{As Yahweh lives}, who has made for us this life, I will not kill you and I will not give you into the hand of these men who are seeking your life." Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "Thus says Yahweh, the God of hosts, the God of Israel, 'If only you will go surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then {you} will live, and this city will not be burned with fire, and you will live, you and your house. But if you [do] not go surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then this city will be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they will burn it with fire, and you will not escape from their hand.'" And Zedekiah the king said to Jeremiah, "I [am] afraid of the Judeans who have deserted to the Chaldeans, lest they give me into their hand and they abuse me." And Jeremiah said, "They will not give [you over]. Please obey the voice of Yahweh with regard to what I [am] saying to you, and it will go well with you, and {you} will live. But if you [are] refusing to surrender, this [is] the thing that Yahweh has shown me. Now look, all the women who remain in the house of the king of Judah [are] being led out to the officials of the king of Babylon. And look, [they are] saying, '{Your trusted friends} have misled you, and they have prevailed against you. Your feet are stuck in the mud, [so] they turned backward.' And all your wives and your children [will be] led out to the Chaldeans, and you will not escape from their hand, but by the hand of the king of Babylon you will be seized, and this city will burn with fire." And Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "No man must know about these words so that you will not die. And if the officials hear that I have spoken with you, and they come to you and say to you, 'Please tell us what you said to the king. You must not conceal [it] from us so that we will not kill you. And what did the king say to you?' Then you shall say to them, 'I [was] presenting my plea {before} the king, to not cause me to return [to] the house of Jonathan to die there.'" And all the officials came to Jeremiah and questioned him, and he informed them like all these words that the king commanded. So they fell silent, for the {conversation} was not heard. And Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the guard until [the] day that Jerusalem was captured. And it happened that Jerusalem was captured.

Prisoners » Visited by friends

Acts 24:23

[He] ordered the centurion [for] him to be guarded and to have some freedom, and in no way to prevent any of his own [people] [from] serving him.

Matthew 11:2

Now [when] John heard in prison the deeds of Christ, he sent [word] by his disciples

Prisoners » Figurative

Prisoners » Severe hardships of, mitigated

Jeremiah 37:20-21

Now then, my lord the king, please let my plea fall {before you}. You must not send me back [to] the house of Jonathan the secretary, so that I will not die there." So King Zedekiah commanded, and they handed Jeremiah over in the courtyard of the guard, and they gave to him a round loaf of bread from the street of the bakers {every day} until the finishing of all the bread from the city. And Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the guard.

Prisoners » Kindness to » By the prison guard to jeremiah

Jeremiah 38:7-28

When Ebed-melech the Cushite, {a eunuch} who [was] in the house of the king, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the pit--now the king [was] sitting at the Gate of Benjamin-- Ebed-melech went out from the house of the king and spoke to the king, {saying}, "My lord the king, these men have done evil [in] all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, [in] that they have thrown [him] into the pit, and he will die {there} {because of} starvation, for there is no longer any bread in the city." read more.
Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Cushite, {saying}, "Take {with you} these thirty men and pull Jeremiah the prophet up from the pit {before} he dies." So Ebed-melech took the men {with him} and went [to] the palace of the king, to [a place] beneath the storehouse, and he took from there {rags} and {worn-out clothes}. And he let them down into the pit by ropes to Jeremiah. Then Ebed-melech the Cushite said to Jeremiah, "Please put {the rags} and {worn-out clothes} under the joints of your arms under the ropes," and Jeremiah did so. And they pulled Jeremiah by the ropes and brought him up from the pit. And Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the guard. And Zedekiah the king sent and made someone bring Jeremiah the prophet to him, to [the] third entrance that [was] at the {temple} of Yahweh. And the king said to Jeremiah, "I [am] asking you {something}, you must not hide {anything} from me." And Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "If I tell you, will you not surely kill me? {Besides}, if I advise you, you will not listen to me. So Zedekiah the king swore to Jeremiah in secret, {saying}, "{As Yahweh lives}, who has made for us this life, I will not kill you and I will not give you into the hand of these men who are seeking your life." Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "Thus says Yahweh, the God of hosts, the God of Israel, 'If only you will go surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then {you} will live, and this city will not be burned with fire, and you will live, you and your house. But if you [do] not go surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then this city will be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they will burn it with fire, and you will not escape from their hand.'" And Zedekiah the king said to Jeremiah, "I [am] afraid of the Judeans who have deserted to the Chaldeans, lest they give me into their hand and they abuse me." And Jeremiah said, "They will not give [you over]. Please obey the voice of Yahweh with regard to what I [am] saying to you, and it will go well with you, and {you} will live. But if you [are] refusing to surrender, this [is] the thing that Yahweh has shown me. Now look, all the women who remain in the house of the king of Judah [are] being led out to the officials of the king of Babylon. And look, [they are] saying, '{Your trusted friends} have misled you, and they have prevailed against you. Your feet are stuck in the mud, [so] they turned backward.' And all your wives and your children [will be] led out to the Chaldeans, and you will not escape from their hand, but by the hand of the king of Babylon you will be seized, and this city will burn with fire." And Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "No man must know about these words so that you will not die. And if the officials hear that I have spoken with you, and they come to you and say to you, 'Please tell us what you said to the king. You must not conceal [it] from us so that we will not kill you. And what did the king say to you?' Then you shall say to them, 'I [was] presenting my plea {before} the king, to not cause me to return [to] the house of Jonathan to die there.'" And all the officials came to Jeremiah and questioned him, and he informed them like all these words that the king commanded. So they fell silent, for the {conversation} was not heard. And Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the guard until [the] day that Jerusalem was captured. And it happened that Jerusalem was captured.

Prisoners » To be visited and ministered to

Matthew 25:35-46

For I was hungry and you gave me [something] to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me [something] to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me as a guest, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you cared for me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed [you], or thirsty and give [you something] to drink? read more.
And when did we see you a stranger and welcome [you] as a guest, or naked and clothe [you]? And when did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?' And the king will answer [and] say to them, 'Truly I say to you, in as much as you did [it] to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did [it] to me.' Then he will also say to those on [his] left, 'Depart from me, [you] accursed ones, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you did not give me [anything] to eat, I was thirsty and you did not give me [anything] to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not care for me.' Then they will also answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and not serve you?' Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly I say to you, in as much as you did not do [it] to one of the least of these, you did not do [it] to me.' And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Prisoners » Guards responsible for

Acts 12:18-19

Now [when] day came, there was not a little commotion among the soldiers [as to] what then had become of Peter. And [when] Herod had searched for him and did not find [him], he questioned the guards [and] ordered [that they] be led away to execution. And he came down from Judea to Caesarea [and] stayed [there].

Prisoners » Silas

Acts 16:19-40

But [when] her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas [and] dragged [them] into the marketplace before the rulers. And [when they] had brought them to the chief magistrates, they said, "These men are throwing our city into confusion, being Jews, and are proclaiming customs that are not permitted for us to accept or to practice, [because we] are Romans!" read more.
And the crowd joined in attacking them, and the chief magistrates tore off their clothing [and] gave orders to beat [them] with rods. And [after they] had inflicted many blows on them, they threw [them] into prison, giving orders to the jailer to guard them securely. Having received such an order, {he} put them in the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. Now about midnight, Paul and Silas were praying [and] singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened and all the bonds were unfastened. And [after] the jailer was awake and saw the doors of the prison open, he drew [his] sword [and] was about to kill himself, [because he] thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, "Do no harm to yourself, for we are all here!" And demanding lights, he rushed in and, {beginning to tremble}, fell down at the feet of Paul and Silas. And he brought them outside [and] said, "Sirs, what must I do so that I can be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household!" And they spoke the message of the Lord to him, together with all those in his house. And he took them at that [very] hour of the night [and] washed [their] wounds, and he himself was baptized at once, and all those of his [household]. And he brought them up into [his] house [and] set a meal before [them], and rejoiced greatly that he had believed in God with his whole household. And [when it] was day, the chief magistrates sent the police officers, saying, "Release those men." And the jailer reported these words to Paul: "The chief magistrates have sent [an order] that you should be released. So come out now [and] go in peace!" But Paul said to them, "They beat us in public without due process--men who are Roman citizens--[and] threw [us] into prison, and now they are wanting to release us secretly? Certainly not! Rather let them come themselves [and] bring us out!" So the police officers reported these words to the chief magistrates, and they were afraid [when they] heard that they were Roman citizens. And they came [and] apologized to them, and [after they] brought [them] out they asked [them] to depart from the city. And [when they] came out of the prison, they went to Lydia and [when they] saw [them], they encouraged the brothers and departed.

Prisoners » Of war » By divine command

Numbers 31:9

The {Israelites} took captive the women of Midian and their children, and they plundered all their domestic animals and all their livestock and all their wealth.

Numbers 31:17

Now kill every male among the little children, and kill every woman who has {had sexual intercourse with a man}.

Prisoners » Apostles

Acts 5:17-42

Now the high priest rose up and all those [who were] with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), [and] they were filled with jealousy. And they laid hands on the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison and led them [out] [and] said, read more.
"Go and stand in the temple [courts] [and] proclaim to the people all the words of this life." And [when they] heard [this], they entered at daybreak into the temple [courts] and began teaching. Now [when] the high priest and those with him arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin--even the whole council of elders of the sons of Israel--and sent to the prison to have them brought. But the officers who came did not find them in the prison, and they returned [and] reported, saying, "We found the prison locked with all security and the guards standing at the doors, but [when we] opened [them], we found no one inside!" Now when both the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed concerning them, [as to] what this might be. But someone came [and] reported to them, "Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple [courts] and teaching the people!" Then the captain went with the officers [and] brought them, not with force (for they were afraid of the people, lest they be stoned [by them]). And [when they] had brought them, they made [them] stand in the Sanhedrin, and the high priest put a question to them, saying, "{We strictly commanded} you not to teach in this name? And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching! And you are intending to bring upon us the blood of this man!" But Peter and the apostles answered [and] said, "It is necessary to obey God rather than men! The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed [by] hanging [him] on a tree. This one God has exalted to his right hand [as] Leader and Savior to grant repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these things, and [so is] the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him." Now [when] they heard [this], they were infuriated, and were wanting to execute them. But a certain man stood up in the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee {named} Gamaliel, a teacher of the law respected by all the people, [and] gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. And he said to them, "Men [and] Israelites, take care for yourselves what you are about to do to these men! For before these days, Theudas rose up saying he was somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined {him}. {He} was executed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and {caused people to follow him in revolt}. And that one perished, and all who followed him were scattered. And now I tell you, keep away from these men, and leave them alone, because if this plan or this matter is from people, it will be overthrown. But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them, lest you even be found fighting against God." So they were persuaded by him. And they summoned the apostles, beat [them], commanded [them] not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released [them]. So they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin rejoicing, because they had been considered worthy to be dishonored for the sake of the name. Every day, both in the temple [courts] and from house [to house], they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news [that] the Christ [was] Jesus.

Prisoners » Peter

Acts 12:3-19

And [when he] saw that it was pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. ({Now this was during the feast} of Unleavened Bread.) [After he] had arrested {him}, he also put [him] in prison, handing [him] over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him {out for public trial} after the Passover. Thus Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer was fervently being made to God by the church for him. read more.
Now when Herod was about to bring him [out], on that [very] night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards before the door were watching the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood near [him], and a light shone in the prison cell. And striking Peter's side, he woke him up, saying, "Get up {quickly}!" And his chains fell off of [his] hands. And the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and put on your sandals!" And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me!" And he went out [and] was following [him]. And he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but was thinking [he] was seeing a vision. And [after they] had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened for them by itself, and they went out [and] went forward [along] one narrow street, and at once the angel departed from him. And [when] Peter came to himself, he said, "Now I know truly that the Lord has sent out his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and all {that the Jewish people expected}!" And [when he] realized [this], he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John (who is also called Mark), where many [people] were gathered together and were praying. And [when] he knocked at the door of the gateway, a female slave {named} Rhoda came up to answer. And recognizing Peter's voice, because of [her] joy she did not open the gate, but ran in [and] announced [that] Peter was standing at the gate. But they said to her, "You are out of your mind!" But she kept insisting it was so. And they kept saying, "It is his angel!" But Peter was continuing to knock, and [when they] opened [the door] they saw him and were astonished. But motioning to them with [his] hand to be silent, he related to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Report these [things] to James and to the brothers," and he departed [and] went to another place. Now [when] day came, there was not a little commotion among the soldiers [as to] what then had become of Peter. And [when] Herod had searched for him and did not find [him], he questioned the guards [and] ordered [that they] be led away to execution. And he came down from Judea to Caesarea [and] stayed [there].

Prisoners » Confined » In the house of the scribe

Jeremiah 37:15

And the officials were angry at Jeremiah and they struck him. And they put him [in] {prison}, [in] the house of Jonathan the secretary, for they had converted it to the {prison}.

Prisoners » Sustained on bread and water of affliction

1 Kings 22:27

and say, 'Thus says the king: "Put this [fellow in] the house of imprisonment and feed him reduced rations of food and water until I come in peace." '"

Prisoners » Bound to soldiers

Acts 12:6-7

Now when Herod was about to bring him [out], on that [very] night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards before the door were watching the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood near [him], and a light shone in the prison cell. And striking Peter's side, he woke him up, saying, "Get up {quickly}!" And his chains fell off of [his] hands.

Prisoners » Kindness to » By the philippian jailer to paul

Acts 16:33

And he took them at that [very] hour of the night [and] washed [their] wounds, and he himself was baptized at once, and all those of his [household].

Prisoners » Kindness to » By felix

Acts 24:23

[He] ordered the centurion [for] him to be guarded and to have some freedom, and in no way to prevent any of his own [people] [from] serving him.

Prisoners » Confined » In the court of the palace

Jeremiah 32:2

Now at that time the army of the king of Babylon [was] laying siege to Jerusalem and Jeremiah the prophet was confined in the courtyard of the guard that [was in] the palace of the king of Judah,

Prisoners » Of war » Thumbs and toes cut off

Judges 1:6-7

And Adoni-bezek fled, but they pursued after him; they caught him and cut off {his thumbs and big toes}. Adoni-bezek said, "Seventy kings with {their thumbs and big toes} cut off used to pick up [scraps] under my table; just as I have done, so God has repaid to me. And they brought him [to] Jerusalem, and he died there.

Prisoners » Of war » Blinded

2 Kings 25:7

They slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes; then they blinded the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in bronze fetters and brought him [to] Babylon.

Prisoners » Tortured to extort self-incriminating testimony

Acts 22:24

the military tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying he was to be examined with a lash so that he could find out for what reason they were crying out against him in this way.

Prisoners » Required to labor

Judges 16:21

And [the] Philistines seized him, gouged his eyes, and brought him to Gaza. They tied him up with bronze shackles, and he became a grinder {in the prison}.

Prisoners » Confined » In the house of the captain of the guard

Genesis 40:3

And he put them in custody in the house of the chief of the guard, into the prison where Joseph was confined.

Prisoners » In chains

Acts 12:6

Now when Herod was about to bring him [out], on that [very] night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards before the door were watching the prison.

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