33 Bible Verses about Prisoners

Most Relevant Verses

Matthew 27:16

At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Jesus Bar-Abbas;

Mark 15:6-7

Now at festival time he used to release for them some prisoner whom they begged from him. (There was a man called Bar-Abbas in prison, among the rioters who had committed murder during the insurrection.)

Luke 23:19

(This was a man who had been put into prison on account of a riot which had taken place in the city and also on a charge of murder.)

Matthew 4:12

Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee; ??13 he left Nazaret and settled at Capharnahum beside the lake, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali

Mark 1:14

After John had been arrested, Jesus went to Galilee preaching the gospel of God;

Matthew 11:2

Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent his disciples

Matthew 14:3

For Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias the wife of his brother Philip,

Mark 6:17

For this Herod had sent and arrested John and bound him in prison on account of his marriage to Herodias the wife of his brother Philip;

Mark 6:27

so the king at once sent one of the guard with orders to bring his head. The man went and beheaded him in the prison,

Luke 3:20

crowned all by shutting John up in prison.

Acts 8:3

but Saul made havoc of the church by entering one house after another, dragging off men and women, and consigning them to prison.

Acts 26:10

I did so in Jerusalem. I shut up many of the saints in prison, armed with authority from the high priests; when they were put to death, I voted against them;

Acts 12:4

After arresting him he put him in prison, handing him over to a guard of sixteen soldiers, with the intention of producing him to the People after the passover.

Acts 22:27

So the commander went to him and said, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" "Yes," he said.

Acts 23:29

where I found he was accused of matters relating to their Law but not impeached for any crime that deserved death or imprisonment.

Acts 28:17

Three days later, he called the leading Jews together, and when they met he said to them, "Brothers, although I have done nothing against the People or our ancestral customs, I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem.

2 Corinthians 11:23

Ministers of Christ? yes perhaps, but not as much as I am (I am mad to talk like this!), with all my labours, with all my lashes, with all my time in prison ??a record longer far than theirs. I have been often at the point of death;

Ephesians 3:1

For this reason I Paul, I whom Jesus has made a prisoner for the sake of you Gentiles ??2 for surely you have heard how the grace of God which was vouchsafed me in your interests has ordered it,

Acts 16:23-24

had many lashes inflicted on them and put them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safe. On receiving so strict a charge, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.

Colossians 4:10

Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner salutes you; so does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, about whom you have got instructions (if he comes to you, give him a welcome);

Hebrews 11:36

others, again, had to experience scoffs and scourging, aye chains and imprisonment ??37 they were stoned, sawn in two, and cut to pieces; they had to roam about in sheepskins and goatskins, forlorn, oppressed, ill-treated

Galatians 3:22-23

but Scripture has consigned all without exception to the custody of sin, in order that the promise due to faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who have faith. Before this faith came, we were confined by the Law and kept in custody, with the prospect of the faith that was to be revealed;

Matthew 18:30

But he refused; he went and had him thrown into prison, till he should pay the debt.

From Thematic Bible


Prisoners » Of war » Put to death

Prisoners » Jesus

Matthew 26:47-75

While he was still speaking, up came Judas, one of the twelve, accompanied by a large mob with swords and cudgels who had come from the high priests and the elders of the people. Now his betrayer had given them a signal; he said, " Whoever I kiss, that is the man." So he went up at once to Jesus; "Hail, rabbi!" he said, and kissed him. read more.
Jesus said, "My man, do your errand." Then they laid hands on Jesus and seized him. One of his companions put out his hand, drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; all who draw the sword shall die by the sword. What! do you think I cannot appeal to my Father to furnish me at this moment with over twelve legions of angels? Only, how could the scriptures be fulfilled then ??the scriptures that say this must be so?" At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you sallied out to arrest me like a robber, with swords and cudgels? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you never seized me. However, this has all happened for the fulfilment of the prophetic scriptures!" Then all the disciples left him and fled; but those who had seized Jesus took him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders had gathered. Peter followed him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and when he got inside he sat down beside the attendants to see the end. Now the high priests and the whole of the Sanhedrin tried to secure false evidence against Jesus, in order to have him put to death; but they could find none, although a number of false witnesses came forward. However, two men came forward at last and said, "This fellow declared, 'I can destroy the temple of God and build it in three days.'" So the high priest rose and said to him, "Have you no reply to make? What of this evidence against you?" Jesus said nothing. Then the high priest addressed him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!" Jesus said to him, "Even so! But I tell you, in future you will all see the Son of man seated at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his dress and cried, "He has blasphemed! What more evidence do we want? Look, you have heard his blasphemy for yourselves! What is your view?" They replied, "He is doomed to death." Then they spat in his face and buffeted him, some of them cuffing him and crying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ! tell us who struck you!" Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A maidservant came up and said to him, "You were with Jesus the Galilean too." But he denied it before them all; "I do not know what you mean," he said. When he went out to the gateway another maidservant noticed him and said to those who were there, "This fellow was with Jesus the Nazarene." Again he denied it; he swore, "I do not know the man." After a little the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "To be sure, you are one of them too. Why, your accent betrays you!" At this he broke out cursing and swearing, "I do not know the man." At that moment a cock crowed. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said, that 'before the cock crows you will disown me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Mark 14:43-72

At that very moment, while he was still speaking, Judas [Iscariot] one of the twelve came up accompanied by a mob with swords and cudgels who had come from the high priests and scribes and elders. Now his betrayer had given them a signal; he said, "Whoever I kiss, that is the man. Seize him and get him safely away." So when he arrived he at once went up to him and said, "Rabbi [rabbi]," and kissed him. read more.
Then they laid hands on him and seized him, but one of the bystanders drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Jesus turned on them, saying, "Have you sallied out to arrest me like a robber, with swords and cudgels? Day after day I was beside you in the temple teaching, and you never seized me. However, it is to let the scriptures be fulfilled." Then they left him and fled, all of them; one young man did follow him, with only a linen sheet thrown round his body, but when the [young] men seized him he fled away naked, leaving the sheet behind him. They took Jesus away to the high priest, and all the high priests and scribes and elders met there with him. Peter followed him at a distance till he got inside the courtyard of the high priest, where he sat down with the attendants to warm himself at the fire. Now the high priests and the whole of the Sanhedrin tried to secure evidence against Jesus, in order to have him put to death; but they could find none, for while many bore false witness against him their evidence did not agree. Some got up and bore false witness against him, saying, "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple made by hands, and in three days I will build another temple not made by hands.'" But even so the evidence did not agree. So the high priest rose in their midst and asked Jesus, "Have you no reply to make? What about this evidence against you?" He said nothing and made no answer. Again the high priest put a question to him. "Are you the Christ?" he said, "the Son of the Blessed?" Jesus said, "I am. And, what is more, you will all see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his clothes and cried, "What more evidence do we want? You have heard his blasphemy for yourselves. What is your mind?" They condemned him, all of them, to the doom of death; and some of them started to spit on him and to blindfold him and buffet him, asking him, "Prophesy." The attendants treated him to cuffs and slaps. Now as Peter was downstairs in the courtyard, a maidservant of the high priest came along, and when she noticed Peter warming himself she looked at him and said, "You were with Jesus of Nazaret too." But he denied it. "I do not know," he said, "I have no idea what you mean." Then he went outside into the passage. The cock crowed. Again the maidservant who had noticed him began to tell the bystanders, "That fellow is one of them." But he denied it again. After a little the bystanders once more said to Peter, "To be sure, you are one of them. Why, you are a Galilean!" But he broke out cursing and swearing, "I do not know the man you mean." At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered how Jesus had told him, "Before the cock crows twice you will disown me thrice;" and he burst into tears.

Luke 22:47-71

While he was still speaking, there came a mob headed by the man called Judas, one of the twelve. He approached in order to kiss Jesus, but Jesus said to him, "Judas! would you betray the Son of man with a kiss?" Now when the supporters of Jesus saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with our swords?" read more.
And one of them did strike the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. Jesus said, "Let me do this at least," and cured him by touching his ear. Then he said to the high priests and commanders of the temple and elders who had appeared to take him, "Have you sallied out to arrest me like a robber, with swords and cudgels? Day after day I was beside you in the temple, and you never stretched a hand against me. But this is your hour, and the dark Power has its way." Then they arrested him and led him away inside the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance and sat down among some people who had lit a fire in the courtyard and were sitting round it. A maidservant who noticed him sitting by the fire took a long look at him and said, "That fellow was with him too." But he disowned him, saying, "Woman, I know nothing about him." Shortly afterwards another man noticed him and said, "Why, you are one of them!" "Man," said Peter, "I am not." About an hour had passed when another man insisted, "That fellow really was with him. Why, he is a Galilean!" "Man," said Peter, "I do not know what you mean." Instantly, just as he was speaking, the cock crowed; the Lord turned round and looked at Peter, and then Peter remembered what the Lord had told him, that 'Before cock-crow to-day you will disown me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly. Meantime the men who had Jesus in custody flogged him and made fun of him; blindfolding him they would ask him, "Prophesy, tell us who struck you?" And many another insult they uttered against him. When day broke, the elders of the people all met along with the high priests and scribes, and had him brought before their Sanhedrin. They said to him, "Tell us if you are the Christ." He said to them, "You will not believe me if I tell you, and you will not answer me when I put a question to you. But after this the Son of man will be seated at God's right hand of power." "Are you the Son of God then?" they all said. "Certainly," he replied, "I am." So they said, "What more evidence do we need? We have heard it from his own lips."

John 18:3-40

So after procuring troops and some attendants belonging to the high priests and the Pharisees, Judas went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, who knew everything that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, "Who are you looking for?" "Jesus the Nazarene," they replied. Jesus said, "I am he." (And Judas the traitor was standing beside them.) read more.
When he said, "I am he," they fell back and dropped to the ground; so he asked them once more, "Who are you looking for?" And when they replied, "Jesus the Nazarene," he answered, "I told you that I am he; if it is me you are looking for, let these men get away" (this was to fulfil his own word: 'I did not lose a single one of those whom thou didst give me'). Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear (the servant's name was Malchus); whereupon Jesus said to Peter, "Sheathe your sword. Am I not to drink the cup which the Father has handed me?" So the troops and their commander and the Jewish attendants seized Jesus, bound him, and brought him first of all to Annas (for Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year ??14 the Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was for their interests that one man should die for the people). [vss 15-18 moved to between while Peter stood outside at the door. Then this other disciple, who was an acquaintance of the high priest, came out and spoke to the woman at the door, and brought Peter inside. The maidservant at the door then said to Peter, "Are you not one of this fellow's disciples?" He said, "No." Now the servants and the attendants were standing and warming themselves at a charcoal fire which they had lit (for it was cold), and Peter also stood beside them and warmed himself. Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered, "I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in the synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews gather; I have said nothing in secret. Why ask me? Ask my hearers what I have said to them; they know what I said." As he said this, one of the attendants who stood by gave him a blow, saying, "Is that how you answer the high priest?" "If I have said anything wrong," replied Jesus, "prove it; if I said what was true, why strike me?" & 25] Simon Peter followed Jesus along with another disciple; and as this disciple was an acquaintance of the high priest, he passed into the courtyard of the high priest with Jesus, Then Annas had him bound and sent him to Caiaphas the high priest. They asked him, "Are you not one of his disciples?" He denied it, saying, "No," Said one of the high priest's servants, a kinsman of the man whose ear had been cut off by Peter, "Did I not see you with him in the orchard?" Again Peter denied it. And at that very moment the cock crowed. Then from the house of Caiaphas they took Jesus to the praetorium. (It was early morning.) They would not enter the praetorium themselves, in case of being ceremonially defiled, for they wanted to eat the passover; so Pilate came outside to them and asked, "What charge do you bring against this man?" They retorted, "If he had not been a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you." Then said Pilate, "Take him yourselves, and sentence him according to your own Law." The Jews said, "We have no right to put anyone to death" (that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, by which he had indicated the kind of death he was to die). So Pilate went back inside the praetorium and called Jesus, saying, "Then you are king of the Jews?" Jesus replied, "Are you saying this of your own accord, or did other people tell you about me?" "Am I a Jew?" said Pilate. "Your own nation and the high priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus replied, "My realm does not belong to this world; if my realm did belong to this world, my men would have fought to prevent me being handed over to the Jews. No, my realm lies elsewhere." "So you are a king?" said Pilate, "you!" "Certainly," said Jesus, "I am a king. This is why I was born, this is why I came into the world, to bear testimony to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." "Truth!" said Pilate, "what is truth!" With these words he went outside to the Jews again and told them, "I cannot find anything wrong about him. But it is your custom that I should release a prisoner for you at the passover. Is it your will that I release you the king of the Jews?" Again they yelled, "No, not him! Bar-Abbas!" Now Bar-Abbas was a robber.

Prisoners » Scourged

Acts 16:23

had many lashes inflicted on them and put them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safe.

Acts 16:33

Then he took them at that very hour of the night and washed their wounds and got baptized instantly, he and all his family.

More verses: 2 Corinthians 11:23-24

Prisoners » Paul

Acts 16:19-40

But when her owners saw their chance of profit was gone, they caught hold of Paul and Silas and dragged them before the magistrates in the forum. Bringing them before the praetors they declared, "These fellows are Jews who are making an agitation in our town; they are proclaiming customs which as Romans we are not allowed to accept or observe!" read more.
The crowd also joined in the attack upon them, while the praetors, after having them stripped and after ordering them to be flogged with rods, had many lashes inflicted on them and put them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safe. On receiving so strict a charge, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks. But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing to God, while the prisoners listened, all of a sudden there was a great earthquake which shook the very foundations of the prison; the doors all flew open in an instant and the fetters of all the prisoners were unfastened. When the jailer started from his sleep and saw the prison-doors open, he drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, supposing the prisoners had made their escape; but Paul shouted aloud, "Do not harm yourself, we are all here!" So calling for lights he rushed in, fell in terror before Paul and Silas, and brought them out (after securing the other prisoners). "Sirs," he said, "what must I do to be saved?" "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ," they said, "and then you will be saved, you and your household as well." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all in his house. Then he took them at that very hour of the night and washed their wounds and got baptized instantly, he and all his family. He took them up to his house and put food before them, overjoyed like all his household at having believed in God. When day broke, the praetors sent the lictors with the message, "Release these men." The jailer repeated this to Paul. "The praetors," he said, "have sent to release you. So come out and go in peace?" But Paul replied, "They flogged us in public and without a trial, flogged Roman citizens! They put us in prison, and now they are going to get rid of us secretly! No indeed! Let them come here themselves and take us out!" The lictors reported this to the praetors, who, on hearing the men were Roman citizens, became alarmed; they went to appease them and after taking them out of prison begged them to leave the town. So they left the prison and went to Lydia's house, where they saw the brothers and encouraged them; then they departed.

Acts 21:27-40

The seven days were almost over when the Asiatic Jews, catching sight of him in the temple, stirred up all the crowd and laid hands on him, shouting, "To the rescue, men of Israel! Here is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against the People and the Law and this Place! And he has actually brought Greeks inside the temple and defiled this holy Place!" (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian along with him in the city, and they supposed Paul had taken him inside the temple.) read more.
The whole city was thrown into turmoil. The people rushed together, seized Paul and dragged him outside the temple; whereupon the doors were immediately shut. They were attempting to kill him, when word reached the commander of the garrison that the whole of Jerusalem was in confusion. Taking some soldiers and officers, he at once rushed down to them, and when they saw the commander and the soldiers they stopped beating Paul. Then the commander came up and seized him; he ordered him to be bound with a couple of chains, and asked "Who is he?" and "What has he done?" Some of the crowd roared one thing, some another, and as he could not learn the facts owing to the uproar, he ordered Paul to be taken to the barracks. By the time he reached the steps, he had actually to be carried by the soldiers on account of the violence of the crowd, for the whole mass of the people followed shouting, "Away with him!" Just as he was being taken into the barracks, Paul said to the commander, "May I say a word to you?" "You know Greek!" said the commander. "Then you are not the Egyptian who in days gone by raised the four thousand assassins and led them out into the desert?" Paul said, "I am a Jew, a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, the citizen of a famous town. Pray let me speak to the people." As he gave permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the people. A great hush came over them, and he addressed them as follows in Hebrew.

Prisoners » Released at feasts

Mark 15:6

Now at festival time he used to release for them some prisoner whom they begged from him.

John 18:39

But it is your custom that I should release a prisoner for you at the passover. Is it your will that I release you the king of the Jews?"

Matthew 27:15-17

At festival time the governor was in the habit of releasing any one prisoner whom the crowd chose. At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Jesus Bar-Abbas; so, when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Who do you want released? Jesus Bar-Abbas or Jesus the so-called 'Christ'?"

Prisoners » John the baptist

Matthew 11:2

Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent his disciples

Mark 6:17

For this Herod had sent and arrested John and bound him in prison on account of his marriage to Herodias the wife of his brother Philip;

Matthew 14:3-12

For Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias the wife of his brother Philip, since John had told him, "You have no right to her." He was anxious to kill him but he was afraid of the people, for they held John to be a prophet. read more.
However, on Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced in public to the delight of Herod; whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatever she wanted. And she, at the instigation of her mother, said, "Give me John the Baptist's head this moment on a dish." The king was sorry, but for the sake of his oath and his guests he ordered it to be given her; he sent and had John beheaded in the prison, his head was brought on a dish and given to the girl, and she took it to her mother. His disciples came and removed the corpse and buried him; then they went and reported it to Jesus.

Luke 3:20

crowned all by shutting John up in prison.

Prisoners » Of war » Consolations for

Prisoners » Permitted to make defense

Acts 26:1

Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have our permission to speak upon your own behalf." At this Paul stretched out his hand and began his defence.

2 Timothy 4:16

The first time I had to defend myself, I had no supporters; everyone deserted me. God grant it may not be brought up against them!

Acts 25:16

I told them Romans were not in the habit of giving up any man until the accused met the accusers face to face and had a chance of defending himself against the impeachment.

Acts 24:10

Then at a nod from the governor Paul made his reply. "As I know you have administered justice in this nation for a number of years," he said, "I feel encouraged to make my defence,

Acts 25:8

Paul's defence was, "I have committed no offence against the Law of the Jews, against the temple, or against Caesar."

Prisoners » In stocks

Acts 16:24

On receiving so strict a charge, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.

Prisoners » Joseph

Prisoners » Kindness to » By julius, the centurion

Acts 27:1

When it was decided we were to sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to an officer of the Imperial regiment called Julius.

Acts 28:16

When we did reach Rome, Paul got permission to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

Acts 27:3

Next day we put in at Sidon, where Julius very kindly allowed Paul to visit his friends and be looked after.

Acts 28:30-31

For two full years he remained in his private lodging, welcoming anyone who came to visit him; he preached the Reign of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ quite openly and unmolested.

Prisoners » Cruelty to

Prisoners » Jeremiah

Prisoners » Visited by friends

Acts 24:23

He gave orders to the officer to have Paul kept in custody but to allow him some freedom and not to prevent any of his own people from rendering him any service.

Matthew 11:2

Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent his disciples

Prisoners » Figurative

Prisoners » Severe hardships of, mitigated

Prisoners » Kindness to » By the prison guard to jeremiah

Prisoners » To be visited and ministered to

Matthew 25:35-46

For I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you entertained me, I was unclothed and you clothed me, I was ill and you looked after me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the just will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and fed you? or thirsty and gave you drink? read more.
when did we see you a stranger and entertain you? or unclothed and clothed you? when did we see you ill or in prison and visit you?' The King will answer them, 'I tell you truly, in so far as you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even to the least of them, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those on the left, 'Begone from me, you accursed ones, to the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry but you never fed me, I was thirsty but you never gave me drink, I was a stranger but you never entertained me, I was unclothed but you never clothed me, I was ill and in prison but you never looked after me.' Then they will answer too, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or unclothed or ill or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, 'I tell you truly, in so far as you did not do it to one of these, even the least of them, you did not do it to me.' So they shall depart to eternal punishment, and the just to eternal life."

Prisoners » Guards responsible for

Acts 12:18-19

Now when day broke there was a great commotion among the soldiers over what could have become of Peter. Herod made inquiries for him but could not find him; so, after cross-examining the guards, he ordered them off to death. He then went down from Judaea to Caesarea, where he spent some time.

Prisoners » Silas

Acts 16:19-40

But when her owners saw their chance of profit was gone, they caught hold of Paul and Silas and dragged them before the magistrates in the forum. Bringing them before the praetors they declared, "These fellows are Jews who are making an agitation in our town; they are proclaiming customs which as Romans we are not allowed to accept or observe!" read more.
The crowd also joined in the attack upon them, while the praetors, after having them stripped and after ordering them to be flogged with rods, had many lashes inflicted on them and put them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safe. On receiving so strict a charge, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks. But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing to God, while the prisoners listened, all of a sudden there was a great earthquake which shook the very foundations of the prison; the doors all flew open in an instant and the fetters of all the prisoners were unfastened. When the jailer started from his sleep and saw the prison-doors open, he drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, supposing the prisoners had made their escape; but Paul shouted aloud, "Do not harm yourself, we are all here!" So calling for lights he rushed in, fell in terror before Paul and Silas, and brought them out (after securing the other prisoners). "Sirs," he said, "what must I do to be saved?" "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ," they said, "and then you will be saved, you and your household as well." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all in his house. Then he took them at that very hour of the night and washed their wounds and got baptized instantly, he and all his family. He took them up to his house and put food before them, overjoyed like all his household at having believed in God. When day broke, the praetors sent the lictors with the message, "Release these men." The jailer repeated this to Paul. "The praetors," he said, "have sent to release you. So come out and go in peace?" But Paul replied, "They flogged us in public and without a trial, flogged Roman citizens! They put us in prison, and now they are going to get rid of us secretly! No indeed! Let them come here themselves and take us out!" The lictors reported this to the praetors, who, on hearing the men were Roman citizens, became alarmed; they went to appease them and after taking them out of prison begged them to leave the town. So they left the prison and went to Lydia's house, where they saw the brothers and encouraged them; then they departed.

Prisoners » Of war » By divine command

Prisoners » Apostles

Acts 5:17-42

This filled the high priest Annas and his allies, the Sadducean party, with bitter jealousy; they laid hands on the apostles and put them into the public prison, but an angel of the Lord opened the prison-doors during the night and brought them out, saying, read more.
"Go and stand in the temple, telling the people all about this Life." With these orders they went into the temple about dawn and proceeded to teach. Meantime the high priest and his allies met, called the Sanhedrin together and the council of seniors belonging to the sons of Israel, and then sent to prison for the men. But as the attendants did not find them when they got to the prison, they came back to report, "We found the prison safely locked up with the sentries posted at the doors, but on opening the doors we found no one inside!" On hearing this the commander of the temple and the high priests were quite at a loss to know what to make of it. However, someone came and reported to them, "Here are the very men you put in prison, standing in the temple and teaching the people!" At this the commander went off with the attendants and fetched them ??but without using violence, for fear that the people would pelt them with stones. They conducted them before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked them, "We strictly forbade you to teach about this Name, did we not? And here you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine! You want to make us responsible for this man's death!" Peter and the apostles answered, "One must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus whom you murdered by hanging him on a gibbet. God lifted him up to his right hand as our pioneer and saviour, in order to grant repentance and remission of sins to Israel. To these facts we bear witness, with the holy Spirit which God has given to those who obey him." When they heard this, they were so furious that they determined to make away with the apostles. But a Pharisee in the Sanhedrin called Gamaliel, a doctor of the Law who was highly respected by all the people, got up and ordered the apostles to be removed for a few moments. Then he said, "Men of Israel, take care what you do about these men. In days gone by Theudas started up, claiming to be a person of importance; a number of men, about four hundred of them, rallied to him, but he was slain, and all his followers were dispersed and wiped out. After him Judas the Galilean started up at the time of the census, and got people to desert to him; but he perished too, and all his followers were scattered. So I advise you to-day to leave these men to themselves. Let them alone. If this project or enterprise springs from men, it will collapse; whereas, if it really springs from God, you will be unable to put them down. You may even find yourselves fighting God!" They gave in to him, and after summoning the apostles and giving them a flogging, they released them with instructions that they were not to speak about the name of Jesus. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy of suffering dishonour for the sake of the Name; not for a single day did they cease to teach and preach the gospel of Jesus the Christ in the temple and at home.

Prisoners » Peter

Acts 12:3-19

and when he saw this pleased the Jews, he went on to seize Peter. (This was during the days of unleavened bread.) After arresting him he put him in prison, handing him over to a guard of sixteen soldiers, with the intention of producing him to the People after the passover. So Peter was closely guarded in prison, while earnest prayer for him was offered to God by the church. read more.
The very night before Herod meant to have him produced, Peter lay asleep between two soldiers; he was fastened by two chains, and sentries in front of the door guarded the prison. But an angel of the Lord flashed on him, and a light shone in the cell; striking Peter on the side he woke him, saying, "Quick, get up!" The fetters dropped from his hands, and the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and put on your sandals." He did so. Then said the angel, "Put on your coat and follow me." And he followed him out, not realizing that what the angel did was real, but imagining that he saw a vision. When they had passed the first guard and the second they came to the iron gate leading into the city, which opened to them of its own accord; they passed out, and after they had gone through one street, the angel immediately left him. Then Peter came to his senses and said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were anticipating." When he grasped the situation, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was surnamed Mark, where a number had met for prayer. When he knocked at the door of the porch, a maidservant called Rhoda came to answer it; but as soon as she recognized Peter's voice, instead of opening the door she ran inside from sheer joy and announced that Peter was standing in front of the porch. "You are mad," they said. But she insisted it was true. "It is his angel," they said. But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door they were amazed to see him. He beckoned to them to keep quiet and then described to them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Report this to James," he said, "and to the brothers." And off he went to another place. Now when day broke there was a great commotion among the soldiers over what could have become of Peter. Herod made inquiries for him but could not find him; so, after cross-examining the guards, he ordered them off to death. He then went down from Judaea to Caesarea, where he spent some time.

Prisoners » Confined » In the house of the scribe

Prisoners » Sustained on bread and water of affliction

Prisoners » Bound to soldiers

Acts 12:6-7

The very night before Herod meant to have him produced, Peter lay asleep between two soldiers; he was fastened by two chains, and sentries in front of the door guarded the prison. But an angel of the Lord flashed on him, and a light shone in the cell; striking Peter on the side he woke him, saying, "Quick, get up!" The fetters dropped from his hands,

Prisoners » Kindness to » By the philippian jailer to paul

Acts 16:33

Then he took them at that very hour of the night and washed their wounds and got baptized instantly, he and all his family.

Prisoners » Kindness to » By felix

Acts 24:23

He gave orders to the officer to have Paul kept in custody but to allow him some freedom and not to prevent any of his own people from rendering him any service.

Prisoners » Confined » In the court of the palace

Prisoners » Of war » Thumbs and toes cut off

Prisoners » Of war » Blinded

Prisoners » Tortured to extort self-incriminating testimony

Acts 22:24

till the commander ordered him to be taken inside the barracks and examined under the lash, so as to find out why the people shouted at him in this way.

Prisoners » Required to labor

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

Prisoners » In chains

Acts 12:6

The very night before Herod meant to have him produced, Peter lay asleep between two soldiers; he was fastened by two chains, and sentries in front of the door guarded the prison.

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Christians Are Called Prisoners Of Christ

Ephesians 3:1

For this reason I Paul, I whom Jesus has made a prisoner for the sake of you Gentiles ??2 for surely you have heard how the grace of God which was vouchsafed me in your interests has ordered it,

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Theasaurus: Prisoners