34 Bible Verses about Prisoners
Most Relevant Verses
Now at the time of the feast Pilate usually set a prisoner free whom the people requested. There was in prison a man named Barabbas, among some revolutionaries who in their uprising had committed murder,
(He was a man who had been put in prison for a riot that had occurred in the city and for murder.)
Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, He set out for Galilee.
Now after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God:
Now when John in prison heard of the doings of the Christ, he sent this message by his disciples:
For Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him out of the way by putting him in prison, just to please Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,
For this very Herod had sent and seized John and bound him and put him in prison, just to please Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her.
and so at once ordered a soldier of his guard to bring his head. The soldier went off and beheaded John in the prison
So Peter was being kept in prison, but earnest prayer to God for him was persistently made by the church.
But Saul continued to harass the church, and by going from house to house and dragging off men and women he continued to put them into prison.
And all who heard him were astounded and said, "Is not this the man who harassed those who called upon this name in Jerusalem, and has come here expressly for the purpose of putting them in chains and taking them back to the high priests?"
I persecuted this Way even to the death, and kept on binding both men and women and putting them in jail,
That was what I did at Jerusalem; yes, I received authority from the high priests and shut behind the prison bars many of God's people. Yes, when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them, and often in all the synagogues
For you showed sympathy with those who were in prison and cheerfully submitted to the violent seizure of your property, for you knew that you had in yourselves and in heaven one that was lasting.
He had him seized and put into prison, and turned him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, planning after the Passover to bring him out again to the people.
So the colonel came to Paul and asked, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" He answered, "Yes."
and found him to be charged with questions about their law, but having no charge against him involving death or imprisonment.
Three days later, he invited the leading men of the Jews to come to see him, and when they came, he said to them, "Brothers, I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our forefathers; yet at Jerusalem I was turned over to the Romans as a prisoner.
in floggings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, and hunger;
Are they ministers of Christ? So am I. I am talking like a man that has gone crazy -- as such I am superior! -- serving Him with labors greater by far, with far more imprisonments, with floggings vastly worse, and often at the point of death.
This is why I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of the heathen --

So I, a prisoner for the Lord's sake, entreat you to live lives worthy of the call you have received,
After flogging them severely, they put them into jail, and gave the jailer orders to keep close watch on them. Because he had such strict orders, he put them into the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
Aristarchus, my fellow-prisoner, wishes to be remembered to you; and so does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas; if he comes to see you, give him a hearty welcome.
Still others stood the test of taunts and tortures, and even chains and prisons.
But the Scripture pictures all mankind as prisoners of sin, so that the promised blessing through faith in Christ might be given to those who have faith. But before this faith came, we were kept locked up under the law, in preparation for the faith which was to be unveiled.
But he refused and went out and had him put in jail until he should pay the debt.
Continue to remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them, and those who are being ill-treated, since you, too, are liable to similar physical punishment.
when I needed clothes you put them on me, when I was sick you looked after me, when I was in prison you came to see me.'
From Thematic Bible
Prisoners » Of war » Put to death
Prisoners » Jesus
Even while He was still speaking, here came Judas, one of the Twelve, and with him a crowd, with swords and clubs, from the high priests and the elders of the people. Now His betrayer had given them a signal by saying, "The one I kiss is He. Seize Him!" And he went straight up to Jesus and said, "Good evening, Rabbi," and affectionately kissed Him. read more.
Jesus said to him, "My friend, do what you came for." Then they came up, laid hands on Jesus, and arrested Him. One of the men with Jesus put out his hand and drew his sword, and with a thrust at the high priest's slave cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back where it belongs, for all who wield the sword will die by the sword. Do you suppose that I am unable to appeal to my Father and have Him furnish me on the spot one hundred thousand angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, for they say this is the way it must be?" At that time Jesus said to the crowds: "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me, as though I were a robber? Day after day I used to sit teaching in the temple, and you never laid hands on me. But this has all taken place so that the writings of the prophets may be fulfilled." Then the disciples all forsook Him and made their escape. The men who had laid hands on Jesus took Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, at whose home the scribes and elders had met. And Peter followed Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest's home; he even went inside and was sitting among the attendants to see how it would end. Now the high priests and the whole council were trying to get false testimony against Jesus, to have Him put to death; but they could not, although many false witnesses came forward to testify. At last two men came forward and said, "This man said, 'I can tear down the temple of God, and build it again in three days.'" Then the high priest arose and said to Him, "Have you no answer to make? What do you say to the evidence that they bring against you?" But Jesus kept silent. So the high priest said to Him, "I charge you, on your oath, in the name of the living God, tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus answered him, "Yes, I am. But I tell you, you will all soon see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty, and coming on the clouds of the sky." Then the high priest tore his clothes, and said, "He has uttered blasphemy, What more evidence do we need? You have just heard His blasphemy. What do you think now?" Then they answered, "He deserves to die." After that they spit in His face and hit Him with their fists, and others boxed His ears, saying, "Play the prophet, you Christ, and tell us who struck you." Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a waiting girl came up to him, and said, "You, too, were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them all, and said, "I do not understand what you mean." Then he went out into the gateway, and another waiting girl saw him, and said to those there, "This fellow was with Jesus the Nazarene." Again he denied it, and even swore, "I do not know the man!" A few minutes afterward the bystanders came up to Peter and said, "You are surely one of them, too, for your accent gives you away." Then he commenced cursing and swearing, "I do not know the man!" And at once a cock crowed. Then Peter remembered Jesus' words, "Before a cock crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.
At that very moment, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came up, and with him a crowd of men with swords and clubs, from the high priests, scribes, and elders. Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, "The one I kiss is He; seize Him and lead Him safely away." So when he came he went straight up to Jesus, and said, "Rabbi," and with much affection kissed Him. read more.
Then they laid hands on Him and arrested Him. But one of the bystanders drew his sword and struck at the high priest's slave and cut his ear off. And Jesus spoke and said to them, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me, as though I were a robber? Day after day I used to be with you teaching in the temple, and you never laid hands on me. But this is so to fulfill the Scriptures." Then all His disciples forsook Him and made their escape. And a young man was following Him, with only a linen sheet thrown about his body; and they seized him, but he left the linen sheet behind and fled away naked. They took Jesus away to the high priest, and all the high priests, elders, and scribes met there. And Peter followed Him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; he was sitting with the attendants and warming himself before the fire. The high priests and the whole council were trying to get evidence against Jesus to put Him to death, but they could find none, for although many men gave false testimony against Him, their testimonies did not agree. Some took the witness stand and gave this false testimony against Him: "We ourselves have heard Him say, 'I will tear down this temple built by men's hands, and in three days I will build another, made without hands.'" But even in this matter their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest arose in the midst and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer to make? What about this testimony they are giving against you?" But He kept silent and made no answer at all. So the high priest again questioned Him in these words, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus said, "Yes, I am, and you will all see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty and coming in the clouds of the sky!" Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "What more evidence do we need now? Did you hear His own blasphemy? What do you think now?" And they all condemned Him as deserving to die. And some of them started to spit on Him and to blindfold Him and to hit Him with their fists, and say to Him, "Now play the prophet!" Even the attendants took charge of Him with slaps at Him. While Peter was down in the courtyard, one of the high priest's waiting girls came up, and when she saw that Peter was warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You were with Jesus of Nazareth too!" But he denied it, saying, "I do not know or understand what you mean." Then he went out of the courtyard and was in the gateway to it. And the waiting girl saw him there and began again to tell the bystanders, "This fellow is one of them!" But he denied it again. And again a few minutes later the bystanders began to say to Peter, "You are surely one of them, for you are a Galilean too." Then he commenced cursing and swearing, "I do not know this man that you are talking about." At that moment for the second time a Cock crowed. Then Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, "Before the cock crows twice, you will disown me three times!" And when he remembered that, he burst into tears.
While He was still speaking, look! a crowd had come up, and Judas, one of the Twelve, was their guide; and he stepped up to Jesus to kiss Him. Then Jesus said to him, "Judas, will you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" Those who were about Him saw what was about to take place, and said, "Lord, shall we use our swords now?" read more.
Then one of them struck the high priest's slave and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, "Permit me to go as far as this!" So He touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the high priests, captains of the temple, and elders, who had come to take Him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as though I were a robber? While I was among you day after day in the temple, you never laid a hand on me! But this is your opportunity, even the power which darkness gives you!" Then they arrested Him and led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest. Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had taken their seats together, Peter, too, was sitting among them. A servant girl saw him sitting by the fire and fixed her eyes on him and said, "This fellow was with Him too." But he denied it and said, "I do not know Him, woman." A little later a man looked at him and said, "You are one of them too." But Peter said, "Man, I am not." About an hour later another man emphatically asserted, "He certainly was with Him, for he is a Galilean!" But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you mean." And all at once, while he was still speaking, a cock crowed. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter was reminded of the word that the Lord had spoken to him, "Before a cock crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and burst into bitter tears. Then the men who held Him in custody flogged Him and made sport of Him, and after blindfolding Him they asked Him, "Play the prophet and tell us who it is that struck you!" And they continued to say many other abusive things to Him. As soon as day came, the elders of the people, the high priests, and the scribes assembled, and brought Him back before their council, and said, "Tell us, if you are the Christ." But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I ask you a question, you will not answer me. But from today the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God." Then they all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" And He answered, "Yes, I am." Then they said, "What more evidence do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth!"
So Judas got together the Roman garrison and some attendants from the high priests and Pharisees, and went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, as He knew everything that was going to befall Him, came forward and asked them, "Who is it that you are looking for?" They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." He said to them, "I am He." And Judas who betrayed Him was standing among them. read more.
So when He said to them, "I am He," they took a lurch backward and fell to the ground. So once more He asked them, "Who is it that you are looking for?" They said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I have already told you that I am He; so if you are really looking for me, let these men go." He said this that the statement He had just made might be fulfilled, "I have not lost one of those whom you have given me." So Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's slave and cut off his right ear. The slave's name was Malchus. Then Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back into the sheath. Must I not drink the cup which the Father has handed me?" So the garrison and its commander and the attendants of the Jews arrested Jesus and put handcuffs on Him, and took Him first to Annas. For he was father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was for their welfare that one should die for the people. Simon Peter and another disciple followed on after Jesus. And that other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, and so went on with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, but Peter stood outside before the door. So this other disciple, who was acquainted with the high priest, stepped out and spoke to the woman doorkeeper and brought Peter in. Then the servant girl at the door said to Peter, "You too are not one of this man's disciples, are you?" He answered, "No, I am not." Because it was cold, the slaves and attendants had made a charcoal fire and were standing about it warming themselves; so Peter too was standing among them warming himself. Then the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching. Jesus answered him, "I have spoken publicly to the world; I have always taught in the synagogues and in the temple where all the Jews are in the habit of meeting, and I have not spoken anything in secret. So why are you questioning me? Ask those who heard what I told them. Of course, they know what I said." After He had said this, one of the attendants standing by slapped Jesus in the face, and said, "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" Jesus answered him, "If I have said anything wrong, on oath tell what it is, but if what I have said is true, why do you slap me?" So Annas sent Him over, still in handcuffs, to Caiaphas the high priest. But Simon Peter still stood warming himself. So they said to him, "You too are not one of His disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "No, I am not." One of the high priest's slaves, who was a kinsman of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with Him?" Then Peter again denied it, and at that moment a cock crowed. Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor's palace. It was early in the morning, and they would not go into the governor's palace themselves, in order not to be defiled, so as to be unfit to eat the Passover supper. So Pilate came outside and asked, "What is the charge you bring against this man?" They retorted, "If He were not a criminal, we would not have turned Him over to you." Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves, and try Him in accordance with your own law." Then the Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to execute the death penalty on anyone." This made it possible for the word of Jesus to be fulfilled which He spoke to indicate what sort of death He was to die. So Pilate went back into the governor's palace and called Jesus and asked Him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus answered him, "Do you ask me this on your own initiative, or have others suggested it to you about me?" Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own people and their high priests have turned you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would have been fighting to keep me from being turned over to the Jews. But as a matter of fact, my kingdom does not come from such a source." Then Pilate said to Him, "So you are a king then?" Jesus answered, "Certainly I am a king. For this very purpose I was born, for this very purpose I have come into the world, to testify for truth. Everybody who is a friend of truth listens to my voice." Pilate asked Him, "What is truth?" On saying this he went outside again to the Jews, and said to them, "As far as I can see, I can find no ground for a charge against Him. Now you have a custom to have me set one man free at your Passover time. So do you wish me to set the king of the Jews free?" Then they all shouted back, "No! Not Him, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber.
Prisoners » Scourged
in floggings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, and hunger;
After flogging them severely, they put them into jail, and gave the jailer orders to keep close watch on them.
Even at that time of the night he took them and washed their wounds, and he and all the members of his household at once were baptized.
So, as Pilate wanted to satisfy the crowd, he set Barabbas free for them, but after having Jesus flogged, he turned Him over to be crucified.
Then he set Barabbas free for them, but had Jesus flogged and turned over to be crucified.
Prisoners » Paul
But as the owners saw that the hope of their profit-making was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the public square, before the authorities, and brought them to the chiefs of the police court. They said, "These men are Jews; they continue to make great disturbance in our town and to advocate practices which it is against the law for us Romans to accept or observe." read more.
The crowd also joined in the attack upon them, and the chiefs of the police court had them stripped and flogged. After flogging them severely, they put them into jail, and gave the jailer orders to keep close watch on them. Because he had such strict orders, he put them into the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, suddenly there was an earthquake so great that it shook the very foundations of the jail, the doors all flew open, and every prisoner's chains were unfastened. When the jailer awoke and saw that the jail doors were open, he drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, because he thought that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul at once shouted out to him, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here!" Then the jailer called for lights and rushed in and fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. After leading them out of the jail, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you and your household will be saved." Then they told God's message to him and to all the members of his household. Even at that time of the night he took them and washed their wounds, and he and all the members of his household at once were baptized. Then he took them up to his house and gave them food, and he and all the members of his household were happy in their faith in God. When day broke, the chiefs of the police court sent policemen with the message to let the men go. The jailer reported this message to Paul, saying, "The chiefs of the police court have sent orders to let you go. So now you may come out and go in peace." But Paul said to them, "They beat us in public and that without a trial, and put us in jail although we are Roman citizens! Let them come here themselves and take us out!" The policemen reported this message to the chiefs of the police court, and they became alarmed when they heard that they were Roman citizens, and came and pleaded with them, and took them out and begged them to leave town. After getting out of jail, they went to Lydia's house; they saw the brothers and encouraged them, and then left town.
As the seven days were drawing to a close, the Jews from Asia caught a glimpse of him in the temple and began to stir up all the crowd, and seized him, as they kept shouting, "Men of Israel, help! help! This is the man who teaches everybody everywhere against our people and the law and this place; yea, more than that, he has actually brought Greeks into the temple and desecrated this sacred place." For they had previously seen Trophimus of Ephesus in the city with him, and so they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. read more.
The whole city was stirred with excitement, and all at once the people rushed together, and seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and its gates at once were shut. Now while they were trying to kill him, news reached the colonel of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in a ferment. So he at once got together some soldiers and captains and hurried down against them, but as soon as they saw the colonel and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. Then the colonel came up and seized Paul and ordered him to be bound with two chains; he then asked who he was and what he had done. But they kept shouting in the crowd, some one thing, some another. As he could not with certainty find out about it, because of the tumult, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. When Paul got to the steps, he was actually borne by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob, for a tremendous crowd of people kept following them and shouting, "Away with him!" As he was about to be taken into the barracks, Paul said to the colonel, "May I say something to you?" The colonel asked, "Do you know Greek? Are you not the Egyptian who sometime ago raised a mob of four thousand cut-throats and led them out into the desert?" Paul answered, "I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. Please let me speak to the people." He granted the request, and Paul, as he was standing on the steps, made a gesture to the people, and after everybody had quieted down, he spoke to them in Hebrew as follows:
Prisoners » Released at feasts
Now at the time of the feast Pilate usually set a prisoner free whom the people requested.
Now you have a custom to have me set one man free at your Passover time. So do you wish me to set the king of the Jews free?"
Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to set any prisoner free whom the people wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. So when they met for this purpose, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to set free, Barabbas, or Jesus, the so-called Christ?"
Prisoners » John the baptist
Now when John in prison heard of the doings of the Christ, he sent this message by his disciples:
For this very Herod had sent and seized John and bound him and put him in prison, just to please Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her.
For Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him out of the way by putting him in prison, just to please Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, for John had said to him, "It is not right for you to have her as wife." Although he wanted to have him killed, he was afraid of the people, for they regarded him as a prophet. read more.
But when Herod's birthday came, Herodias' daughter danced before the guests. Herod was fascinated by her, and so passionately promised to give her anything she might ask for. And she, prompted by her mother, said, "Give me John the Baptist's head right here on a platter." And the king was sorry, but on account of his oath and his guests, he ordered it to be given her. And he sent and had John beheaded in prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she took it to her mother. Then John's disciples came and carried off his corpse, and buried him, and went and reported it to Jesus.
Prisoners » Of war » Consolations for
Prisoners » Permitted to make defense
Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak in defense of yourself." So Paul with outstretched arm began to make his defense.
When I first defended myself at court, nobody came to help me, but everybody deserted me. May it never be charged to their account.
I answered them that it was not the Roman custom to give up anyone for punishment until the accused met his accusers face to face and had an opportunity to defend himself against their accusations.
At the governor's signal to Paul, he answered: "Since I know that you for many years have acted as judge for this nation, I cheerfully make my defense,
Paul continued to maintain, in his defense, "I have committed no offense against the Jewish law or temple or against the emperor."
Prisoners » In stocks
Because he had such strict orders, he put them into the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
Prisoners » Joseph
Prisoners » Kindness to » By julius, the centurion
When it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they turned over Paul and some other prisoners to a colonel of the imperial regiment, named Julius.
When we did arrive at Rome, Paul was granted permission to live by himself -- excepting a soldier to guard him.
The next day we landed at Sidon, and Julius kindly permitted Paul to visit his friends and enjoy their attentions.
So Paul for two whole years lived in a rented house of his own; he continued to welcome everybody who came to see him; yes, he continued to preach to them the kingdom of God, and to teach them about the Lord Jesus Christ, and that with perfect, unfettered freedom of speech.
Prisoners » Cruelty to
Prisoners » Jeremiah
Prisoners » Visited by friends
He ordered the captain to keep Paul in custody but to let him have freedom and not to prevent his friends from showing him kindness.
Now when John in prison heard of the doings of the Christ, he sent this message by his disciples:
Prisoners » Figurative
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has consecrated me to preach the good news to the poor; He has sent me to announce release to captives and recovery of sight to the blind; to send the downtrodden away in liberty and
Prisoners » Severe hardships of, mitigated
Prisoners » Kindness to » By the prison guard to jeremiah
Prisoners » To be visited and ministered to
For when I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, when I was thirsty you gave me something to drink, when I was a stranger you welcomed me to your homes, when I needed clothes you put them on me, when I was sick you looked after me, when I was in prison you came to see me.' Then the upright will answer, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and give you something to eat, or thirsty, and give you something to drink? read more.
When did we ever see you a stranger and welcome you to our homes, or needing clothes, and put them on you? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and come to see you?' And the King will answer them, 'I solemnly say to you, every time you did a good deed to one of these most insignificant brothers of mine, you did a good deed to me.' "Then He will say to those at His left, 'Be gone from me, you who are now cursed, to the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For when I was hungry you gave me nothing to eat, when I was thirsty you gave me nothing to drink, when I was a stranger you did not welcome me to your homes, when I needed clothes you did not put them on me, when I was sick and in prison, you did not look after me.' Then they will answer, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or needing clothes, or sick, or in prison, and did not wait on you?' Then He will answer, 'I solemnly say to you, every time you failed to do a good deed to one of these most insignificant people, you failed to do a good deed to me.' Then these will go away to everlasting punishment, but the upright to everlasting life."
Prisoners » Guards responsible for
When morning came, there was no little commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. Herod had search made for him, and when he could not find him, he examined the guards and ordered them to be put to death. Then he left Judea for Caesarea, and stayed there.
Prisoners » Silas
But as the owners saw that the hope of their profit-making was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the public square, before the authorities, and brought them to the chiefs of the police court. They said, "These men are Jews; they continue to make great disturbance in our town and to advocate practices which it is against the law for us Romans to accept or observe." read more.
The crowd also joined in the attack upon them, and the chiefs of the police court had them stripped and flogged. After flogging them severely, they put them into jail, and gave the jailer orders to keep close watch on them. Because he had such strict orders, he put them into the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, suddenly there was an earthquake so great that it shook the very foundations of the jail, the doors all flew open, and every prisoner's chains were unfastened. When the jailer awoke and saw that the jail doors were open, he drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, because he thought that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul at once shouted out to him, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here!" Then the jailer called for lights and rushed in and fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. After leading them out of the jail, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you and your household will be saved." Then they told God's message to him and to all the members of his household. Even at that time of the night he took them and washed their wounds, and he and all the members of his household at once were baptized. Then he took them up to his house and gave them food, and he and all the members of his household were happy in their faith in God. When day broke, the chiefs of the police court sent policemen with the message to let the men go. The jailer reported this message to Paul, saying, "The chiefs of the police court have sent orders to let you go. So now you may come out and go in peace." But Paul said to them, "They beat us in public and that without a trial, and put us in jail although we are Roman citizens! Let them come here themselves and take us out!" The policemen reported this message to the chiefs of the police court, and they became alarmed when they heard that they were Roman citizens, and came and pleaded with them, and took them out and begged them to leave town. After getting out of jail, they went to Lydia's house; they saw the brothers and encouraged them, and then left town.
Prisoners » Of war » By divine command
Prisoners » Apostles
Now the high priest took a stand, and all his friends, the party of the Sadducees; and being filled with jealousy, they had the apostles arrested and put into the common jail. But in the night the angel of the Lord threw open the jail doors and let them out, and said to them, read more.
"Go and take your stand in the temple square and continue to tell the people the message of this new life." So they obeyed, and about the break of day they went into the temple square and began to teach. The high priest and his party arrived and called a meeting of the council and the whole senate of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison to have the men brought in. But the attendants who went for them could not find them in the jail, and so came back and reported, "We found the prison safely locked and the keepers on duty at the doors, but on opening the doors we found no one on the inside." When the military commander of the temple square and the high priest heard this, they were utterly at a loss to know how this might turn out. But somebody came by and reported to them, "The men that you put in jail are standing right here in the temple square, teaching the people." Then the military commander went with his attendants and brought them back, but without any violence, for they were afraid of being pelted with stones by the people. So they brought them and had them stand before the council. And the high priest asked them, "Did we not positively forbid you to teach anymore on this authority, and yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and now want to bring on us the people's vengeance for this man's death!" Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. The God of our forefathers raised Jesus to life after you had hanged Him on a cross and killed Him. God has exalted to His right hand this very One as our Leader and Saviour, in order to give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We and the Holy Spirit that God has given to those who practice obedience to Him are witnesses to these things." When they heard this, they were furious, and wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, highly respected by all the people, got up in the council and gave orders to put the men out of the council a little while; then he said to them: "Fellow Israelites, take care as to what you are about to do to these men. For in the days gone by Theudas appeared, claiming that he was a man of importance, and a considerable number of men, about four hundred, espoused his cause, but he was slain and all his followers were dispersed and as a party annihilated. After him, at the time of the enrollment for the Roman tax, Judas the Galilean appeared and influenced people to desert and follow him, but he too perished and all his followers were scattered. So in the present case, I warn you, stay away from these men, let them alone. For, if this program or movement has its origin in men, it will go to pieces, but if it has its origin in God, you can never stop it. It is to be feared that you may find yourselves fighting God." They were convinced by him, and after calling the apostles in and having them flogged, they charged them to stop speaking on the authority of Jesus, and then turned them loose. So they went out from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer disgrace for Jesus' name; and not for a single day did they stop teaching in the temple square and in private houses the good news of Jesus the Christ.
Prisoners » Peter
and when he saw that this was agreeable to the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too -- it was at the time of the feast of Unleavened Bread. He had him seized and put into prison, and turned him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, planning after the Passover to bring him out again to the people. So Peter was being kept in prison, but earnest prayer to God for him was persistently made by the church. read more.
Now just as Herod was going to bring him out, that is, the very night before, Peter was fastened with two chains and was sleeping between two soldiers, and the guards were at the door guarding the prison. And suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in his cell, and by striking Peter on the side the angel woke him, and said, "Get up quickly!" At once the chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, "Tighten your belt and put on your shoes? He did so. Then the angel said to him, "Put on your coat and follow me!" So he kept following him out, but he was not conscious that what was being done by the angel was real; he thought he was dreaming it. They passed the first guard, then the second, and at last came to the iron gate which led into the city. The gate of itself opened to them, and they passed out and proceeded one block when all at once the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I really know that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from the power of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting to do to me." When he became conscious of his situation, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, were a large number of people had met and were praying. When he knocked at the outer door, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it, and on recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she failed to open the door but ran and told them that Peter was standing at the door. They said to her, "You are crazy!" But she persistently insisted that it was so. Then they said, "It is his guardian angel!" But Peter, meanwhile, kept on knocking. So they opened the door, and when they saw him, they were astounded. With his hand he motioned to them to be quiet, and then he told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He added, "Tell all these things to James and the brothers." Then he left them and went somewhere else. When morning came, there was no little commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. Herod had search made for him, and when he could not find him, he examined the guards and ordered them to be put to death. Then he left Judea for Caesarea, and stayed there.
Prisoners » Confined » In the house of the scribe
Prisoners » Sustained on bread and water of affliction
Prisoners » Bound to soldiers
Now just as Herod was going to bring him out, that is, the very night before, Peter was fastened with two chains and was sleeping between two soldiers, and the guards were at the door guarding the prison. And suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in his cell, and by striking Peter on the side the angel woke him, and said, "Get up quickly!" At once the chains fell off his hands.
Prisoners » Kindness to » By the philippian jailer to paul
Even at that time of the night he took them and washed their wounds, and he and all the members of his household at once were baptized.
Prisoners » Kindness to » By felix
He ordered the captain to keep Paul in custody but to let him have freedom and not to prevent his friends from showing him kindness.
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
the colonel ordered Paul to be brought into the barracks, and told them to examine him by flogging, in order that he might find out why they were crying out against him in such a way.
Prisoners » Required to labor
Prisoners » Confined » In the house of the captain of the guard
Prisoners » In chains
Now just as Herod was going to bring him out, that is, the very night before, Peter was fastened with two chains and was sleeping between two soldiers, and the guards were at the door guarding the prison.
Topics on Prisoners
Christians Are Called Prisoners Of Christ
Ephesians 3:1This is why I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of the heathen --


