Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 5:23
saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
23. The prison truly found we shut ] The word rendered truly is omitted in the best MSS.
and the keepers standing without before the doors ] The best MSS. read, and the keepers standing at the doors. Of course they were unconscious that their charge was no longer there.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Found we shut – It had not been broken open; and there was therefore clear proof that they had been delivered by the interposition of God. Nor could they have been released by the guard, for they were keeping watch, as if unconscious that anything had happened, and the officers had the only means of entering the prison.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 23. The prison truly found we shut] All the doors were properly bolted, and the keepers at their post; but when we had opened, for it appears they were alone in possession of the keys; how much must this have increased their astonishment when they found that the doors were not broken open, the guards properly posted, and every thing as they left it, for they themselves had put the apostles in prison; but, when they had opened, there was no man within!
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
All means imaginable were used to secure their prisoners; but when God will deliver, what can keep them? When God will work, who can hinder? Job 11:10. It is strange, that so great evidence of the innocence of the apostles, and truth of their doctrine, should be ineffectual; but prejudice is insuperable, unless to the mighty power of the grace of God; and this blindness cannot be cured, but by Gods Ephphatha.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
23. the prison . . . shut . . .keepers . . . before the doors, but . . . no man withinthereverse of the miracle in Ac16:26; a similar contrast to that of the nets at the miraculousdraughts of fishes (Luk 5:6;Joh 21:11).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Saying, the prison truly found we shut with all safety,…. Locked, barred and bolted;
and the keepers standing without before the doors; both inner and outer in their proper places, diligently discharging their office:
but when we had opened we found no man within; that is, none of the apostles, for there might be other prisoners in it, who were not released by this means.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
1) “Saying, the prison truly found we shut,” (legontes hoti to desnoterion heuromen keklesmenon) “Repeatedly saying that we found the jail having been shut,” no evidence that it had been broken into or out of,” in a state of perfect security.
2) “With all safety,” (en pase aphaleia) “in a state or condition all secure,” of all security, “in all safety,” as safe as human hands could make a place of security.
3) “And the keepers standing without before the doors:” (kai tous phulakas hestotas epi ton turon) “And the guards (aII) standing upon, at, or before the doors,” as faithful, alert sentry guards, neither sitting down nor sleeping on duty, and probably not aware of what had happened.
4) “But when we had opened,” (anoiksantes de) “Yet when we were having opened,” the doors, the entrances, looked in and gone thru the prison. Imagine the consternation of both the officers and keepers of the prison.
5) “We found no man within.” (eso oudena heuromen) “We found inside not one, – no one at all,” though they looked and searched the apostles were not there to be found. Their delivering, encamping angels had taken care of that, Psa 34:7; Deu 32:30.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
23. Shut with all safety The supernatural agent had not only opened the prison doors and sent the apostle from prison to temple, but had again closed the prison, and all so quietly that the keepers tranquilly supposed that the prisoners were still in custody.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
Ver. 23. We found no man within ] This might well have made them to desist. But what said the prophet long before? “Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see;” howbeit, “they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at thy people,” &c.,Isa 26:11Isa 26:11 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
23. . .] Not, as Vulg., ‘cum omni diligentia’ (so Luth.), nor as E. V. ‘ with all safety ’ (?); but in all security ‘in a state of perfect safety.’
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 5:23 . , “in all safety,” R.V. (not cum omni diligentia , Vulgate); “in omni firmitate,” Flor.; in LXX generally with genitive; cf. 2Ma 3:22 ; 2Ma 15:1 , . The Vulgate is misleading; the words mean not that the prison had been carefully shut, but that it was found in a state of perfect security.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
truly = indeed.
shut = locked. Greek. kleio.
keepers = guards. Greek. phulax. Only here and Act 12:6, Act 12:19.
without. The texts omit.
before. App-104.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
23. . .] Not, as Vulg., cum omni diligentia (so Luth.), nor as E. V. with all safety (?); but in all security-in a state of perfect safety.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 5:23. , shut) The angel again had shut it, after having opened it for Peter: Act 5:19.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
The prison: Act 5:19, Psa 2:4, Psa 33:10, Pro 21:30, Lam 3:37, Lam 3:55-58, Dan 3:11-25, Dan 6:22-24, Mat 27:63-66, Mat 28:12-15, Joh 8:59
Reciprocal: Jos 2:7 – they shut Dan 3:24 – astonied Act 12:6 – and the Act 16:23 – to keep
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Act 5:23. The prison truly found we shut with all safety. We have here the report of the guard who were sent by the high priest to fetch the accused from their place of confinement. They found the prison locked and barred, and the keepers watching as usual, fully believing all was secure; but on entering the guard found the prisoners gone.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 22