they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The authorities didn't just throw them in jail; they put them in a "public ward," treating them like common criminals alongside ruffians. This wasn't a mild inconvenience, but a deliberate move to disgrace them and isolate them with the dregs of society, signaling a sharp escalation in their persecution.
they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following a wave of miraculous signs and wonders drawing many to believe, the religious authorities, particularly the Sadducees, grew increasingly alarmed by the apostles' boldness. This escalated from a previous arrest to a more severe action: seizing all the apostles and locking them up in the public prison, treating them as common criminals.
The authorities didn't just hold the apostles; they treated them like hardened criminals. What does this reveal about their fear?
When Luke writes that the apostles were put in the 'common prison,' he's not just describing a holding cell. The original language points to a place for notorious offenders, a stark contrast to their innocent message.
A Public Shame
This wasn't a quiet detention. It was a public display, meant to associate the apostles with the worst elements of society. They were being branded as public nuisances, dangerous individuals who needed to be locked away with common criminals.
Fear Behind the Force
This severe treatment highlights the intense fear the religious leaders felt. The apostles' bold preaching and the miracles accompanying it were stirring up the crowds, and the leaders saw them as a threat to their own authority and the stability of Jerusalem. Jailing them like common criminals was an attempt to silence them and publicly discredit their message.
Were the apostles being punished, or was this just a strategic move by the authorities? The timing offers a clue.
The decision to put the apostles in prison likely wasn't about immediate punishment, but about control. It was late in the day, and bringing them before the Sanhedrin for a hearing would have been difficult.
Strategic Delay
Imprisoning them overnight served as a way to cool tempers and delay the inevitable confrontation. It kept the apostles out of public view and prevented further demonstrations, buying the leaders time to plan their next steps.
Ask a follow-up
Setting the Stage
This jail time was less about a verdict and more about managing the situation until a formal council meeting could be convened. It set the stage for the dramatic events that would unfold when the apostles were brought before the council.
Understand the original words
angelos · Greek Noun
A supernatural being created by God to serve as a messenger, protector, or agent of His will on earth. Angels act in obedience to God to carry out His sovereign purposes in history.
apostolos · Greek Noun
The chosen representatives and witnesses of Jesus Christ, commissioned and empowered by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel and establish the foundation of the early Church.
The imprisonment described here isn't a final punishment but a precautionary measure, a 'public ward,' taken by the authorities who were increasingly alarmed by the apostles' widespread influence and miraculous deeds.
c. AD 30-33
Pentecost and Early Church Growth
Following Jesus's ascension, the Holy Spirit empowers the apostles, leading to thousands of conversions in Jerusalem. Miracles and healing begin to draw public attention and favor.
c. AD 30-33
Peter and John Heal a Lame Man
Peter and John heal a man who had been lame for years at the temple gate, causing a stir and drawing a crowd. Peter preaches boldly about Jesus.
c. AD 30-33
Apostles Arrested and Released
After healing the man, Peter and John are arrested by the temple authorities and interrogated by the Sanhedrin. They are released with a warning but continue to preach boldly.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Apostles Arrested and Imprisoned
The apostles continue to teach and perform miracles, including the healing of many sick. This leads to their mass arrest and imprisonment in a public ward.
c. AD 30-33
Apostles Miraculously Freed
An angel miraculously opens the prison doors overnight, and the apostles are freed. They return to the temple courts to teach the people.
c. AD 30-33
Apostles Confront the Sanhedrin Again
The Sanhedrin reconvenes, learning the apostles have escaped and are teaching. They arrest them again, this time bringing them before the council for judgment.
c. AD 30-33
Gamaliel's Counsel Prevails
During the second confrontation, the Pharisee Gamaliel advises the council to release the apostles, suggesting that if their movement is human, it will fail on its own.
This verse directly precedes the one in question and describes the initial arrest and imprisonment of Peter and John, setting the precedent for the apostles' continued opposition to authorities.
Acts 16:25This passage shows a similar situation where Paul and Silas are imprisoned, but their faith and prayer lead to a miraculous escape, highlighting God's intervention even in dire circumstances.
Luke 21:12Jesus forewarns his disciples that they will be arrested, brought before synagogues and prisons, and even stand trial, preparing them for the very events unfolding in Acts.
Matthew 10:17Jesus explicitly warns his disciples to be on guard because they will be delivered up to councils and flogged in synagogues, directly relating to the apostles' suffering and unjust treatment.
John 15:20Jesus reminds his followers that if they have persecuted him, they will also persecute them, explaining the underlying animosity from religious leaders that fuels the apostles' imprisonment.
jfbActs 5:12-26: "And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch."
Ac 5:12-26. The Progress of the New Cause Leads to the Arrest of the Apostles—They Are Miraculously Delivered from Prison, Resume Their Teaching, but Allow Themselves to Be Conducted before the Samhedrim.12. Solomon's Porch—(See on [1952]Joh 10:23).
pooleActs 5:18: "And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison."
See Acts 4:3 .
The authorities didn't just throw them in jail; they put them in a "public ward," treating them like common criminals alongside ruffians. This wasn't a mild inconvenience, but a deliberate move to disgrace them and isolate them with the dregs of society, signaling a sharp escalation in their persecution.
Following a wave of miraculous signs and wonders drawing many to believe, the religious authorities, particularly the Sadducees, grew increasingly alarmed by the apostles' boldness. This escalated from a previous arrest to a more severe action: seizing all the apostles and locking them up in the public prison, treating them as common criminals.
Following a wave of miraculous signs and wonders drawing many to believe, the religious authorities, particularly the Sadducees, grew increasingly alarmed by the apostles' boldness. This escalated from a previous arrest to a more severe action: seizing all the apostles and locking them up in the public prison, treating them as common criminals.
"they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said," — The authorities didn't just throw them in jail; they put them in a "public ward," treating them like common criminals alongside ruffians. This wasn't a mild inconvenience, but a deliberate move to di…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026