And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

ACTS 5:18KJV
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Acts 5:18 (KJV)

What does Acts 5:18 mean?

Acts 5:18 describes the arrest of the apostles, the people Jesus had sent out as his representatives. The high priest and his associates take them into custody and place them in a public jail, turning their opposition into direct action against the apostles.

The KJV phrase “laid their hands on” pictures officials seizing the apostles. Coming after the high priest and his associates are described as filled with indignation in verse 17, the arrest shows what they did in response.

The Greek behind Acts 5:18

  • “apostles” — ἀπόστολος (apostolos): The word refers to someone sent out as a representative. Here it identifies the people taken into custody by their role in spreading Jesus’ message.
  • “common” — δημόσιος (dēmosios): The word carries the sense of “public.” The KJV phrase “common prison” therefore points to a public jail, rather than saying that the prisoners were ordinary criminals.

Why Acts 5:18 matters

  • The action involves more than one apostle. The verse says “apostles” and “them,” so the arrest is not described as an action against Peter alone.
  • The arrest sets up the contrast with what follows. In verse 19, an angel of the Lord opens the prison doors and brings the apostles out.
  • The public jail is part of the account that follows. In verses 22–23, the officers report that they found the prison securely shut and the guards at the doors, but no prisoners inside.

Where else these words appear

“prison” Greek G5084 · used in 3 verses

  • Acts 4:3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
  • 1 Corinthians 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

“common” Greek G1219 · used in 4 verses

  • Acts 16:37 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
  • Acts 18:28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
  • Acts 20:20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,

“laid” Greek G1911 · used in 18 verses

  • Matthew 9:16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
  • Mark 14:72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
  • John 7:30 Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.

“apostles” Greek G652 · used in 80 verses

  • Matthew 10:2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
  • Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
  • 2 Corinthians 11:5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.