But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

ACTS 5:19KJV
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Acts 5:19 (KJV)

What does Acts 5:19 mean?

Acts 5:19 describes how, during the night, an angel sent by God opened the doors of the prison where the apostles were being held and led them out. This verse shows a direct intervention by God to free the apostles from captivity.

In the story, the apostles had been arrested by the authorities for teaching about Jesus in Jerusalem. The verse highlights a moment when, despite being locked up, they were miraculously released by an angel. The focus is on God's ability to act beyond human control and the special role of the apostles in spreading the message about Jesus.

The Greek behind Acts 5:19

  • ἄγγελος (angelos): This word means "messenger" or "angel." In this context, it emphasizes that the one who freed the apostles was a supernatural messenger sent by God, not just a human helper.
  • κύριος (kurios): Translated as "Lord," this word often refers to God or Jesus. Here, it makes clear that the angel was acting under God's authority, not on its own.
  • ἤνοιξεν (ēnoixen): This verb means "opened." The Greek here carries the sense of an active, purposeful opening, highlighting that the prison doors did not just happen to be open, but were deliberately opened by the angel.
  • ἐξήγαγεν (exēgagen): This word means "brought out" or "led out." The Greek suggests a careful leading, not just a release, showing the angel’s guiding role in ensuring the apostles’ safe exit.

Why Acts 5:19 matters

  • Acts 5:19 clears up any idea that the apostles escaped by their own effort or by human help; the verse stresses that their release was a direct act of God.
  • This verse sets up the following events, where the apostles return to teaching publicly, showing their mission could not be stopped by imprisonment.
  • The detail about the angel acting "by night" emphasizes the secrecy and urgency of the rescue, highlighting both the danger the apostles faced and the determination of God to support their mission.

Where else these words appear

“brought” Greek G1806 · used in 13 verses

  • Mark 8:23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.
  • Acts 7:36 He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
  • 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.

“doors” Greek G2374 · used in 37 verses

  • Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
  • Luke 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
  • Acts 12:13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.

“prison” Greek G5438 · used in 45 verses

  • Matthew 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
  • Luke 3:20 Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.
  • Acts 12:17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

“night” Greek G3571 · used in 62 verses

  • Matthew 2:14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
  • Luke 21:37 And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.
  • Acts 27:23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,