Acts 5:19
New International Version
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.

New Living Translation
But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them,

English Standard Version
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,

Berean Standard Bible
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying,

Berean Literal Bible
But during the night an angel of the Lord, having opened the doors of the jail and having brought them out, said,

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

New King James Version
But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,

New American Standard Bible
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and leading them out, he said,

NASB 1995
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said,

NASB 1977
But an angel of the Lord during the night opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said,

Legacy Standard Bible
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, and taking them out, he said,

Amplified Bible
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, and leading them out, he said,

Berean Annotated Bible
But during the night an angel (messenger) of the Lord {Kyriou} opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying,

Christian Standard Bible
But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said,”

American Standard Version
But an angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them out, and said,

Contemporary English Version
But that night an angel from the Lord opened the doors of the jail and led the apostles out. The angel said,

English Revised Version
But an angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them out, and said,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But at night an angel from the Lord opened the doors to their cell and led them out of the prison.

Good News Translation
But that night an angel of the Lord opened the prison gates, led the apostles out, and said to them,

International Standard Version
But at night the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and led them out. The angel told them,

NET Bible
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said,

New Heart English Bible
But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out, and said,

Webster's Bible Translation
But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison-doors, and brought them forth, and said,

Weymouth New Testament
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying,

World English Bible
But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out and said,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
but through the night a messenger of the LORD opened the doors of the prison, having also brought them forth, he said,

Berean Literal Bible
But during the night an angel of the Lord, having opened the doors of the jail and having brought them out, said,

Young's Literal Translation
and a messenger of the Lord through the night opened the doors of the prison, having also brought them forth, he said,

Smith's Literal Translation
And a messenger of the Lord by night opened the doors of the prison, and having brought them forth, said,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But an angel of the Lord by night opening the doors of the prison, and leading them out, said:

Catholic Public Domain Version
But in the night, an Angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison and led them out, saying,

New American Bible
But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said,

New Revised Standard Version
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, brought them out, and said,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But during the night, the angel of the LORD opened the door of the prison and brought them forth and said to them,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Then in the night The Angel of THE LORD JEHOVAH opened the door of the prison and brought them out, and he said to them:
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison by night, and brought them out, and said:

Godbey New Testament
And the angel of the Lord, having opened the doors of the prison during the night, and leading them out said,

Haweis New Testament
But the angel of the Lord by night opened the doors of the prison, and conducting them forth, said,

Mace New Testament
but an angel of the Lord opened the prison-doors by night, and having brought them out, said to them,

Weymouth New Testament
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,

Worrell New Testament
But an angel of the Lord, by night, opened the prison doors; and, having led them out, said,

Worsley New Testament
But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison by night, and having brought them out said,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Apostles Arrested and Freed
18and arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying, 20“Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life.”…

Cross References
But during the night

Exodus 12:29-31
Now at midnight the LORD struck down every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner in the dungeon, as well as all the firstborn among the livestock. / During the night Pharaoh got up—he and all his officials and all the Egyptians—and there was loud wailing in Egypt; for there was no house without someone dead. / Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Get up, leave my people, both you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested.

Psalm 30:5
For His anger is fleeting, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay the night, but joy comes in the morning.

Job 35:10
But no one asks, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives us songs in the night,
an angel of the Lord

Acts 12:7-11
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists. / “Get dressed and put on your sandals,” said the angel. Peter did so, and the angel told him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” / So Peter followed him out, but he was unaware that what the angel was doing was real. He thought he was only seeing a vision. …

Matthew 1:20-24
But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. / She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” / All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: …

Luke 2:9-11
Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. / But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: / Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!
opened the doors of the jail

Acts 16:26
Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,

Psalm 107:16
For He has broken down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron.
and brought them out,

Jeremiah 38:13
and they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.

Psalm 40:2
He lifted me up from the pit of despair, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, and made my footsteps firm.

Psalm 68:6
God settles the lonely in families; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.
saying,

Genesis 19:17
As soon as the men had brought them out, one of them said, “Run for your lives! Do not look back, and do not stop anywhere on the plain! Flee to the mountains, or you will be swept away!”

Matthew 28:5-7
But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. / He is not here; He has risen, just as He said! Come, see the place where He lay. / Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’ See, I have told you.”

Luke 1:13-17
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. / He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth, / for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb. …
Acts 16:25-26
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. / Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.


Treasury of Scripture

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

Acts 12:7-11
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands…

Acts 16:26
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

Psalm 34:7
The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

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Acts 5
1. After that Ananias and Sapphira his wife,
3. at Peter's rebuke had fallen down dead;
12. and that the rest of the apostles had wrought many miracles;
14. to the increase of the faith;
17. the apostles are again imprisoned;
19. but delivered by an angel bidding them preach openly to all;
21. when, after their teaching accordingly in the temple,
29. and before the council,
33. they are in danger to be killed;
34. but through the advice of Gamaliel, they are kept alive, and are only beaten;
41. for which they glorify God, and cease no day from preaching.












But during the night
The timing of this event is significant. Nighttime in biblical narratives often symbolizes a period of trial or testing, as seen in other scriptures like John 3:2, where Nicodemus visits Jesus at night. The night can also represent a time when God works in unexpected ways, as in the Exodus when the Israelites were led out of Egypt at night (Exodus 12:29-31).

an angel of the Lord
Angels are messengers of God, often appearing in critical moments to deliver divine instructions or aid. In the Old Testament, angels frequently appear to guide or protect God's people, such as in Genesis 19 with Lot or in Daniel 6 with Daniel in the lions' den. The presence of an angel here underscores the divine intervention and approval of the apostles' mission.

opened the doors of the jail
This miraculous act demonstrates God's power over human institutions and His ability to liberate His servants. It echoes other biblical accounts of divine deliverance, such as Peter's later escape from prison in Acts 12:6-10. The opening of the jail doors symbolizes the breaking of spiritual and physical barriers, reminiscent of Jesus' resurrection, which opened the way to eternal life.

and brought them out
The act of bringing the apostles out signifies not only physical liberation but also a call to continue their mission. This mirrors the Exodus narrative, where God brought the Israelites out of Egypt to serve Him. It also reflects the theme of redemption and deliverance found throughout Scripture, pointing to Christ's ultimate deliverance of humanity from sin.

saying,
The angel's forthcoming message is crucial, as it provides divine guidance and reassurance. In biblical accounts, angelic messages often carry significant instructions or revelations, as seen in Luke 1:26-38 with the Annunciation to Mary. This emphasizes the importance of listening to and obeying God's directives, as they lead to the fulfillment of His purposes.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Apostles
The primary subjects of this passage, the apostles were imprisoned for preaching the Gospel and performing miracles in Jesus' name.

2. Angel of the Lord
A divine messenger sent by God to intervene in the apostles' imprisonment, demonstrating God's power and authority over earthly authorities.

3. The Jail
The physical location where the apostles were held, representing the opposition and persecution faced by early Christians.

4. The Sanhedrin
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, they are the Jewish council responsible for the apostles' imprisonment, highlighting the religious opposition to the early Church.

5. Jerusalem
The city where these events took place, serving as the center of early Christian activity and the birthplace of the Church.
Teaching Points
Divine Intervention
God is sovereign and can intervene in human affairs, even in seemingly impossible situations. Trust in His power and timing.

Faithfulness in Persecution
The apostles' experience encourages believers to remain faithful and bold in their witness, even when facing opposition or persecution.

Role of Angels
Angels are active participants in God's work, serving as His messengers and protectors. Recognize their role in the spiritual realm.

God's Deliverance
Just as God delivered the apostles, He is able to deliver us from our trials. Seek His guidance and trust in His deliverance.

Obedience to God's Call
The apostles continued to preach despite imprisonment, demonstrating obedience to God's call over human authority. Prioritize God's commands in your life.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Acts 5:19?

2. How does Acts 5:19 demonstrate God's power over earthly authorities and obstacles?

3. What role do angels play in God's plan according to Acts 5:19?

4. How can we trust God's deliverance in challenging situations, as seen in Acts 5:19?

5. What other biblical instances show God using angels to aid His people?

6. How can Acts 5:19 inspire us to boldly share our faith today?

7. How does Acts 5:19 demonstrate the power of divine intervention in human affairs?

8. What does the angel's role in Acts 5:19 reveal about God's protection of His messengers?

9. Why is the miraculous escape in Acts 5:19 significant for understanding early Christian persecution?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Acts 5?

11. What does the Bible say about angels?

12. In Acts 12:7–10, how can the chains supernaturally fall off Peter’s wrists and prison doors open on their own without any guards noticing?

13. In Acts 16:22–26, how could an earthquake open all the prison doors and unfasten everyone’s chains without inflicting any apparent damage or injury?

14. If an angel physically rolled away the stone (Matthew 28:2), how can this be reconciled with modern scientific understanding of natural laws?
What Does Acts 5:19 Mean
But during the night

• God often chooses the stillness of night to unveil His power, just as He did with Samuel’s call (1 Samuel 3:3-10) and Paul’s Macedonian vision (Acts 16:9).

• The darkness highlights divine contrast: while human authorities rest in assumed control, the Lord is actively overturning their plans (Psalm 121:4).

• The timing underlines urgency—no delay in rescuing servants who have faithfully preached Christ (Acts 4:29-31).


an angel of the Lord

• Angels are literal, personal messengers commissioned by God (Hebrews 1:14). Here, the text shows direct, supernatural intervention, affirming that ministry is never left to human strength alone (Psalm 34:7).

• Just as an angel rolled the stone from Jesus’ tomb (Matthew 28:2) and freed Peter later on (Acts 12:7-10), the same Lord now stands behind the apostles’ mission.


opened the doors of the jail

• Locked doors do not hinder the gospel; the One who “opens and no one will shut” (Revelation 3:7) acts without effort.

• This mirrors earlier deliverances: Daniel from the lions (Daniel 6:22) and Jeremiah from the cistern (Jeremiah 38:13). God’s pattern is consistent—He vindicates His witnesses when oppressive powers attempt to silence them.


and brought them out,

• The action is personal and protective: the angel escorts them, symbolizing God’s covenant care (Exodus 19:4).

• Deliverance has purpose. Like Israel exiting Egypt to serve the Lord (Exodus 7:16), the apostles exit prison to continue proclaiming Christ (Acts 5:20).

• It also reassures believers today that obedience may bring opposition, yet God Himself oversees the outcome (2 Timothy 4:17-18).


saying,

• The angel’s forthcoming instruction (verse 20) shows that divine miracles always pair with divine mandates. Freedom is not for comfort but for further witness (Acts 1:8).

• The unfinished phrase nudges us forward in the narrative, reminding us that God’s word to His servants is ongoing and purposeful (John 16:13).


summary

Acts 5:19 reveals a literal, midnight rescue engineered by God through His angel. The event underscores that no human barrier can restrain the gospel, that heavenly help accompanies faithful witness, and that every act of deliverance carries a fresh call to speak Christ’s name.

(19) But the angel of the Lord.--Better, an angel. The fact is obviously recorded by St. Luke as supernatural. Those who do not accept that view of it, and yet wish to maintain the general historical character of the narrative, are driven to the hypothesis that the "angel" was some jealous and courageous disciple; and that the Apostle, in the darkness of the night and the excitement of his liberation, ascribed his rescue to the intervention of an angel. Acts 12:7 may be noted as another instance of a like interposition. It has sometimes been urged, with something of a sneer, what was the use of such a deliverance as this, when the Apostles were again arrested on the very next day. The answer to such a question is not far to seek. (1) The marvellous deliverance was a sign, not without its influence on the subsequent decision of the Council, and on the courage of the two Apostles. (2) It was no small boon for them to be delivered even for a few hours from the vile companionship to which they had been condemned.

Verse 19. - An angel for the angel, A.V.; out for forth, A.V. An angel, etc. The phrase is a translation of the Old Testament phrase מַלְאַך יְהוָה. But in Hebrew it is impossible to insert the definite article before יְהוָה, and therefore the phrase is properly rendered, "the angel of the Lord." In the passage before us and other similar passages, Κύριος seems to stand for יְוָה, and therefore the rendering of the A.V. would seem to be right, in spite of what is said by eminent grammarians to the contrary. Compare, too, the phrases ὁδὸν εἰρήνηνς (Luke 1:19); ῤῆμα Θεοῦ (Luke 3:2); φωνὴ βοῶντος (Luke 3:4); and see especially Luke 2:9, where, ἄγγελος Κυρίου ("the angel of the Lord,) and δόξα Κυρίου ("the glory of the Lord") stand in parallel clauses. The R.V. inconsistently renders the first "an angel," and the second" the glory." In like manner φωνὴ Κυρίου (Acts 7:31) is "the voice of the Lord;" and in Psalm 29. (28, Septuagint) 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, the LXX. have uniformly φωνὴ Κυρίου for קול יְהוָה (see Acts 8:26, note). Out (comp. Acts 12:7, etc.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

during
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

the night
νυκτὸς (nyktos)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3571: The night, night-time. A primary word; 'night'.

an angel
Ἄγγελος (Angelos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 32: From aggello; a messenger; especially an 'angel'; by implication, a pastor.

of [the] Lord
Κυρίου (Kyriou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

opened
ἤνοιξε (ēnoixe)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 455: To open. From ana and oigo; to open up.

the
τὰς (tas)
Article - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

doors
θύρας (thyras)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 2374: (a) a door, (b) met: an opportunity. Apparently a primary word; a portal or entrance.

of the
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

jail
φυλακῆς (phylakēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 5438: From phulasso; a guarding or, the act, the person; figuratively, the place, the condition, or, the time, literally or figuratively.

[and] brought them out,
ἐξαγαγών (exagagōn)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1806: To lead out, sometimes to death, execution. From ek and ago; to lead forth.

saying,
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.


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NT Apostles: Acts 5:19 But an angel of the Lord opened (Acts of the Apostles Ac)
Acts 5:18
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