Prisons: Keepers of Sometimes Entrusted the Care of the Prison To
Jump to: Torrey'sLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, prisons were not only places of confinement but also served as instruments of control and punishment. The role of prison keepers was crucial, as they were responsible for maintaining order and ensuring that prisoners did not escape. Interestingly, there are instances in the Bible where the keepers of prisons entrusted the care of the prison to certain individuals, often prisoners themselves, who demonstrated trustworthiness and leadership.

One notable example is found in the account of Joseph. After being falsely accused by Potiphar's wife, Joseph was imprisoned. Despite his circumstances, Joseph's character and integrity shone through, earning him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. The warden entrusted Joseph with significant responsibilities within the prison. As recorded in Genesis 39:22-23 , "And the warden put all the prisoners under Joseph’s care, so that he was responsible for all that was done there. The warden did not concern himself with anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did." This passage highlights how Joseph's faithfulness and God's favor led to his elevation even in a place of confinement.

Another example is found in the New Testament, in the account of Paul and Silas in Philippi. After being beaten and imprisoned for casting out a spirit from a slave girl, Paul and Silas were placed in the inner cell and their feet fastened in stocks. Despite their dire situation, they prayed and sang hymns to God. An earthquake subsequently shook the prison, opening the doors and loosening the chains of all the prisoners. The jailer, fearing the prisoners had escaped, was about to take his own life, but Paul intervened, assuring him that all were present. The jailer, moved by their actions and the miraculous event, asked how he might be saved. Paul and Silas shared the gospel with him, leading to his conversion and baptism, along with his household (Acts 16:25-34). This narrative illustrates how the integrity and faith of Paul and Silas, even in imprisonment, led to a profound transformation in the life of the jailer.

These accounts demonstrate that, in biblical history, the keepers of prisons sometimes recognized the exceptional character of certain prisoners and entrusted them with responsibilities. This trust was often a testament to the prisoners' faithfulness and the divine favor upon them. Such instances underscore the biblical theme that God can work through any situation, even imprisonment, to accomplish His purposes and bring about His glory.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Genesis 39:22,23
And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatever they did there, he was the doer of it.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Memoir of John Bunyan
... They were members of a Baptist church, under the pastoral care of John Gifford ... to
the day appointed for his execution, his sister found access to the prison. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm

part ii
... Let us then chiefly care for the soul, for its salvation ... of the greatness he received
from God; by the despondency, weariness, and sometimes unbearable anguish ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm

Resources
What is the National Association of Evangelicals? | GotQuestions.org

Who are the Gideons International, and what do they believe? | GotQuestions.org

What is Awana? | GotQuestions.org

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Prisons

Prisons used for Confining: Condemned Persons Till Executed

Prisons used for Confining: Debtors Till They Paid

Prisons used for Confining: Enemies Taken Captive

Prisons used for Confining: Persons Accused of Crimes

Prisons used for Confining: Persons Accused of Heresy

Prisons used for Confining: Persons Under the King's Displeasure

Prisons used for Confining: Suspected Persons

Prisons were Under the Care of a Keeper

Prisons: Antiquity of

Prisons: Bondage to Sin and Satan

Prisons: Confinement In, Considered a Severe Punishment

Prisons: Confinement In, often Awarded As a Punishment

Prisons: Deep Afflictions

Prisons: Dungeons Attached To

Prisons: Hell

Prisons: Keepers of Often Used Severity

Prisons: Keepers of Put to Death If Prisoners Escaped

Prisons: Keepers of Responsible for the Prisoners

Prisons: Keepers of Sometimes Acted Kindly

Prisons: Keepers of Sometimes Entrusted the Care of the Prison To

Prisons: Keepers of Strictly Guarded the Doors

Prisons: Kinds of, Mentioned: Common

Prisons: Kinds of, Mentioned: State

Prisons: Magistrates had Power to Commit To

Prisons: Magistrates had Power to Release From

Prisons: Persons Confined in Clothed in Prison Dress

Prisons: Persons Confined in Fed on Bread and Water

Prisons: Persons Confined in Might Have Their Condition Ameliorated by the King

Prisons: Persons Confined in Often Bound With Fetters

Prisons: Persons Confined in Often Chained to Two Soldiers

Prisons: Persons Confined in Often Executed In

Prisons: Persons Confined in Often Fastened in Stocks

Prisons: Persons Confined in Often Kept to Hard Labour

Prisons: Persons Confined in Often Placed in Dungeons

Prisons: Persons Confined in Often Subjected to Extreme Suffering

Prisons: Persons Confined in Said to be in Hold

Prisons: Persons Confined in Said to be in Ward

Prisons: Persons Confined in Sometimes Allowed to be Visited by Their Friends

Prisons: Places Used as Court of the King's House

Prisons: Places Used as House of the Captain of the Guard

Prisons: Places Used as House of the King's Scribe

Prisons: Places Used as Prisoner's own House, where he Was Kept Bound to a Soldier

Prisons: The King had Power to Commit To

Prisons: The King had Power to Release From

Related Terms

Blows (105 Occurrences)

Frequent (10 Occurrences)

Delivering (35 Occurrences)

Prison (131 Occurrences)

Private (32 Occurrences)

Vote (3 Occurrences)

Various (52 Occurrences)

Keeper (72 Occurrences)

Keepers (78 Occurrences)

Name's (31 Occurrences)

Oft (18 Occurrences)

Labors (27 Occurrences)

Looted (9 Occurrences)

Loot (15 Occurrences)

Labours (19 Occurrences)

Lock (6 Occurrences)

Laughed (27 Occurrences)

Grate (6 Occurrences)

Governors (43 Occurrences)

Gate (248 Occurrences)

Worked (145 Occurrences)

Imprisonments (2 Occurrences)

Flogged (12 Occurrences)

Foolishly (20 Occurrences)

Frequently (28 Occurrences)

Followers (37 Occurrences)

Robbed (27 Occurrences)

Excess (20 Occurrences)

Exposed (39 Occurrences)

Experience (28 Occurrences)

Despoiled (13 Occurrences)

Dungeon (15 Occurrences)

Deaths (10 Occurrences)

Ministers (49 Occurrences)

Madman (8 Occurrences)

Ministrants (18 Occurrences)

Prisoning (1 Occurrence)

Pits (13 Occurrences)

Persecuted (34 Occurrences)

Persecute (48 Occurrences)

Binding (23 Occurrences)

Beatings (5 Occurrences)

Bringing (288 Occurrences)

Beaten (73 Occurrences)

Chained (9 Occurrences)

Cave (40 Occurrences)

Cistern (21 Occurrences)

Countless (11 Occurrences)

Caves (17 Occurrences)

Acted (98 Occurrences)

Arresting (1 Occurrence)

Attacks (45 Occurrences)

Armed (147 Occurrences)

Stripes (19 Occurrences)

Snared (11 Occurrences)

Severely (48 Occurrences)

Synagogues (27 Occurrences)

Rulers (310 Occurrences)

Plundered (44 Occurrences)

Often (74 Occurrences)

Abundantly (73 Occurrences)

Myself (395 Occurrences)

Saints (117 Occurrences)

Danger (118 Occurrences)

Delivers (38 Occurrences)

Shut (237 Occurrences)

Abundant (124 Occurrences)

Acco (2 Occurrences)

Sake (241 Occurrences)

Exceedingly (167 Occurrences)

Talk (164 Occurrences)

Holes (36 Occurrences)

Hades (11 Occurrences)

Cruel (196 Occurrences)

Beside (326 Occurrences)

Persecution (22 Occurrences)

Deliver (397 Occurrences)

Fool (95 Occurrences)

Giving (611 Occurrences)

Prisons: Keepers of Sometimes Acted Kindly
Top of Page
Top of Page