Topical Encyclopedia In biblical times, prisons were not as structured or systematized as modern correctional facilities. They varied in form and function, often reflecting the socio-political context of the era. The Bible provides several references to different kinds of prisons, which were used for various purposes, including detention, punishment, and coercion.1. Pits and Cisterns: One of the earliest forms of imprisonment mentioned in the Bible is the use of pits or cisterns. These were often dry wells or underground chambers. Joseph, for instance, was thrown into a cistern by his brothers before being sold into slavery (Genesis 37:24). This method of imprisonment was rudimentary and often temporary, serving as a holding place until a decision was made regarding the prisoner's fate. 2. House Arrest: House arrest was another form of confinement, where individuals were restricted to a specific location, often their own homes or a designated house. The Apostle Paul experienced this type of imprisonment in Rome, where he was allowed to live by himself with a soldier to guard him (Acts 28:16). This form of detention allowed for some degree of freedom and interaction with visitors, as seen in Paul's ability to preach and teach during his confinement (Acts 28:30-31). 3. Inner Prisons and Stocks: More secure and severe forms of imprisonment involved inner prisons and the use of stocks. The inner prison was a more secure area within a larger prison complex, often reserved for high-risk or high-profile prisoners. Paul and Silas were placed in the inner prison in Philippi, with their feet fastened in stocks, after being beaten and arrested for casting out a spirit from a slave girl (Acts 16:24). This type of imprisonment was intended to prevent escape and to inflict discomfort and humiliation. 4. Dungeons: Dungeons were dark, often underground cells used for long-term imprisonment. The prophet Jeremiah was cast into a dungeon, where he sank into the mud, as a result of his prophecies against Jerusalem (Jeremiah 38:6). Dungeons were typically harsh environments, lacking basic necessities and often leading to severe physical and psychological suffering. 5. Royal Prisons: Royal prisons were facilities used by kings and rulers to detain political prisoners or those who posed a threat to their authority. The imprisonment of John the Baptist by Herod Antipas is an example of this type of detention (Matthew 14:3). These prisons were often part of a larger palace complex and were used to suppress dissent and maintain control over the populace. Biblical Perspective on Imprisonment: The Bible presents imprisonment as a reality of human governance and justice systems, often highlighting the suffering and injustice experienced by the righteous. Many biblical figures, including Joseph, Jeremiah, and Paul, endured imprisonment as a result of their faithfulness to God. Their accounts serve as testimonies to God's providence and deliverance, even in the darkest of circumstances. The Bible encourages believers to remember those in prison, as stated in Hebrews 13:3: "Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them." Torrey's Topical Textbook Acts 5:18And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library Archelaus's Ethnarchy is Reduced into a [Roman] Province. The ... Of Hell How a Man's Conduct Comes Home to Him The Puritan Conflict. On Reconciling Religious Dissensions among Christians Off Duty Introduction to Oration ii. Twenty-Seven Articles Respecting the Reformation of the Christian ... Church Abuses. The New Evangelism: and Its Relation to Cardinal Doctrines Resources What are Christian saints according to the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the Edict of Milan? | GotQuestions.org What does the Bible say about loneliness? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics 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: Bondage to Sin and Satan Prisons: Confinement In, Considered a Severe Punishment Prisons: Confinement In, often Awarded As a Punishment 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 |
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