What Does Acts 16:40 Mean in the King James?
And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The prison door opens outward, but freedom moves back toward the people who need comfort.
THE MEANING
You move from confinement toward a house where people are gathered, and meet them with comfort before leaving again. Release reaches beyond your own exit: steadiness can pass into the lives around you. The verse holds freedom and care in one movement.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Release is complete once I am out of my own confinement.
THE ROOT
παρεκάλεσαν
parekalesan
GROWS FROM
παρακαλέω
parakaleō
To comfort, encourage, console, urge, or appeal.
“comforted” in this verse is parekalesan. This word family holds comfort and urging together: care can console and strengthen at once. After leaving prison, they return to Lydia’s house and bring that care to the gathered brethren.
ALSO GROWS
paraklēsis: Comfort, consolation, or appeal.
παράκλησις
This related form shows how comfort can be both consolation received and encouragement offered.
paraklētos: Advocate, helper, or comforter.
παράκλητος
This related form extends the same family of support and comfort to one who strengthens another.
THE PATTERN
Those who encounter another’s distress meet it with presence and comfort that can be passed on.
Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.THE THREAD
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.The same Greek word family for comfort appears here as comfort received and then given to another. Acts 16:40 shows that movement in a house: those who have just left confinement turn toward the brethren with comfort.
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