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Prisons.

From: The New Topical Textbook

By: Reuben Archer Torrey

• 2 min. read • grade level: 13

Antiquity of. Gen. 39:20²⁰And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. (Genesis 39:20).

KINDS OF, MENTIONED;

State. Jer. 37:21²¹Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers' street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison. (Jeremiah 37:21), with Gen. 39:20²⁰And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. (Genesis 39:20).

Common. Acts 5:18¹⁸And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. (Acts 5:18).

Dungeons attached to. Jer. 38:6⁶Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire. (Jeremiah 38:6). Zech. 9:11¹¹As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. (Zechariah 9:11).

Were under the care of a keeper. Gen. 39:21²¹But the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. (Genesis 39:21).

USED FOR CONFINING

Persons accused of crimes. Luke 23:19¹⁹(Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) (Luke 23:19).

Persons accused of heresy. Acts 4:3³And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. (Acts 4:3). Acts 5:18¹⁸And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. (Acts 5:18). Acts 8:3³As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. (Acts 8:3).

Suspected persons. Gen. 42:19¹⁹If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses: (Genesis 42:19).

Condemned criminals till executed. Lev. 24:12¹²And they put him in ward, that the mind of the Lord might be showed them. (Leviticus 24:12). Acts 12:4, 5⁴And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. ⁵Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. (Acts 12:4‑5).

Enemies taken captive. Judg. 16:21²¹But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house. (Judges 16:21). 2 Kin. 17:4. Jer. 52:11¹¹Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death. (Jeremiah 52:11).

Debtors till they paid. Matt. 5:26²⁶Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. (Matthew 5:26). Matt. 18:30³⁰And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. (Matthew 18:30).

Persons under the king's displeasure. 1 Kin. 22:27. 2 Chr. 16:10¹⁰Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time. (2 Chronicles 16:10). Mar. 6:17.

Confinement in, often awarded as a punishment. Ezra 7:26²⁶And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. (Ezra 7:26).

Confinement in, considered a sever punishment. Luke 22:33³³And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. (Luke 22:33).

PLACES USED AS;

Court of the king's house Jer. 32:2²For then the king of Babylon's army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah's house. (Jeremiah 32:2).

House of the king's scribe. Jer. 37:15¹⁵Wherefore the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe: for they had made that the prison. (Jeremiah 37:15).

House of the captain of the guard. Gen. 40:3³And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound. (Genesis 40:3).

Prisoner's own house, Where he was kept bound to a soldier Acts 28:16, 30¹⁶And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. (Acts 28:16)
³⁰And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, (Acts 28:30). with 2 Tim. 1:16-18¹⁶The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: ¹⁷But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. ¹⁸The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well. (2 Timothy 1:16‑18).

The king had power to commit to. 1 Kin. 22:27.

Magistrates had power to commit to Matt. 5:25²⁵Agree 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. (Matthew 5:25).

PERSONS CONFINED IN,

Said to be in ward. Lev. 24:12¹²And they put him in ward, that the mind of the Lord might be showed them. (Leviticus 24:12).

Said to be in hold. Acts 4:3³And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. (Acts 4:3).

Often placed in dungeons. Jer. 39:6⁶Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah. (Jeremiah 39:6). Acts 16:24²⁴Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. (Acts 16:24).

Often bound with fetters. Gen. 42:19¹⁹If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses: (Genesis 42:19). Ezek. 19:9⁹And they put him in ward in chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon: they brought him into holds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel. (Ezekiel 19:9). Mar. 6:17.

Often chained to two soldiers. Acts 12:6⁶And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. (Acts 12:6).

Often fastened in stocks. Jer. 23:26²⁶How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; (Jeremiah 23:26). Acts 16:24²⁴Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. (Acts 16:24).

Often kept to hard labor. Judg. 16:21²¹But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house. (Judges 16:21).

Often subjected to extreme suffering. Psa. 79:11¹¹Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die; (Psalm 79:11). Psa. 102:20²⁰To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; (Psalm 102:20). Psa. 105:18¹⁸Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: (Psalm 105:18). (marg.)

Fed on bread and water. 1 Kin. 22:27.

Clothed in prison dress. 2 Kin. 25:29.

Sometimes allowed to be visited by their friends. Matt. 11:2²Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, (Matthew 11:2). Matt. 25:36³⁶Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. (Matthew 25:36). Acts 24:23²³And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him. (Acts 24:23).

Might have their condition ameliorated by the king. Jer. 37:20, 21²⁰Therefore hear now, I pray thee, O my lord the king: let my supplication, I pray thee, be accepted before thee; that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there. ²¹Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers' street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison. (Jeremiah 37:20‑21).

Often executed in. Gen. 40:22²²But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them. (Genesis 40:22). Matt. 14:10¹⁰And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. (Matthew 14:10).

The king had power to release from. Gen. 40:21²¹And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand: (Genesis 40:21).

Magistrates had power to release from. Acts 16:35, 36³⁵And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. ³⁶And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace. (Acts 16:35‑36).

KEEPERS OF,

Strictly guarded the doors. Acts 12:6⁶And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. (Acts 12:6).

Responsible for the prisoners. Acts 16:23, 27²³And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: (Acts 16:23)
²⁷And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. (Acts 16:27).

Put to death if prisoners escaped. Acts 12:19¹⁹And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and there abode. (Acts 12:19).

Often used severity. Jer. 37:16¹⁶When Jeremiah was entered into the dungeon, and into the cabins, and Jeremiah had remained there many days; (Jeremiah 37:16), Acts 16:24²⁴Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. (Acts 16:24).

Sometimes acted kindly. Gen. 39:21²¹But the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. (Genesis 39:21). Acts 16:33, 34³³And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. ³⁴And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. (Acts 16:33‑34).

Sometimes entrusted the care of the prison to well-conducted prisoners. Gen. 39:22, 23²²And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. ²³The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper. (Genesis 39:22‑23).

ILLUSTRATIVE OF

Deep afflictions. Psa. 142:7⁷Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me. (Psalm 142:7).

Hell. Rev. 20:7⁷And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, (Revelation 20:7).

Bondage to sin and Satan. Isa. 42:7⁷To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. (Isaiah 42:7). Isa. 49:9⁹That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. (Isaiah 49:9). Isa. 61:1¹The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; (Isaiah 61:1).

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The New Topical Textbook

• Presumption.

• Prisons.

• Privileges of Saints.

• Procrastination.

• Promises of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1; 2 Pet. 1:4, The

• Prophecies Respecting Christ.

• Prophets, False.

• Proselytes.

• Protection.

• Providence of God, the.

• Publicans, the.

• Publishers' Foreward

• Punishment of the Wicked, the.

• Punishments.

• Purifications or Baptisms.

• Raven, the.

• Rechabites.

• Reconciliation With God.

• Red Heifer, the.

• Redemption.

• Repentance.

• Rephaim, or Giants, the.