New Torrey's Topical Textbook: Rev. R. A. Torrey

Prisons

• Antiquity of Gen. 39:20
• Kinds of, mentioned
  • State Jer. 37:21; Gen. 39:20
  • Common Acts 5:18
• Dungeons attached to Jer. 38:6; Zech. 9:11
• Were under the care of a keeper Gen. 39:21
• Used for confining
  • Persons accused of crimes Lk. 23:19
  • Persons accused of heresy Acts 4:3, 5:18, 8:3
  • Suspected persons Gen. 42:19
  • Condemned persons till executed Lev. 24:12; Acts 12:4, 5
  • Enemies taken captive Judg. 16:21; 2 Ki. 17:4; Jer. 52:11
  • Debtors till they paid Mt. 5:26, 18:30
  • Persons under the king's displeasure 1 Ki. 22:27; 2 Chr. 16:10; Mk. 6:17
• Confinement in, often awarded as a punishment Ezra 7:26
• Confinement in, considered a severe punishment Lk. 22:33
• Places used as
  • Court of the king's house Jer. 32:2
  • House of the king's scribe Jer. 37:15
  • House of the captain of the guard Gen. 40:3
  • Prisoner's own house, where he was kept bound to a soldier Acts 28:16, 30; 2 Tim. 1:16-18
• The king had power to commit to 1 Ki. 22:27
• Magistrates had power to commit to Mt. 5:25
• Persons confined in
  • Said to be in ward Lev. 24:12
  • Said to be in hold Acts 4:3
  • Often placed in dungeons Jer. 38:6; Acts 16:24
  • Often bound with fetters Gen. 42:19; Ezek. 19:9; Mk. 6:17
  • Often chained to two soldiers Acts 12:6
  • Often fastened in stocks Jer. 29:26; Acts 16:24
  • Often kept to hard labor Judg. 16:21
  • Often subjected to extreme suffering Ps. 79:11, 102:20, 105:18
  • Fed on bread and water 1 Ki. 22:27
  • Clothed in prison dress 2 Ki. 25:29
  • Sometimes allowed to be visited by their friends Mt. 11:2, 25:36; Acts 24:23
  • Might have their condition ameliorated by the king Jer. 37:20, 21
  • Often executed in Gen. 40:22; Mt. 14:10
• The king had power to release from Gen. 40:21
• Magistrates had power to release from Acts 16:35, 36
• Keepers of
  • Strictly guarded the doors Acts 12:6
  • Responsible for the prisoners Acts 16:23, 27
  • Put to death if prisoners escaped Acts 12:19
  • Often used severity Jer. 37:16, 20; Acts 16:24
  • Sometimes acted kindly Gen. 39:21; Acts 16:33, 34
  • Sometimes entrusted the care of the prison to well-conducted prisoners Gen. 39:22, 23
• Illustrative of
  • Deep afflictions Ps. 142:7
  • Hell Rev. 20:7
  • Bondage to sin and Satan Isa. 42:7, 49:9, 61:1