John Calvin Commentary Acts 16:27

"And the jailor, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped." — Acts 16:27 (ASV)

When the keeper of the prison was awakened. He would have killed himself to prevent punishment, for it would have been a foolish answer to say that the doors had opened on their own. But this question may be asked: Since Paul sees that they might have some hope of escape if the jailer killed himself, why does he hinder him? For he seems by this means to refuse the deliverance which was offered by God. Indeed, it seems to have been a mere trifle that the Lord would have the jailer awakened, so that the miracle would not be used.

I answer that in this instance we must consider His counsel and purpose.

For He did not release Paul and Silas, and the rest, from their chains, nor did He, therefore, open the doors so that He might immediately let them go free; but rather, by showing the power of His hand, He might confirm the faith of Paul and Silas, and might make the name of Christ glorious among others.

Therefore, He yields to the petitions of Paul and Silas in such a way that He shows He is fully able to deliver them whenever He deems it good; and that nothing can hinder Him, but He is indeed able to enter not only prisons but also graves, to deliver those who are His.

He opened the gates of the prison for Peter for a different purpose, as we saw in Acts 12. But now, since He had another way ready to deliver Paul and Silas, He intended not so much to deliver them at the present time by a miracle, as to confirm them for the time to come.

Again, we must recall what I said recently, that the opening of the prison pertained to others, so that it might be known to many witnesses that God favored the doctrine, which was then burdened with an unjust prejudice. Undoubtedly, Paul perceived this; and therefore, though his hands were unbound, he did not move from his place.

He might have gone away, if he had been so inclined. Why did he not? Was it because he despised the grace of God? Or because, through his laziness, he would frustrate the miracle? None of these is probable. From this we gather that he was restrained by God, as the Lord is accustomed to direct the minds of those who are His in doubtful matters, so that they may follow, sometimes unknowingly, sometimes knowingly, what is fitting to be done, and not go beyond their limits.