What Does the Bible Say About Criminals?

“And 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 .”

“But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison . shewed: Heb. extended kindness unto him”

“And 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.”

“The 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.”

“For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.”

“Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. brought: Heb. made him run”

“And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon ; and all the firstborn of cattle. dungeon: Heb. house of the pit”

“And 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. to banishment: Chaldee, to rooting out”

“And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited. as prisoners: Heb. with the gathering of prisoners pit: or, dungeon visited: or, found wanting”

“When Jeremiah was entered into the dungeon , and into the cabins, and Jeremiah had remained there many days; cabins: or, cells”

“Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die. with thee: Heb. in thine hand”

“They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.”

“I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon.”

“Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.”

“The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.”

“Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.”

“(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)”

“And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.”

“And 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. Easter: Gr. Passover quaternions: a file of four soldiers”

“Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. prayer: or, instant and earnest prayer was made”

“And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, marketplace: or, court”

“And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,”

“And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.”

“And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.”

“And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:”

“Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.”

“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”

“And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.”

“And 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.”

“But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.”

“Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,”

“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

“And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.”

“And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes ; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.”

“And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.”

“And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.”

“And 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.”

“But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans , and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.”

“And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.”

“And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.”

“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.”