Desmophulax denotes the prison official charged with keeping prisoners secure and reporting their release.

The term consistently identifies the prison official responsible for guarding prisoners: he is commanded to keep them secure, reacts to open prison doors, and later reports orders for release.

1. Prison official responsible for prisoners · dominant

   In Acts 16:23, the dative singular form occurs in the command to guard the prisoners securely. The nominative singular form in Acts 16:27 identifies the man who sees the prison doors open and supposes the prisoners escaped; in Acts 16:36, it identifies the man who reports that release orders have been sent.

   Acts 16:23Acts 16:27Acts 16:36

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across Acts 16:23, Acts 16:27, and Acts 16:36, the APB presents the figure as “the jailer.” The surrounding actions confirm the presentation without requiring a finer English distinction.