Matthew Poole and continuators on Acts 16:26

26 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 ones bands were loosed.

How soon is Prayer answered, when the fulness of time is come? So nigh is God unto all that call upon him, Psal. 34.17. & 145.18.

An Earthquake did usually precede some wonderful matter; as Matth. 28.2. And altho God could have delivered these his Servants without an Earthquake; yet to shew the more that their deliverance was his Work, and it was no artifice, or force of their own, he manifested his Power after this manner.

Either, by the Earthquake, or some secret power of an Angel, or by God himself immediately, that the Apostles and others might know, that the Souls of Men should be unloosed and set free by them, whose Bodies for that purpose were now freed by God.

Marginal references: Chap. 4.31.; Chap. 5.19. & 12.7.