Acts 16:16-34 (New International Version)
View In My BiblePaul and Silas in Prison
16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer,1 we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit2 by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God,3 who are telling you the way to be saved." 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.4 19 When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money5 was gone, they seized Paul and Silas6 and dragged7 them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, "These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar8 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans9 to accept or practice."10 22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten.11 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer12 was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.13 25 About midnight14 Paul and Silas15 were praying and singing hymns16 to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.17 At once all the prison doors flew open,18 and everybody's chains came loose.19 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.20 28 But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself ! We are all here!" 29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.21 30 He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"22 31 They replied, "Believe23 in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved24--you and your household."25 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night26 the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.27 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he28 was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he and his whole family.Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online)
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