17
FollowingafterPaul and us, she kept crying out, saying, "Thesemen are bond-servants of 1the MostHighGod, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation."
18
She continued doingthis for manydays. But Paul was greatlyannoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, "I command you 2in the name of JesusChrist to come out of her!" And it came out at that verymoment.
19
But when her masterssaw that their hope of 3profit was gone, they seized4Paul and Silas and 5dragged them into the marketplacebefore the authorities,
20
and when they had brought them to the chiefmagistrates, they said, "Thesemen are throwing our city into confusion, beingJews,
21
and 6are proclaimingcustomswhich it is not lawful for us to acceptor to observe, being7Romans."
Paul and Silas Imprisoned
22 The crowdrose up togetheragainst them, and the chiefmagistratestore their robesoff them and proceeded to order them to be 8beaten with rods.
23
When they had struck them with manyblows, they threw them into prison, commanding9the jailer to guard them securely;
24
and he, having receivedsuch a command, threw them into the innerprison and fastened their feet in 10the stocks.
25
But aboutmidnight11Paul and Silas were praying and 12singinghymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;
26
and suddenly13there came a greatearthquake, so that the foundations of the prisonhouse were shaken; and immediately14all the doors were opened and everyone's15chains were unfastened.
27
When 16the jailerawoke and saw the prisondoorsopened, he drew his sword and was about17to killhimself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.