16
Once, when we were going to the place where the minyan gathered, we were met by a slave girl who had in her a snake-spirit that enabled her to predict the future. She earned a lot of money for her owners by telling fortunes.
17
This girl followed behind Sha'ul and the rest of us and kept screaming, "These men are servants of God Ha'Elyon! They're telling you how to be saved!"
18
She kept this up day after day, until Sha'ul, greatly disturbed, turned and said to the spirit, "In the name of Yeshua the Messiah, I order you to come out of her!" And the spirit did come out, at that very moment.
19
But when her owners saw that what had come out was any further prospect of profit for them, they seized Sha'ul and Sila and dragged them to the market square to face the authorities.
20
Bringing them to the judges, they said, "These men are causing a lot of trouble in our city, since they are Jews.
21
What they are doing is advocating customs that are against the law for us to accept or practice, since we are Romans."
22
The mob joined in the attack against them, and the judges tore their clothes off them and ordered that they be flogged.
23
After giving them a severe beating, they threw them in prison, charging the jailer to guard them securely.
24
Upon receiving such an order, he threw them into the inner cell and clamped their feet securely between heavy blocks of wood.
25
Around midnight, Sha'ul and Sila were praying and singing hymns to God, while the other prisoners listened attentively.
26
Suddenly there was a violent earthquake which shook the prison to its foundations. All the doors flew open and everyone's chains came loose.