Paul and Silas in Prison
16 As we were going to
1the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had
2a spirit of
3divination and
4brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling.
17
She followed Paul and us,
5crying out, "These men are
6servants of
7the Most High God, who proclaim to you
8the way of salvation."
18
And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit,
9"I command you
10in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And
11it came out that very hour.
19
But
12when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and
13dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
20
And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, "These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city.
21
They
14advocate customs that are not lawful for us
15as Romans to accept or practice."
22
The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders
16to beat them with rods.
23
And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.
24
Having received this order, he put them into the inner
17prison and fastened their feet in
18the stocks.
The Philippian Jailer Converted
25 19About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
26
and suddenly
20there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately
21all the doors were opened, and
22everyone's bonds were unfastened.
27
When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and
23was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
28
But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here."
29
And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he
24fell down before Paul and Silas.
30
Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs,
25what must I do to be
26saved?"
31
And they said,
27"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you
28and your household."
32
And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
33
And he took them
29the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he
30was baptized at once, he and all his family.
34
Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he
31rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
35
But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, "Let those men go."
36
And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace."
37
But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly,
32uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out."
38
The police reported these words to the magistrates, and
33they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens.
39
So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and
34asked them to leave the city.
40
So they went out of the prison and visited
35Lydia. And when they had seen
36the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.