22
The crowd, too, joined in the outcry against them, till at length the praetors ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods;
23
and, after severely flogging them, they threw them into jail and bade the jailer keep them safely.
24
He, having received an order like that, lodged them in the inner prison, and secured their feet in the stocks.
25
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
26
when suddenly there was such a violent shock of earthquake that the prison shook to its foundations. Instantly the doors all flew open, and the chains fell off from every prisoner.
27
Starting up from sleep and seeing the doors of the jail wide open, the jailer drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
28
But Paul shouted loudly to him, saying, "Do yourself no injury: we are all here.
29
Then, calling for lights, he sprang in and fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas;
30
and, bringing them out of the prison, he exclaimed, "O sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31
"Believe on the Lord Jesus," they replied, "and both you and your household will be saved."
32
And they told the Lord's Message to him as well as to all who were in his house.