16:22 The crowd joined the attack 17 against them, and the magistrates tore the clothes 18 off Paul and Silas 19 and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 20 16:23 After they had beaten them severely, 21 they threw them into prison and commanded 22 the jailer to guard them securely. 16:24 Receiving such orders, he threw them in the inner cell 23 and fastened their feet in the stocks. 24
16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying 25 and singing hymns to God, 26 and the rest of 27 the prisoners were listening to them. 16:26 Suddenly a great earthquake occurred, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. Immediately all the doors flew open, and the bonds 28 of all the prisoners came loose. 16:27 When the jailer woke up 29 and saw the doors of the prison standing open, 30 he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, 31 because he assumed 32 the prisoners had escaped. 16:28 But Paul called out loudly, 33 “Do not harm yourself, 34 for we are all here!” 16:29 Calling for lights, the jailer 35 rushed in and fell down 36 trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. 16:30 Then he brought them outside 37 and asked, “Sirs, what must 38 I do to be saved?” 16:31 They replied, 39 “Believe 40 in the Lord Jesus 41 and you will be saved, you and your household.” 16:32 Then 42 they spoke the word of the Lord 43 to him, along with all those who were in his house. 16:33 At 44 that hour of the night he took them 45 and washed their wounds; 46 then 47 he and all his family 48 were baptized right away. 49 16:34 The jailer 50 brought them into his house and set food 51 before them, and he rejoiced greatly 52 that he had come to believe 53 in God, together with his entire household. 54 16:35 At daybreak 55 the magistrates 56 sent their police officers, 57 saying, “Release those men.” 16:36 The jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, 58 “The magistrates have sent orders 59 to release you. So come out now and go in peace.” 60 16:37 But Paul said to the police officers, 61 “They had us beaten in public 62 without a proper trial 63 – even though we are Roman citizens 64 – and they threw us 65 in prison. And now they want to send us away 66 secretly? Absolutely not! They 67 themselves must come and escort us out!” 68 16:38 The police officers reported these words to the magistrates. They were frightened when they heard Paul and Silas 69 were Roman citizens 70 16:39 and came 71 and apologized to them. After 72 they brought them out, they asked them repeatedly 73 to leave the city. 16:40 When they came out of the prison, they entered Lydia’s house, and when they saw the brothers, they encouraged them and then 74 departed.