16:22 The crowd joined the attack 13 against them, and the magistrates tore the clothes 14 off Paul and Silas 15 and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 16 16:23 After they had beaten them severely, 17 they threw them into prison and commanded 18 the jailer to guard them securely. 16:24 Receiving such orders, he threw them in the inner cell 19 and fastened their feet in the stocks. 20
16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying 21 and singing hymns to God, 22 and the rest of 23 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 24 of all the prisoners came loose. 16:27 When the jailer woke up 25 and saw the doors of the prison standing open, 26 he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, 27 because he assumed 28 the prisoners had escaped. 16:28 But Paul called out loudly, 29 “Do not harm yourself, 30 for we are all here!” 16:29 Calling for lights, the jailer 31 rushed in and fell down 32 trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. 16:30 Then he brought them outside 33 and asked, “Sirs, what must 34 I do to be saved?” 16:31 They replied, 35 “Believe 36 in the Lord Jesus 37 and you will be saved, you and your household.” 16:32 Then 38 they spoke the word of the Lord 39 to him, along with all those who were in his house. 16:33 At 40 that hour of the night he took them 41 and washed their wounds; 42 then 43 he and all his family 44 were baptized right away. 45 16:34 The jailer 46 brought them into his house and set food 47 before them, and he rejoiced greatly 48 that he had come to believe 49 in God, together with his entire household. 50 16:35 At daybreak 51 the magistrates 52 sent their police officers, 53 saying, “Release those men.” 16:36 The jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, 54 “The magistrates have sent orders 55 to release you. So come out now and go in peace.” 56 16:37 But Paul said to the police officers, 57 “They had us beaten in public 58 without a proper trial 59 – even though we are Roman citizens 60 – and they threw us 61 in prison. And now they want to send us away 62 secretly? Absolutely not! They 63 themselves must come and escort us out!” 64 16:38 The police officers reported these words to the magistrates. They were frightened when they heard Paul and Silas 65 were Roman citizens 66 16:39 and came 67 and apologized to them. After 68 they brought them out, they asked them repeatedly 69 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 70 departed.