Acts 16:19–40

¹⁹When her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas ^fand dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. ²⁰Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews ²¹and are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.” ^g

²²Then the mob joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. ^h23After they had inflicted many blows on them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to keep them securely guarded. ²⁴Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks. ⁱ

A Midnight Deliverance

²⁵About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose. ^j27When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped.

²⁸But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Don’t harm yourself, because all of us are here!”

²⁹Then the jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. ³⁰Then he escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” ^k

³¹So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” ^l32Then they spoke the message of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house. ³³He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized. ³⁴He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had believed God with his entire household. ^m

An Official Apology

³⁵When daylight came, the chief magistrates sent the police to say, “Release those men!”

³⁶The jailer reported these words to Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders for you to be released. So come out now and go in peace.” ⁿ

³⁷But Paul said to them, “They beat us in public without a trial, although we are Roman citizens, and threw us in jail. And now are they going to smuggle us out secretly? Certainly not! On the contrary, let them come themselves and escort us out!” ^o

³⁸Then the police reported these words to the magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. ³⁹So they came and apologized to them, and escorting them out, they urged them to leave town. ⁴⁰After leaving the jail, they came to Lydia’s house where they saw and encouraged the brothers, and departed. ^p