19 But when her masters saw that their hope of aprofit was 1gone, they seized bPaul and Silas and cdragged them into the market place before the authorities,

20 and when they had brought them to the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are throwing our city into confusion, being Jews,

21 and aare proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being bRomans.”

Paul and Silas Imprisoned

22 The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their 1robes off them and proceeded to order 2them to be abeaten with rods.

23 When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding athe jailer to guard them securely;

24 1and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in athe 2stocks.

25 But about midnight aPaul and Silas were praying and bsinging hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;

26 and suddenly athere came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately ball the doors were opened and everyone’s cchains were unfastened.

27 When athe jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about bto kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.

28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!”

29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before aPaul and Silas,

30 and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, awhat must I do to be saved?”

The Jailer Converted

31 They said, “aBelieve in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and byour household.”

32 And they spoke the word of 1the Lord to him together with all who were in his house.

33 And he took them athat very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.

34 And he brought them into his house and set 1food before them, and rejoiced 2greatly, having believed in God with ahis whole household.

35 Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their policemen, saying, “Release those men.”

36 And athe jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The chief magistrates have sent to release you. Therefore come out now and go bin peace.”

37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us in public without trial, amen who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they sending us away secretly? No indeed! But let them come themselves and bring us out.”

38 The policemen reported these words to the chief magistrates. aThey were afraid when they heard that they were Romans,

39 and they came and appealed to them, and when they had brought them out, they kept begging them ato leave the city.

40 They went out of the prison and entered the house of aLydia, and when they saw bthe brethren, they 1encouraged them and departed.