22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.a 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailerb was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.c

25 About midnightd Paul and Silase were praying and singing hymnsf to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.g At once all the prison doors flew open,h and everyone’s chains came loose.i 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.j 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.k 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”l

31 They replied, “Believem in the Lord Jesus, and you will be savedn—you and your household.”o 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the nightp the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.q 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; her was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.