Acts 16:23-36

23After striking them many times [with the rods], they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely.

24He, having received such a [strict] command, threw them into the inner prison (dungeon) and fastened their feet in the stocks [in an agonizing position].

25But about midnight when Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;

26suddenly there was a great earthquake, so [powerful] that the very foundations of the prison were shaken and at once all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened.

27When the jailer, shaken out of sleep, saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped.

28But Paul shouted, saying, “Do not hurt yourself, we are all here!”

29Then the jailer called for torches and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas,

30and after he brought them out [of the inner prison], he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31And they answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus [as your personal Savior and entrust yourself to Him] and you will be saved, you and your household [if they also believe].”

32And they spoke the word of the Lord [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ] to him and to all who were in his house.

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

34Then he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, since he had believed in God with his entire family [accepting with joy what had been made known to them about the Christ].

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

36And the jailer repeated the words to Paul, saying, “The chief magistrates have sent word to release you; so come out now and go in peace.”