Acts 16:23-36

23After they had severely flogged them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to guard them carefully.

24Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.

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.

27When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison standing 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 we’re all here!”

29The jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.

30He escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household.”

32And they spoke the word 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 come to believe in God with his entire household.

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.”