Acts 16:19-40

19But when her masters saw that their hope of 1profit was suddenly gone, they seized 2Paul and Silas and 3dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities, 20and when they had brought them to the chief magistrates, they said, “These men, Jews as they are, are causing our city trouble, 21and they 4are proclaiming customs that are not lawful for us to accept or to practice, since we are 5Romans.” 22The crowd joined in an attack against them, and the chief magistrates tore their 6robes off them and proceeded to order 7them to be 8beaten with rods. 23When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding 9the jailer to guard them securely; 2410and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in 11the 12stocks.

25Now about midnight 13Paul and Silas were praying and 14singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26and suddenly 15there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately 16all the doors were opened, and everyone’s 17chains were unfastened. 27When 18the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about 19to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” 29And the jailer asked for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear, he fell down before 20Paul and Silas; 30and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, 21what must I do to be saved?” 31They said, “22Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and 23your household.” 32And they spoke the word of God to him together with all who were in his house. 33And he took them 24that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. 34And he brought them into his house and set 25food before them, and was 26overjoyed, since he had become a believer in God together with 27his whole household.

35Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their officers, saying, “Release those men.” 36And 28the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The chief magistrates have sent word that you be released. So come out now and go 29in peace.” 37But Paul said to them, “After beating us in public without due process--30men who are Romans--they threw us into prison; and now they are releasing us secretly? No indeed! On the contrary, let them come 31in person and lead us out.” 38The officers reported these words to the chief magistrates. 32And they became fearful when they heard that they were Romans, 39and they came and pleaded with them, and when they had led them out, they repeatedly asked them 33to leave the city. 40They left the prison and entered the house of 34Lydia, and when they saw 35the brothers and sisters, they 36encouraged them and departed.