Acts 16:23-38
English Standard Version
Chapter 16
23And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
26and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone 's bonds were unfastened.
27When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
28But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here."
29And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.
30Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31And they 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 and to all who were in his house.
33And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.
34Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
35But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, "Let those men go."
36And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace."
37But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out."
38The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens.
