Atos 16

Paul and Silas in Prison

16 As we were going to *ver. 13the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had *Luke 13:11a spirit of *See Lev. 19:31divination and *ver. 19brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, *See James 2:19crying out, "These men are *Dan. 3:26servants of *See Mark 5:7the Most High God, who proclaim to you *[ch. 9:2;Matt. 7:14]the way of salvation." 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, *[Mark 1:25,34] "I command you *See Mark 9:38in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And *[Matt. 17:18]it came out that very hour.

19 But *ver. 16;[ch. 19:25,26] when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and *ch. 17:6-8;21:30;James 2:6;[ch. 8:3;18:12;Matt. 10:18]dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, "These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They *[Esth. 3:8] advocate customs that are not lawful for us *[ver. 12]as Romans to accept or practice." 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders *2 Cor. 6:5;11:23-25;1 Thess. 2:2to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner *See Luke 21:12prison and fastened their feet in *Job 13:27;33:11;Jer. 20:2,3;29:26the stocks.

The Philippian Jailer Converted

25 *Job 35:10;Ps. 42:8;77:6;119:62About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly *See ch. 4:31there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately *ch. 5:19;12:10all the doors were opened, and *ch. 12:7everyone’s bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and *[ch. 12:19;27:42;1 Kgs. 20:39]was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." 29 And the jailer*16:29 Greek he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he *ch. 10:25fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, *ch. 2:37;22:10;Luke 3:10,12,14;[John 6:28,29] what must I do to be *[ver. 17]saved?" 31 And they said, *See Mark 16:16"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you *See ch. 11:14and your household." 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them *ver. 25the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he *See ch. 8:12was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he *Ps. 9:14;13:5;Isa. 25:9;Luke 1:47;1 Pet. 1:6,8;[ch. 2:46]rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, "Let those men go." 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace." 37 But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly, *ch. 22:25,29uncondemned, 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." 38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and *[See ver. 37above]they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and *[Matt. 8:34]asked them to leave the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and visited *ver. 14Lydia. And when they had seen *See John 21:23the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.