16 Certo dia, indo nós a caminho do local de oração junto ao rio, encontrámos uma rapariga escrava, possuída por demónios e que ganhava muito dinheiro para os seus senhores prevendo o futuro. Pôs-se a seguir-nos e a gritar: Estes homens são servos do Deus altíssimo e vieram ensinar-nos o caminho da salvação.

18 Isto repetiu-se dia após dia, até que Paulo, bastante perturbado com o caso, se voltou e falou ao demónio que estava dentro dela: Ordeno-te, em nome de Jesus Cristo, que saias do seu corpo. E imediatamente assim foi.

19 Destruídas as suas esperanças de fazer fortuna, os senhores desta escrava agarraram em Paulo e Silas e levaram-nos perante os juízes, na grande praça central. Estes judeus andam a corromper a cidade, gritavam. Andam a ensinar ao povo que faça coisas contrárias às leis romanas.

22 Depressa se formou uma multidão ameaçadora contra Paulo e Silas, e os juízes mandaram que os despissem e açoitassem. Repetidamente as varas caíram sobre as suas costas nuas, e depois meteram-nos na cadeia. O carcereiro recebeu ordem para os guardar com toda a segurança; por isso, meteu-os numa cela interior e prendeu-lhes os pés ao tronco de madeira.

25 Cerca da meia-noite, quando Paulo e Silas oravam e cantavam hinos ao Senhor, escutados pelos outros presos, houve de súbito um grande terramoto; a prisão foi abalada até aos alicerces, as portas abriram-se, e tombaram por terra as cadeias de todos os presos!

27 O carcereiro acordou, viu as portas da prisão abertas e, julgando que os presos tinham escapado, puxou da espada para pôr fim à vida.

28 Mas Paulo gritou-lhe: Não faças isso! Estamos todos aqui!

29 Tremendo de terror, o carcereiro mandou vir luzes e, correndo à cela, lançou-se por terra diante de Paulo e Silas.

30 Trazendo-os para fora, perguntou-lhes: Meus senhores, que devo fazer para ser salvo?

31 Eles responderam: Crê no Senhor Jesus e serás salvo, tu e a tua casa.

32 Anunciaram-lhe então, a ele e a todos os seus familiares, as boas novas do Senhor

33 Naquela mesma hora, o carcereiro lavou-lhes os ferimentos e, com toda a sua família, foi baptizado

34 Depois, levando-os à casa onde morava, serviu-lhes uma refeição. Tanto ele como os seus estavam cheios de alegria por agora serem todos crentes em Deus!

35 Na manhã seguinte, os juízes mandaram polícias dizer ao carcereiro: Ponham esses homens em liberdade!

36 O carcereiro disse a Paulo: Podem sair quando quiserem. Vão em paz.

37 Mas Paulo respondeu: Não! Castigaram-nos publicamente, sem julgamento, encarceraram-nos, a nós que somos cidadãos romanos, e agora querem que saiamos em segredo? Que venham eles mesmos soltar-nos.

38 Os polícias levaram a resposta aos juízes, que ficaram receosos ao saberem que Paulo e Silas eram cidadãos romanos. Dirigiram-se, então à prisão, e pediram desculpas. Saindo com eles, rogaram-lhes que abandonassem a cidade

40 Paulo e Silas voltaram a casa de Lídia, onde se encontraram com os crentes e encorajaram-nos uma vez mais antes de saírem da cidade.

16 And it came to pass, as we were going to the place of prayer, that a certain female slave having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune-telling.

17 The same following after Paul and us cried out, saying, These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you{} the way of salvation.

18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, being very troubled, turned and said to the spirit, I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out that very hour.

19 But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers,

20 and when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

21 and set forth customs which it is not lawful for us to receive, or to observe, being Romans.

22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent their garments off them, and commanded to beat them with rods.

23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

24 who, having received such a charge, cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

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

26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison-house were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bands were loosed.

27 And the jailor, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.

28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do nothing to harm yourself: for we are all here.

29 And he called for lights and sprang in, and, trembling for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas,

30 and brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your house.

32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him, with all who were in his house.

33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, immediately.

34 And he brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his house, having believed in God.

35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, Let those men go.

36 And the jailor reported these words to Paul, [saying], The magistrates have sent to let you{} go: now therefore come forth, and go in peace.

37 But Paul said to them, They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Romans, and have cast us into prison; and do they now cast us out secretly? No truly; but let them come themselves and bring us out.

38 And the sergeants reported these words to the magistrates: and they feared when they heard that they were Romans;

39 and they came and implored them; and when they had brought them out, they asked them to go away from the city.

40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into [the house] of Lydia: and when they had seen the brothers, they comforted them, and departed.