16 As we were going to prayer, a certain girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune telling. 17 Following Paul and us, she cried out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of salvation!" 18 She was doing this for many days.

But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Yeshua the Messiah to come out of her!" It came out that very hour. 19 But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 When they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, "These men, being Jews, are agitating our city 21 and advocate customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans."

22 The multitude rose up together against them and the magistrates tore their clothes from them, then commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely, 24 who, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison, and secured their feet 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 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 loosened. 27 The jailer, 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, "Don’t harm yourself, for we are all here!"

29 He called for lights, sprang in, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas, 30 brought them out, and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

31 They said, "Believe in the Lord Yeshua the Messiah, and you will be saved, you and your household." 32 They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house.

33 He took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes, and was immediately immersed, he and all his household. 34 He brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his household, having believed in God.

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

36 The jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore come out and go in peace."

37 But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly without a trial, men who are Romans, and have cast us into prison! Do they now release us secretly? No, most certainly, but let them come themselves and bring us out!"

38 The sergeants reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans, 39 and they came and begged them. When they had brought them out, they asked them to depart from the city. 40 They went out of the prison, and entered into Lydia’s house. When they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them, then departed.

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.