16 And it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortunetelling.

17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.

18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly disturbed, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out that very instant.

19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the rulers.

20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city;

21 and they proclaim customs which are not lawful for us to receive or observe, being Romans.

22 Then the multitude rose up against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods.

23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.

24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

25 And at 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 were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyones bonds were loosened.

27 And the jailer, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.

28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.

29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.

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

31 So they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and 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 the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were immersed.

34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, believing in God with all his household.

35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the floggers, saying, Let those men go.

36 So the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.

37 But Paul said to them, They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, being Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they drive us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and lead us out.

38 And the floggers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans.

39 Then they came and begged them and brought them out, and asked them to depart out of the city.

40 So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.