Acts 16:25-17:9

New International Version

²⁵ About midnight^(A) Paul and Silas^(B) were praying and singing hymns^(C) to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶ Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.^(D) At once all the prison doors flew open,^(E) and everyone’s chains came loose.^{(F) 27} The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.^{(G) 28} But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

²⁹ The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.^{(H) 30} He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”^(I)

³¹ They replied, “Believe^(J) in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved^(K)—you and your household.”^{(L) 32} Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. ³³ At that hour of the night^(M) the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.^{(N) 34} The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he^(O) was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

³⁵ When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” ³⁶ The jailer^(P) told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”^(Q)

³⁷ But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens,^(R) and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”

³⁸ The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed.^{(S) 39} They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city.^{(T) 40} After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house,^(U) where they met with the brothers and sisters^(V) and encouraged them. Then they left.

In Thessalonica

17 When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica,^(W) where there was a Jewish synagogue. ² As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue,^(X) and on three Sabbath^(Y) days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,^{(Z) 3} explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer^(AA) and rise from the dead.^(AB) “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,”^(AC) he said. ⁴ Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas,^(AD) as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.

⁵ But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city.^(AE) They rushed to Jason’s^(AF) house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.^{[a] 6} But when they did not find them, they dragged^(AG) Jason and some other believers^(AH) before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world^(AI) have now come here,^{(AJ) 7} and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.”^{(AK) 8} When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. ⁹ Then they made Jason^(AL) and the others post bond and let them go.