Paul and Silas in Prison

16 As we were going to (A)the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had (B)a spirit of (C)divination and (D)brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, (E)crying out, “These men are (F)servants of (G)the Most High God, who proclaim to you (H)the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, (I)“I command you (J)in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And (K)it came out that very hour.

19 But (L)when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and (M)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 (N)advocate customs that are not lawful for us (O)as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders (P)to 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 (Q)prison and fastened their feet in (R)the stocks.

The Philippian Jailer Converted

25 (S)About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly (T)there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately (U)all the doors were opened, and (V)everyone's bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and (W)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[a] called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he (X)fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, (Y)what must I do to be (Z)saved?” 31 And they said, (AA)“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you (AB)and your household.”

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 16:29 Greek he

Paul and Silas in Prison

16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer,(A) we were met by a female slave who had a spirit(B) by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God,(C) who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.(D)

19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money(E) was gone, they seized Paul and Silas(F) and dragged(G) them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar(H) 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans(I) to accept or practice.”(J)

22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.(K) 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer(L) was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.(M)

25 About midnight(N) Paul and Silas(O) were praying and singing hymns(P) 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.(Q) At once all the prison doors flew open,(R) and everyone’s chains came loose.(S) 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.(T) 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.(U) 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”(V)

31 They replied, “Believe(W) in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved(X)—you and your household.”(Y)

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