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) 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(Z) the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.(AA) 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he(AB) was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

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保罗逐出巫鬼

16 后来,我们往那祷告的地方去,有一个使女迎着面来,她被巫鬼所附,用法术叫她主人们大得财利。 17 她跟随保罗和我们,喊着说:“这些人是至高神的仆人,对你们传说救人的道!” 18 她一连多日这样喊叫,保罗就心中厌烦,转身对那鬼说:“我奉耶稣基督的名,吩咐你从她身上出来!”那鬼当时就出来了。

保罗西拉被打下监

19 使女的主人们见得利的指望没有了,便揪住保罗西拉,拉他们到市上去见首领, 20 又带到官长面前,说:“这些人原是犹太人,竟骚扰我们的城, 21 传我们罗马人所不可受、不可行的规矩。” 22 众人就一同起来攻击他们。官长吩咐剥了他们的衣裳,用棍打。 23 打了许多棍,便将他们下在监里,嘱咐禁卒严紧看守。 24 禁卒领了这样的命,就把他们下在内监里,两脚上了木狗。

夜半地震监门全开

25 约在半夜,保罗西拉祷告,唱诗赞美神,众囚犯也侧耳而听。 26 忽然地大震动,甚至监牢的地基都摇动了,监门立刻全开,众囚犯的锁链也都松开了。 27 禁卒一醒,看见监门全开,以为囚犯已经逃走,就拔刀要自杀。 28 保罗大声呼叫说:“不要伤害自己!我们都在这里。” 29 禁卒叫人拿灯来,就跳进去,战战兢兢地俯伏在保罗西拉面前, 30 又领他们出来,说:“二位先生,我当怎样行才可以得救?”

禁卒全家信主

31 他们说:“当信主耶稣,你和你一家都必得救。” 32 他们就把主的道讲给他和他全家的人听。 33 当夜,就在那时候,禁卒把他们带去,洗他们的伤,他和属乎他的人立时都受了洗。 34 于是禁卒领他们上自己家里去,给他们摆上饭,他和全家因为信了神都很喜乐。

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