²² The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.^{(A) 23} After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer^(B) 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.^(C)

²⁵ About midnight^(D) Paul and Silas^(E) were praying and singing hymns^(F) 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.^(G) At once all the prison doors flew open,^(H) and everyone’s chains came loose.^{(I) 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.^{(J) 28} But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”