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25 But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other] prisoners were listening to them,

26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and at once all the doors were opened and everyone’s shackles were unfastened.

27 When the jailer, startled out of his sleep, saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, because he supposed that the prisoners had escaped.

28 But Paul shouted, Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!

29 Then [the jailer] called for lights and rushed in, and trembling and terrified he fell down before Paul and Silas.

30 And he brought them out [of the dungeon] and said, Men, what is it necessary for me to do that I may be saved?

31 And they answered, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ [[a]give yourself up to Him, [b] take yourself out of your own keeping and entrust yourself into His keeping] and you will be saved, [and this applies both to] you and your household as well.

32 And they declared the Word of the Lord [the doctrine concerning the [c]attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] to him and to all who were in his house.

33 And he took them the same hour of the night and [d]bathed [them because of their bloody] wounds, and he was baptized immediately and all [the members of] his [household].

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 16:31 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  2. Acts 16:31 Kenneth Wuest, Word Studies.
  3. Acts 16:32 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  4. Acts 16:33 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.

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)

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