The Philippian Jailer Converted

25 (A)About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly (B)there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately (C)all the doors were opened, and (D)everyone's bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and (E)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 (F)fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, (G)what must I do to be (H)saved?” 31 And they said, (I)“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you (J)and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them (K)the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he (L)was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he (M)rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, (N)uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” 38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and (O)they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and (P)asked them to leave the city.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 16:29 Greek he

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)

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