Acts 16:25-31

New International Version

²⁵About midnight^(A) Paul and Silas^(B) were praying and singing hymns^(C) to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶Suddenly 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) ²⁷The 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) ²⁸But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

²⁹The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.^(H) ³⁰He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”^(I)

³¹They replied, “Believe^(J) in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved^(K)—you and your household.”^(L)

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Acts 16:25-31

The Message

^25-26Along about midnight, Paul and Silas were at prayer and singing a robust hymn to God. The other prisoners couldn’t believe their ears. Then, without warning, a huge earthquake! The jailhouse tottered, every door flew open, all the prisoners were loose.

^27-28Startled from sleep, the jailer saw all the doors swinging loose on their hinges. Assuming that all the prisoners had escaped, he pulled out his sword and was about to do himself in, figuring he was as good as dead anyway, when Paul stopped him: “Don’t do that! We’re all still here! Nobody’s run away!”

^29-31The jailer got a torch and ran inside. Badly shaken, he collapsed in front of Paul and Silas. He led them out of the jail and asked, “Sirs, what do I have to do to be saved, to really live?” They said, “Put your entire trust in the Master Jesus. Then you’ll live as you were meant to live—and everyone in your house included!”

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Acts 16:25-31

English Standard Version

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, ²⁶and 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. ²⁷When 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. ²⁸But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” ²⁹And the jailer^[a] called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he ^(F)fell down before Paul and Silas. ³⁰Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, ^(G)what must I do to be ^(H)saved?” ³¹And they said, ^(I)“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you ^(J)and your household.”