Acts 16:25-40

New Testament for Everyone

Earthquake and salvation

²⁵ Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶ Suddenly there was a huge earthquake, which shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open, and everyone’s chains became loose. ²⁷ When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸ But Paul shouted at the top of his voice, “Don’t harm yourself! We’re all still here!”

²⁹ The jailer called for lights and rushed in. Trembling all over, he fell down before Paul and Silas. ³⁰ Then he brought them outside.

“Gentlemen,” he said, “will you please tell me how I can get out of this mess?”

³¹ “Believe in the Lord Jesus,” they replied, “and you will be rescued—you and your household.”

³² And they spoke the word of the Lord to him, with everyone who was in his house. ³³ He took them, at that very hour of the night, and washed their wounds. Then at once he was baptized, and all his household with him. ³⁴ Then he took them into his house, put food on the table, and rejoiced with his whole house that he had believed in God.

Publicly vindicated

³⁵ When day broke, the magistrates sent their officers with the message, “Let those men go.” ³⁶ The jailer passed on what they said to Paul.

“The magistrates have sent word that you should be released,” he said. “So now you can leave and go in peace.”

³⁷ But Paul objected.

“We are Roman citizens!” he said. “They beat us in public without a trial, they threw us into prison, and now they are sending us away secretly? No way! Let them come themselves and take us out.”

³⁸ The officers reported these words to the magistrates. When they heard that they were Roman citizens, they were afraid. ³⁹ They went and apologized, brought them out of the prison, and requested that they leave the city. ⁴⁰ So when they had left the prison they went to Lydia’s house. There they saw and encouraged the brothers and sisters, and then they went on their way.