A Midnight Deliverance

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose.(A) 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison standing open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped.

28 But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Don’t harm yourself, because we’re all here!”

29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (B)

31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”(C) 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house. 33 He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized. 34 He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had come to believe in God with his entire household.(D)

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25 Now about midnight (A)Paul and Silas were praying and (B)singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26 and suddenly (C)there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately (D)all the doors were opened, and everyone’s (E)chains were unfastened. 27 When (F)the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about (G)to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” 29 And the jailer asked for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear, he fell down before (H)Paul and Silas; 30 and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, (I)what must I do to be saved?”

The Jailer Converted

31 They said, “(J)Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and (K)your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of God to him together with all who were in his house. 33 And he took them (L)that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. 34 And he brought them into his house and set [a]food before them, and was [b]overjoyed, since he had become a believer in God together with (M)his whole household.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 16:34 Lit a table
  2. Acts 16:34 Or overjoyed together with his whole household, since...God