New Testament in a Year
22 The crowd joined the attack[a] against them, and the magistrates tore the clothes[b] off Paul and Silas[c] and ordered them to be beaten with rods.[d] 23 After they had beaten them severely,[e] they threw them into prison and commanded[f] the jailer to guard them securely. 24 Receiving such orders, he threw them in the inner cell[g] and fastened their feet in the stocks.[h]
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying[i] and singing hymns to God,[j] and the rest of[k] the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly a great earthquake occurred, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. Immediately all the doors flew open, and the bonds[l] of all the prisoners came loose. 27 When the jailer woke up[m] and saw the doors of the prison standing open,[n] he drew his sword and was about to kill himself,[o] because he assumed[p] the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul called out loudly,[q] “Do not harm yourself,[r] for we are all here!” 29 Calling for lights, the jailer[s] rushed in and fell down[t] trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them outside[u] and asked, “Sirs, what must[v] I do to be saved?” 31 They replied,[w] “Believe[x] in the Lord Jesus[y] and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then[z] they spoke the word of the Lord[aa] to him, along with all those who were in his house. 33 At[ab] that hour of the night he took them[ac] and washed their wounds;[ad] then[ae] he and all his family[af] were baptized right away.[ag] 34 The jailer[ah] brought them into his house and set food[ai] before them, and he rejoiced greatly[aj] that he had come to believe[ak] in God, together with his entire household.[al] 35 At daybreak[am] the magistrates[an] sent their police officers,[ao] saying, “Release those men.” 36 The jailer reported these words to Paul, saying,[ap] “The magistrates have sent orders[aq] to release you. So come out now and go in peace.”[ar] 37 But Paul said to the police officers,[as] “They had us beaten in public[at] without a proper trial[au]—even though we are Roman citizens[av]—and they threw us[aw] in prison. And now they want to send us away[ax] secretly? Absolutely not! They[ay] themselves must come and escort us out!”[az] 38 The police officers reported these words to the magistrates. They were frightened when they heard Paul and Silas[ba] were Roman citizens[bb] 39 and came[bc] and apologized to them. After[bd] they brought them out, they asked them repeatedly[be] to leave the city. 40 When they came out of the prison, they entered Lydia’s house, and when they saw the brothers, they encouraged them and then[bf] departed.
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