16 ¹⁶ Once, when we were on our way to the place of prayer, we met a slave-girl who was possessed by an oracular spirit and brought large profits to her owners by telling fortunes. 16 ¹⁷ She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, 'These men are servants of the Supreme God, and are declaring to you a way of salvation.' 16 ¹⁸ She did this day after day, until Paul could bear it no longer. Rounding on the spirit he said, 'I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her', and it went out there and then.

16 ¹⁹ When the girl's owners saw that their hope of gain had gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the city authorities in the main square; 16 ²⁰ and bringing them before the magistrates, they said, 'These men are causing a disturbance in our city, they are Jews; 16 ²¹ they are advocating customs which it is illegal for us Romans to adopt and follow.' 16 ²² The mob joined in the attack; and the magistrates tore off the prisoners' clothes and ordered them to be flogged. 16 ²³ After giving them a severe beating they flung them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them under close guard. 16 ²⁴ In view of these orders, he put them in the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.

16 ²⁵ About midnight Paul and Silas, at their prayers, were singing praises to God, and the other prisoners were listening, 16 ²⁶ when suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken; all the doors burst open and all the prisoners found their fetters unfastened. 16 ²⁷ The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open, and assuming that the prisoners had escaped, drew his sword intending to kill himself. 16 ²⁸ But Paul shouted, 'Do yourself no harm; we are all here.' 16 ²⁹ The jailer called for lights, rushed in and threw himself down before Paul and Silas, trembling with fear. 16 ³⁰ He then escorted them out and said, 'Masters, what must I do to be saved?' 16 ³¹ They said, 'Put your trust in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.' 16 ³² Then they spoke the word of the Lord Some witnesses read: of God. to him and to everyone in his house. 16 ³³ At that late hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; and immediately afterwards he and his whole family were baptized. 16 ³⁴ He brought them into his house, set out a meal, and rejoiced with his whole household in his new-found faith in God.

16 ³⁵ When daylight came the magistrates sent their officers with instructions to release the men. 16 ³⁶ The jailer reported the message to Paul: 'The magistrates have sent word that you are to be released. So now you may go free, and blessings on your journey.' Some witnesses read: ... free and take your journey. 16 ³⁷ But Paul said to the officers: 'They gave us a public flogging, though we are Roman citizens and have not been found guilty; they threw us into prison, and are they now to smuggle us out privately? No indeed! Let them come in person and escort us out.' 16 ³⁸ The officers reported his words. The magistrates were alarmed to hear that they were Roman citizens, 16 ³⁹ and came and apologized to them. Then they escorted them out and requested them to go away from the city. 16 ⁴⁰ On leaving the prison, they went to Lydia's house, where they met their fellow-Christians, and spoke words of encouragement to them; then they departed.