Act 16:19-40 | NASB2020 | STEP | But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was suddenly gone , they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities ,

Acts 16:19-40

19 But when her masters saw that their hope of ^aprofit was suddenly gone, they seized ^bPaul and Silas and ^cdragged them into the marketplace before the authorities, 20 and when they had brought them to the chief magistrates, they said, “These men, Jews as they are, are causing our city trouble, 21 and they ^dare proclaiming customs that are not lawful for us to accept or to practice, since we are ^eRomans.”

Paul and Silas Imprisoned

22 The crowd joined in an attack against them, and the chief magistrates tore their ^{▼▼Or outer garments}robes off them and proceeded to order ^{▼▼Lit to beat with rods}them to be ^hbeaten with rods. 23 When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding ⁱthe jailer to guard them securely; 24 ^{▼▼Lit who}and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in ^kthe ^{▼▼Lit wood}stocks.

25 Now about midnight ^mPaul and Silas were praying and ⁿsinging hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26 and suddenly ^othere was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately ^pall the doors were opened, and everyone’s ^qchains were unfastened. 27 When ^rthe jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about ^sto 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 ^tPaul and Silas; 30 and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, ^uwhat must I do to be saved?”

The Jailer Converted

31 They said, “ ^vBelieve in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and ^wyour household.” 32 And they spoke the word of God to him together with all who were in his house. 33 And he took them ^xthat 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 ^{▼▼Lit a table}food before them, and was ^{▼▼Or overjoyed together with his whole household, since...God}overjoyed, since he had become a believer in God together with ^aahis whole household.

35 Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their officers, saying, “Release those men.” 36 And ^abthe jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The chief magistrates have sent word that you be released. So come out now and go ^acin peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “After beating us in public without due process-- ^admen who are Romans--they threw us into prison; and now they are releasing us secretly? No indeed! On the contrary, let them come ^{▼▼Lit themselves}in person and lead us out.” 38 The officers reported these words to the chief magistrates. ^afAnd they became fearful when they heard that they were Romans, 39 and they came and pleaded with them, and when they had led them out, they repeatedly asked them ^agto leave the city. 40 They left the prison and entered the house of ^ahLydia, and when they saw ^aithe brothers and sisters, they ^{▼▼Or exhorted}encouraged them and departed.