Study Desk

But when her masters saw that their hope of ^(C1)profit was suddenly gone, they seized ^(C2)Paul and Silas and ^(C3)dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities,

and when they had brought them to the chief magistrates, they said, "These men, Jews as they are, are causing our city trouble,

and they ^(C1)are proclaiming customs that are not lawful for us to accept or to practice, since we are ^(C2)Romans."

The crowd joined in an attack against them, and the chief magistrates tore their ^(F1)robes off them and proceeded to order ^(F2)them to be ^(C1)beaten with rods.

When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding ^(C1)the jailer to guard them securely;

^(F1)and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in ^(C1)the ^(F2)stocks.

Now about midnight ^(C1)Paul and Silas were praying and ^(C2)singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;

and suddenly ^(C1)there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately ^(C2)all the doors were opened, and everyone's ^(C3)chains were unfastened.

When ^(C1)the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about ^(C2)to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped.

But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!"

And the jailer asked for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear, he fell down before ^(C1)Paul and Silas;

and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, ^(C1)what must I do to be saved?"

They said, "^(C1)Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and ^(C2)your household."

And they spoke the word of God to him together with all who were in his house.

And he took them ^(C1)that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.

And he brought them into his house and set ^(F1)food before them, and was ^(F2)overjoyed, since he had become a believer in God together with ^(C1)his whole household.

Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their officers, saying, "Release those men."

And ^(C1)the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The chief magistrates have sent word that you be released. So come out now and go ^(C2)in peace."

But Paul said to them, "After beating us in public without due process—^(C1)men who are Romans—they threw us into prison; and now they are releasing us secretly? No indeed! On the contrary, let them come ^(F1)in person and lead us out."

The officers reported these words to the chief magistrates. ^(C1)And they became fearful when they heard that they were Romans,

and they came and pleaded with them, and when they had led them out, they repeatedly asked them ^(C1)to leave the city.

They left the prison and entered the house of ^(C1)Lydia, and when they saw ^(C2)the brothers and sisters, they ^(F1)encouraged them and departed.