Paul and Silas Imprisoned and Released in Philippi
Acts 16:16-40
16It happened then that, as we were going toward the place of prayer, a certain maidservant who had a divining spirit came to meet us; she furnished much work to her lords by practicing divination.17Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, These humans are slaves of the God of the Highest, who proclaim to you the road of salvation.18She continued doing this for many days. Then Paul, becoming grieved, turned to the spirit and said, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out from her; and it came out from her at that very hour.19When her lords saw that the hope of their work had gone out, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.20They brought them before the officers and said, These humans are greatly disturbing our city, being Jews.21They are proclaiming customs that are not lawful for us Romans to accept or to practice.22The crowd rose up together against them, and the officers tore off their garments and ordered them to be beaten.23After inflicting many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely.24When he had received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.26Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's bonds were unfastened.27When the jailer awoke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.28But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Do no harm to yourself, for we are all here."29He called for lights, rushed in, and trembling fell down before Paul and Silas.30Then he brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?31They said, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.32They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.33He took them at that hour of the night and washed their wounds; then he and all his household were baptized at once.34He brought them up into his house, set food before them, and rejoiced with his whole household because he had believed in God.35When day came, the officers sent the police with the message, Release those men.36The jailer reported these words to Paul: The officers have sent orders that you should be released; therefore come out now and go in peace.37But Paul said to them, They have beaten us publicly without trial, though we are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and now do they send us away secretly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.38The police reported these statements to the officers, who became afraid when they heard that the men were Romans.39They came and appealed to them; then, after bringing them out, they asked them to leave the city.40After leaving the prison they went to Lydia's house; when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and then departed.