19. When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them to the authorities in the public square.
20. In front of the Roman officials, they said, “These men are stirring up a lot of trouble in our city. They’re Jews,
21. and they’re advocating customs that we can’t accept or practice as Roman citizens.”
22. The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas. Then the officials tore the clothes off Paul and Silas and ordered ⌊the guards⌋ to beat them with sticks.
23. After they had hit Paul and Silas many times, they threw them in jail and ordered the jailer to keep them under tight security.
24. So the jailer followed these orders and put Paul and Silas into solitary confinement with their feet in leg irons.
25. Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God. The other prisoners were listening to them.
26. Suddenly, a violent earthquake shook the foundations of the jail. All the doors immediately flew open, and all the prisoners’ chains came loose.
27. The jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open. Thinking the prisoners had escaped, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself.
28. But Paul shouted as loudly as he could, “Don’t hurt yourself! We’re all here!”
29. The jailer asked for torches and rushed into the jail. He was trembling as he knelt in front of Paul and Silas.
30. Then he took Paul and Silas outside and asked, “Sirs, what do I have to do to be saved?”
31. They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you and your family will be saved.”
32. They spoke the Lord’s word to the jailer and everyone in his home.
33. At that hour of the night, the jailer washed Paul and Silas’ wounds. The jailer and his entire family were baptized immediately.
34. He took Paul and Silas upstairs into his home and gave them something to eat. He and his family were thrilled to be believers in God.
35. In the morning the Roman officials sent guards who told the jailer, “You can release those men now.”
36. The jailer reported this order to Paul by saying, “The officials have sent word to release you. So you can leave peacefully now.”