20. Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews
21. and are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.”
22. Then the mob joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods.
23. After they had inflicted many blows on them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to keep them securely guarded.
24. Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.
25. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
26. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose.
27. When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped.