16. And it happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain female slave who had a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing a large profit to her owners by fortune-telling.
17. She followed Paul and us and was crying out, saying, “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!”
18. And she was doing this for many days. But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed and turning around, said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out immediately.
19. But when her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
20. And when they had brought them to the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are throwing our city into confusion, being Jews,
21. and are proclaiming customs that are not permitted for us to accept or to practice, because we are Romans!”
22. And the crowd joined in attacking them, and the chief magistrates tore off their clothing and gave orders to beat them with rods.