Daily Bread

²⁵ About midnight^(A) Paul and Silas^(B) were praying and singing hymns^(C) to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶ Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.^(D) At once all the prison doors flew open,^(E) and everyone’s chains came loose.^{(F) 27} The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.^{(G) 28} But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

²⁹ The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.^{(H) 30} He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”^(I)

³¹ They replied, “Believe^(J) in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved^(K)—you and your household.”^{(L) 32} Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. ³³ At that hour of the night^(M) the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.^{(N) 34} The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he^(O) was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

³⁵ When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” ³⁶ The jailer^(P) told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”^(Q)

³⁷ But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens,^(R) and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”

³⁸ The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed.^{(S) 39} They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city.^{(T) 40} After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house,^(U) where they met with the brothers and sisters^(V) and encouraged them. Then they left.