Paul and Silas sing in prison

While Paul and his companions went to prayer, they met a girl who had a spirit of divination. Her masters made money from her soothsaying. For many days she followed them, crying that they were servants of the most high God who showed the way of salvation.

Paul, being grieved, turned and commanded the spirit in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. It came out that same hour. Her masters saw that their profit was gone. They seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the rulers. A crowd joined against them. The magistrates had them beaten and put in prison. The jailer placed them in the inner prison with their feet in stocks.

At midnight, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God. The other prisoners listened. Suddenly a great earthquake shook the prison. The doors opened, and everyone's bands were loosed.

The jailer woke and thought the prisoners had escaped. He was about to take his own life, but Paul shouted for him to stop because everyone was still there. Trembling, the jailer asked what he must do to be saved.

They told him to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. They spoke the word of the Lord to him and everyone in his house. That night he washed their wounds, and he and his household were baptized. He brought Paul and Silas into his house, gave them food, and rejoiced with his household, believing in God.

In Philippi, as Paul and his companions went to prayer, they met a damsel who had a spirit of divination. Her masters made considerable money through her soothsaying. She followed Paul and the others for many days, crying out that they were servants of the most high God who showed the way of salvation.

Paul, being grieved, turned and commanded the spirit in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. It came out that same hour. Her masters immediately saw what this meant for them: their hope of profit was gone. They seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.

The men accused Paul and Silas of troubling the city and teaching customs they said Romans should not receive or observe. The crowd rose up against them. The magistrates had them beaten with many blows and cast into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them securely. He put them in the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God while the other prisoners listened. Suddenly a great earthquake shook the prison so strongly that its foundations moved. The doors opened, and everyone's bands were loosed.

The jailer woke, saw the prison doors open and assumed the prisoners had escaped. He drew his sword and was about to kill himself. Paul shouted loudly for him not to harm himself because all the prisoners were still there. The jailer called for a light, rushed in trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas. He brought them out and asked what he must do to be saved.

They answered that he should believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house. In that same hour of the night, the jailer washed their wounds. He and all his household were baptized immediately. He then brought Paul and Silas into his house, set food before them and rejoiced, believing in God with all his household.

The account moves from exploitation and public punishment to prayer, rescue and a household hearing the word of the Lord. The jailer who had been ordered to secure Paul and Silas ends the night caring for their wounds and welcoming them into his home.