₁₆One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a young servant woman who had an evil spirit that enabled her to predict the future. She earned a lot of money for her owners by telling fortunes. ₁₇She followed Paul and us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God! They announce to you how you can be saved!” ₁₈She did this for many days, until Paul became so upset that he turned round and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I order you to come out of her!” The spirit went out of her that very moment.

₁₉When her owners realized that their chance of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the authorities in the public square. ₂₀They brought them before the Roman officials and said, “These men are Jews, and they are causing trouble in our city. ₂₁They are teaching customs that are against our law; we are Roman citizens, and we cannot accept these customs or practise them.” ₂₂And the crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas.

Then the officials tore the clothes off Paul and Silas and ordered them to be whipped. ₂₃After a severe beating, they were thrown into jail, and the jailer was ordered to lock them up tight. ₂₄Upon receiving this order, the jailer threw them into the inner cell and fastened their feet between heavy blocks of wood.

₂₅About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ₂₆Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, which shook the prison to its foundations. At once all the doors opened, and the chains fell off all the prisoners. ₂₇The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he thought that the prisoners had escaped; so he pulled out his sword and was about to kill himself. ₂₈But Paul shouted at the top of his voice, “Don't harm yourself! We are all here!”

₂₉The jailer called for a light, rushed in, and fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. ₃₀Then he led them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

₃₁They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your family.” ₃₂Then they preached the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. ₃₃At that very hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; and he and all his family were baptized at once. ₃₄Then he took Paul and Silas up into his house and gave them some food to eat. He and his family were filled with joy, because they now believed in God.