22. The crowd joined the attack against them. The Roman officers tore the clothes of Paul and Silas and had them beaten with rods again and again.
23. After being severely beaten, Paul and Silas were thrown into jail. The jailer was ordered to guard them carefully.
24. When he heard this order, he put them far inside the jail. He pinned down their feet between large blocks of wood.
25. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing songs to God. The other prisoners were listening to them.
26. Suddenly, there was a big earthquake. It was so strong that it shook the foundation of the jail. Then all the doors of the jail broke open. All the prisoners were freed from their chains.
27. The jailer woke up and saw that the jail doors were open. He thought that the prisoners had already escaped. So he got his sword and was about to kill himself.
28. But Paul shouted, “Don’t hurt yourself! We are all here!”
29. The jailer told someone to bring a light. Then he ran inside. Shaking with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas.
30. Then he brought them outside and said, “Men, what must I do to be saved?”
31. They said to him, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved—you and all the people in your house.”
32. So Paul and Silas told the message of the Lord to the jailer and all the people in his house.