20. They brought them before the magistrates and said, ‘These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar
21. by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practise.’
22. The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.
23. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.
24. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns 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. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.
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.
28. But Paul shouted, ‘Don’t harm yourself ! We are all here!’