“As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
But when her owners saw that
their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into
the marketplace before the rulers. And when they had brought them to the
magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our
city. They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to
accept or practice.” The crowd joined in attacking them, and the
magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with
rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them
into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received
this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the
stocks.
About midnight Paul and Silas
were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to
them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations
of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and
everyone’s bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the
prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself,
supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud
voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called
for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and
Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be
saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be
saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the
Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same
hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and
all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food
before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had
believed in God.” (Acts 16:16-34 ESV) [1]
(emphasis added)
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