Acts 16:16-40

Paul and Silas in Prison

16 As we were going to x the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had y a spirit of z divination and a brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, b crying out, "These men are c servants 1 of d the Most High God, who proclaim to you e the way of salvation." 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, f "I command you g in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And h it came out that very hour.

19 But i when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and j dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, "These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They k advocate customs that are not lawful for us l as Romans to accept or practice." 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders m to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner n prison and fastened their feet in o the stocks.

The Philippian Jailer Converted

25 p About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly q there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately r all the doors were opened, and s everyone's bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and t was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." 29 And the jailer 2 called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he u fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, v what must I do to be w saved?" 31 And they said, x "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you y and your household." 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them z the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he a was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he b rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, "Let those men go." 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace." 37 But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly, c uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out." 38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and c they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and d asked them to leave the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and visited e Lydia. And when they had seen f the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

  1. Cross References
    Acts 16:13
    And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.
  2. Cross References
    Luke 13:11
    And there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself.
  3. Cross References
    Leviticus 19:31
    Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.
  4. Cross References
    Acts 16:19
    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.
  5. Cross References
    James 2:19
    You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe - and shudder!
  6. Cross References
    Daniel 3:26
    Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!" Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire.
  7. Cross References
    Mark 5:7
    And crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.
  8. Cross References
    Acts 9:2
    And asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
    Matthew 7:14
    For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
  9. Cross References
    Mark 1:25
    But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!
    Mark 1:34
    And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
  10. Cross References
    Mark 9:38
    John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.
  11. Cross References
    Matthew 17:18
    And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly.
  12. Cross References
    Acts 16:16
    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.
    Acts 19:25 - 26
    These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth.
  13. Cross References
    Acts 17:6 - 8
    And when they could not find them, they dragged...
    Acts 21:30
    Then all the city was stirred up, and the peopl...
    James 2:6
    But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not t...
    Acts 8:3
    But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering ...
    Acts 18:12
    But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Je...
    Matthew 10:18
    And you will be dragged before governors and ki...
  14. Cross References
    Esther 3:8
    Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king's laws, so that it is not to the king's profit to tolerate them.
  15. Cross References
    Acts 16:12
    And from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days.
  16. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 6:5
    Beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger.
    2 Corinthians 11:23 - 25
    Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one - I am talking like a madman - with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.
    1 Thessalonians 2:2
    But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.
  17. Cross References
    Luke 21:12
    But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake.
  18. Cross References
    Job 13:27
    You put my feet in the stocks and watch all my paths; you set a limit for the soles of my feet.
    Job 33:11
    He puts my feet in the stocks and watches all my paths.
    Jeremiah 20:2 - 3
    Then Pashhur beat Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the upper Benjamin Gate of the house of the Lord.
    Jeremiah 29:26
    The Lord has made you priest instead of Jehoiada the priest, to have charge in the house of the Lord over every madman who prophesies, to put him in the stocks and neck irons.
  19. Cross References
    Job 35:10
    But none says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night.
    Psalms 42:8
    By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
    Psalms 77:6
    I said, "Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart." Then my spirit made a diligent search:
    Psalms 119:62
    At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules.
  20. Cross References
    Acts 4:31
    And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
  21. Cross References
    Acts 5:19
    But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said.
    Acts 12:10
    When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him.
  22. Cross References
    Acts 12:7
    And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands.
  23. Cross References
    Acts 12:19
    And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.
    Acts 27:42
    The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape.
    1 Kings 20:39
    And as the king passed, he cried to the king and said, "Your servant went out into the midst of the battle, and behold, a soldier turned and brought a man to me and said, 'Guard this man; if by any means he is missing, your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.
  24. Cross References
    Acts 10:25
    When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
  25. Cross References
    Acts 2:37
    Now when they heard this they were cut to the h...
    Acts 22:10
    And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lo...
    Luke 3:10
    And the crowds asked him, "What then shall we do?
    Luke 3:12
    Tax collectors also came to be baptized and sai...
    Luke 3:14
    Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what shall we...
    John 6:28 - 29
    Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be ...
  26. Cross References
    Acts 16:17
    She followed Paul and us, crying out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.
  27. Cross References
    Mark 16:16
    Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
  28. Cross References
    Acts 11:14
    He will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.
  29. Cross References
    Acts 16:25
    About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
  30. Cross References
    Acts 8:12
    But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
  31. Cross References
    Psalms 9:14
    That I may recount all your praises, that in th...
    Psalms 13:5
    But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my h...
    Isaiah 25:9
    It will be said on that day, "Behold, this is o...
    Luke 1:47
    And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
    1 Peter 1:6
    In this you rejoice, though now for a little wh...
    1 Peter 1:8
    Though you have not seen him, you love him. Tho...
    Acts 2:46
    And day by day, attending the temple together a...
  32. Cross References
    Acts 22:25
    But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, "Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?
    Acts 22:29
    So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.
  33. Cross References
    Acts 16:37
    But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.
  34. Cross References
    Matthew 8:34
    And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.
  35. Cross References
    Acts 16:14
    One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.
  36. Cross References
    John 21:23
    So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.