Acts 16:25-40
Believe in the Lord Jesus
25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
26Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.
27When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, presuming that the prisoners had escaped.
28But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself! We are all here!”
29Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.
30Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”
32Then Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house.
33At that hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed their wounds. And without delay, he and all his household were baptized.
34Then he brought them into his home and set a meal before them. So he and all his household rejoiced that they had come to believe in God.
35When daylight came, the magistrates sent their officers with the order: “Release those men.”
36The jailer informed Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders to release you. Now you may go on your way in peace.”
37But Paul said to the officers, “They beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison, even though we are Roman citizens. And now do they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! Let them come themselves and escort us out!”
38So the officers relayed this message to the magistrates, who were alarmed to hear that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.
39They came to appease them and led them out, requesting that they leave the city.
40After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house to see the brothers and encourage them. Then they left the city.
Berean Standard Bible
At midnight, Paul and Silas pray and sing while the other prisoners listen. An earthquake opens the doors and loosens every chain. The jailer assumes the prisoners have escaped and is about to harm himself, but Paul stops him.
Do not harm yourself! We are all here!
The jailer asks what he must do to be saved. Paul and Silas speak the word of the Lord to him and his household. He washes their wounds, receives baptism, and serves them a meal. By morning, the magistrates want them quietly released, but Paul explains that Roman citizens were beaten without a trial. After leaving the prison, they encourage the believers at Lydia's house.
Around midnight Paul and Silas are praying and singing hymns while the other prisoners listen. Their worship does not deny the pain of the beating or the darkness of the inner prison. It declares that the authorities do not control their relationship with God.
The earthquake opens the doors and loosens everyone's chains. The jailer wakes, sees the doors open, and assumes the prisoners have escaped. Because a Roman jailer's life could be demanded for a lost prisoner, he prepares to kill himself. Paul shouts that everyone is still there. The man who was responsible for their chains now falls trembling before them and asks what he must do to be saved.
Paul and Silas speak the word of the Lord to him and everyone in his house. The jailer washes their wounds, and he and his whole household are baptized without waiting for daylight. He brings them into his home, sets food before them, and rejoices because he has believed in God. The earthquake opens a prison, but the larger rescue is a household turning toward the Lord.
In the morning, the magistrates send word to release them. Paul then reveals that he and Silas are Roman citizens who were beaten publicly without a trial. The officials must come themselves to escort them out. Paul does not seek revenge, but he insists that public injustice be acknowledged before leaving the city.
Questions
1 What were Paul and Silas doing at midnight?
AnswerThey were praying and singing hymns to God.
2 What did the earthquake do?
AnswerIt opened the doors and loosened everyone's chains.
3 What did the jailer ask?
AnswerHe asked what he must do to be saved.
4 How did the jailer respond?
AnswerHe heard the word, washed their wounds, believed, and was baptized with his household.
What This Means for Us
Worship in suffering can become a witness to people who are watching. Paul and Silas cared about the jailer's life before they argued for their own rights. The gospel creates both compassion and courage.
Prayer
Lord, meet us in difficult places and make our trust visible. Help us protect those in danger, speak the good news clearly, and welcome new believers with joy. Amen.