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Acts 16:16-40 (AMP)

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¹⁶ As we were on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who was possessed by a spirit of divination , and she brought her owners much gain by her fortunetelling. ¹⁷ She kept following Paul and us, shouting loudly, These men are the servants of the Most High God! They announce to you the way of salvation! ¹⁸ And she did this for many days. Then Paul, being sorely annoyed and worn out, turned and said to the spirit within her, I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! And it came out that very moment. ¹⁹ But when her owners discovered that their hope of profit was gone, they caught hold of Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the forum (marketplace), . ²⁰ And when they had brought them before the magistrates, they declared, These fellows are Jews and they are throwing our city into great confusion. ²¹ They encourage the practice of customs which it is unlawful for us Romans to accept or observe! ²² The crowd joined in the attack upon them, and the rulers tore the clothes off of them and commanded that they be beaten with rods. ²³ And when they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. ²⁴ He, having received charge, put them into the inner prison (the dungeon) and fastened their feet in the stocks. ²⁵ But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, ²⁶ Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and at once all the doors were opened and everyone's shackles were unfastened. ²⁷ When the jailer, startled out of his sleep, saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, because he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸ But Paul shouted, Do not harm yourself, for we are all here! ²⁹ Then called for lights and rushed in, and trembling and terrified he fell down before Paul and Silas. ³⁰ And he brought them out and said, Men, what is it necessary for me to do that I may be saved? ³¹ And they answered, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household as well. ³² And they declared the Word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. ³³ And he took them the same hour of the night and bathed wounds, and he was baptized immediately and all his . ³⁴ Then he took them up into his house and set food before them; and he leaped much for joy and exulted with all his family that he believed in God . ³⁵ But when it was day, the magistrates sent policemen, saying, Release those fellows and let them go. ³⁶ And the jailer repeated the words to Paul, saying, The magistrates have sent to release you and let you go; now therefore come out and go in peace. ³⁷ But Paul answered them, They have beaten us openly and publicly, without a trial and uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now thrust us out secretly? No, indeed! Let them come here themselves and conduct us out! ³⁸ The police reported this message to the magistrates, and they were frightened when they heard that the prisoners were Roman citizens; ³⁹ So they came themselves and apologized to them. And they brought them out and asked them to leave the city. ⁴⁰ So left the prison and went to Lydia's house; and when they had seen the brethren, they warned and urged and consoled and encouraged them and departed.


This passage relates to the following topic(s):
(v. 25) Singing - Singing to lift spirits
(v. 25) Joy / Rejoicing - Paul and Silas - in prison
(v. 30) Baptism / Conversions - Jailer - heard, believed, and asked "what must I do to be saved?" and he and his household were baptized
(v. 31) Baptism / Conversions - Jailer - heard, believed, and asked "what must I do to be saved?" and he and his household were baptized
(v. 32) Baptism / Conversions - Jailer - heard, believed, and asked "what must I do to be saved?" and he and his household were baptized
(v. 33) Baptism / Conversions - Jailer - heard, believed, and asked "what must I do to be saved?" and he and his household were baptized

This passage is referenced in the following quiet time(s):
(v. 16) Teach Us To Pray - Unity with Others (2008-09-11)
(v. 22) To Live is Christ - Partners in the Gospel (2010-03-02)

Definition(s):
Jesus (Jeez-us): savior; deliverer
Silas (Sigh-lass): three, or the third
Romans (Rohm-ans):
So (Soh):