Paul and Silas in Prison
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. 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.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the bname of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it ccame out that very hour.
19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and ddragged 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 advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to ebeat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into fprison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
The Philippian Jailer Converted
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were gpraying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great hearthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were iopened, and everyone’s jbonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, ksupposing 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 jailer1 called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, l“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, m“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you 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 the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was nbaptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had obelieved 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, uncondemned, men who are pRoman 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 they were qafraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and rasked them to leave the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.
The Advance of the Gospel
12 I want you to know, brothers,1 that what has happened to me rhas really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known sthroughout the whole imperial guard2 and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word3 without fear.
15 tSome indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? uOnly that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.
To Live Is Christ
Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that vthrough your prayers and the help of the wSpirit of Jesus Christ xthis will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and yhope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full zcourage now as always Christ will be ahonored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 bFor to me to live is Christ, and to die is cgain. 22 dIf I am to live in the flesh, that means efruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. fMy desire is to gdepart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 hConvinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your iprogress and joy in the faith, 26 so that jin me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
