Thematic Bible: The song that opened the jail doors


Thematic Bible



And it came to pass, that as we were going to the house of prayer, there met us a certain maid-servant that had a spirit of Python, who brought much gain to her masters, by giving responses. She followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying: These men are the servants of the most High God, who show us the way of salvation. And this she continued to do for many days. But Paul, being grieved, 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. read more.
And when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the market to the rulers. And having brought them to the magistrates, they said: These men, who are Jews, do greatly trouble our city; and they teach customs which it is not lawful for us, who are Romans, to receive or to observe. And the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates stripped off their clothes, and gave command to beat them with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, and charged the jailer to keep them securely. And having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sung a hymn 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 every one's bonds were loosed. And the jailer, being aroused from sleep, and seeing the doors of the prison open, drew his sword, and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had fled. But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying: Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.