A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

The crowd in Philippi joined in the attack on Paul and Silas, and the magistrates had them

stripped in order them to be beaten with rods.

After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into the prison and instructed the

jailer to guard them securely.

When he received these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and secured their

feet to a stake.

After midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners

listened, there was suddenly a severe earthquake that the foundations of the jail shook.

All the doors flew open and the chains

of all were pulled loose. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open,

he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped.

But Paul shouted in a loud voice, do no harm to yourself. We are all here. He asked for a light and rushed

in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said,

Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, believe in the Lord Jesus, and you and your household

will be saved. So he spoke the word of the Lord to him

and to everyone in his house. He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds.

Then he and his family were baptized at once. He brought them up into his house and provided a meal.

And with his household, rejoiced having come to faith in God. The word of the Lord, thanks be to God.

Your right hand saves me, O Lord.

Your right hand saves me, O Lord.

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart.

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