Moffatt(i)
26 all of a sudden there was a great earthquake which shook the very foundations of the prison; the doors all flew open in an instant and the fetters of all the prisoners were unfastened.
27 When the jailer started from his sleep and saw the prison-doors open, he drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, supposing the prisoners had made their escape;
28 but Paul shouted aloud, "Do not harm yourself, we are all here!"
29 So calling for lights he rushed in, fell in terror before Paul and Silas,
30 and brought them out (after securing the other prisoners). "Sirs," he said, "what must I do to be saved?"
31 "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ," they said, "and then you will be saved, you and your household as well."
32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all in his house.
33 Then he took them at that very hour of the night and washed their wounds and got baptized instantly, he and all his family.
34 He took them up to his house and put food before them, overjoyed like all his household at having believed in God.
35 When day broke, the praetors sent the lictors with the message, "Release these men."
36 The jailer repeated this to Paul. "The praetors," he said, "have sent to release you. So come out and go in peace?"
37 But Paul replied, "They flogged us in public and without a trial, flogged Roman citizens! They put us in prison, and now they are going to get rid of us secretly! No indeed! Let them come here themselves and take us out!"
38 The lictors reported this to the praetors, who, on hearing the men were Roman citizens, became alarmed;
39 they went to appease them and after taking them out of prison begged them to leave the town.
40 So they left the prison and went to Lydia's house, where they saw the brothers and encouraged them; then they departed.