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They put thirty-nine stripes on their backs (2 Corinthians 11:25). They are stripped to the waist
and whipped with rods before being put into prison. This is all illegal.

Act 16:24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made
their feet fast in the stocks.

Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner (under) prison, and made their
feet fast (secure) in the stocks.

The under prison is a pit beneath the prison. It is the most secure place, and the stocks around
their feet make them immobile. It is physically impossible to escape. This is torture added to
torture.

16:24 charge, parangelia (par-ang-gel-ee-ah); A chain-of-command word, denoting a
general order, instruction, command, precept, or direction. It is used in a way that
makes the word self-explanatory. The prison authorities charge the jailer to imprison
Paul and Silas (verse 24). The apostles were given a charge not to preach by the
authorities at Jerusalem (5:28). Paul gives a charge to the Thessalonians (1
Thessalonians 4:2). Parangelia is the charge Paul gave to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:5, 18).

CONVERSION OF THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER (25-34)

Paul and Silas began praying and singing praises to God while in prison. As a result, the
foundations of the prison shake, all the doors in prison open, and all the prisoners chains
release. When the jailer wakes and sees the situation, he draws his sword to kill himself. Paul
and Silas stopped him, revealing they had not escaped. The jailer then falls to his knees and
asks how he can be saved.

PAUL AND SILAS SING PRAISES

Act 16:25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the
prisoners were listening to them.

And at (approaching) midnight Paul and Silas prayed (middle voice), and sang praises (middle
voice) unto God: and the prisoners heard (were listening to) them.

Paul and Silas pray and sing praises for their own benefit. They are not trying to witness to the
other prisoners but are edifying themselves and ministering faith to their own hearts (Jude 20).

Act 16:26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were
shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed.

The earthquake is sudden, violent, and local. It only affects the prison. It is strong enough to
do an internal damage to the cells and open the doors. The day after the quake, the
magistrates know nothing of it. The foundations are shaken; this is where Paul and Silas are
being held.