A mob formed in Philippi against Paul and Silas.  Why?  What had they done?

Paul had delivered an enslaved girl who was possessed by an evil spirit of divination.  She brought money to her masters by telling fortunes.  Those men no longer had their source of income and they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the market place.  There the chief magistrates for Philippi listened to the accusations of these two men “proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or observe, being Romans.”
(NASB – Acts 16:19-21)

The chief magistrates did not order a trial.  They tore the robes off of them and ordered that Paul and Silas be beaten with rods.  After the beating they were thrown into prison, into the inner prison (the dungeon).  There their feet were fastened in the stocks.  No medical attention was given to them; Scripture does not state that they were given their robes back.  Paul and Silas were persecuted for delivering a girl from a demon that had possessed her; they delivered her by the power of the name of Jesus.  (Acts 16:18)

Today, there is persecution of our brothers and sisters who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.  They too are imprisoned, tortured and persecuted for the right reason according to Scripture.

What did the Lord Jesus say about those who would be persecuted for His sake?
(NASB) Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 ‘Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
12 ‘Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

(NIV) 1 Peter 4:12-16 “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.  13But rejoice that you participate in the suffering of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.  14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.  15If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.  16However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”

Persecuted ~ for the reason of being righteous in the sight of the Lord Jesus.