Acts 16

1 And he came to Derbe and to Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain faithful Jewish woman, but of a Greek father,

He also came to Derbe and to Lystra. At Lystra he found a disciple, Timothy by name--the son of a Christian Jewess, though he had a Greek father.

2 who was well reported of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.

Timothy was well spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium,

3 Paul wanted this man to go forth with him. And having taken him, he circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those regions, for they had all seen that his father was a Greek.

and Paul desiring that he should accompany him on his journey, took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

4 And as they were going through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.

As they journeyed on from town to town, they handed to the brethren for their observance the decisions which had been arrived at by the Apostles and Elders in Jerusalem.

5 Indeed therefore the congregations were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

So the Churches went on gaining a stronger faith and growing in numbers from day to day.

6 But having passed through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia,

Then Paul and his companions passed through Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Message in the province of Asia.

7 having come toward Mysia, they attempted to go toward Bithynia. And the Spirit did not allow them.

When they reached the frontier of Mysia, they were about to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit this.

8 And after passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

So, passing along Mysia, they came to Troas.

9 And a vision appeared to Paul during the night. A certain Macedonian man was standing, imploring him, and saying, After crossing over into Macedonia, help us.

Here, one night, Paul saw a vision. There was a Macedonian who was standing, entreating him and saying, "Come over into Macedonia and help us."

10 And after he saw the vision, straightaway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord called us to preach the good news to them.

So when he had seen the vision, we immediately looked out for an opportunity of passing on into Macedonia, confidently inferring that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to the people there.

11 Therefore, having launched from Troas, we took a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis,

Accordingly we put out to sea from Troas, and ran a straight course to Samothrace. The next day we came to Neapolis,

12 and from there to Philippi, which is a principle city of the district of Macedonia colony. And we were in the same city remaining some days.

and thence to Philippi, which is a city in Macedonia, the first in its district, a Roman colony. And there we stayed some little time.

13 And on the sabbath day we went outside the city beside a river, where it was customary for prayer to be. And having sat down, we spoke to the women who came together.

On the Sabbath we went beyond the city gate to the riverside, where we had reason to believe that there was a place for prayer; and sitting down we talked with the women who had come together.

14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, a woman who worshiped God, was listening, whose heart the Lord opened to heed the things being spoken by Paul.

Among our hearers was one named Lydia, a dealer in purple goods. She belonged to the city of Thyateira, and was a worshipper of the true God. The Lord opened her heart, so that she gave attention to what Paul was saying.

15 And when she was immersed, and her household, she urged us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, after coming into my house, remain. And she constrained us.

When she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If in your judgement I am a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house." And she made us go there.

16 And it came to pass, as we were going to prayer, for a certain servant girl having a spirit of divination to meet us, who brought her masters much business by soothsaying.

One day, as we were on our way to the place of prayer, a slave girl met us who claimed to be inspired and was accustomed to bring her owners large profits by telling fortunes.

17 This woman having followed Paul and us was crying out, saying, These men are bondmen of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.

She kept following close behind Paul and the rest of us, crying aloud, "These men are the bondservants of the Most High God, and are proclaiming to you the way of salvation."

18 And she did this on many days. But Paul, after being exasperated, and having turned, he said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out the same hour.

This she persisted in for a considerable time, until Paul, wearied out, turned round and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out immediately.

19 But when her masters saw that the hope of their business was gone, having seized Paul and Silas, they dragged them into the marketplace to the rulers.

But when her owners saw that their hopes of gain were gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them off to the magistrates in the public square.

20 And after bringing them to the magistrates, they said, These men, being Jews, disturb our city,

Then they brought them before the praetors. "These men," they said, "are creating a great disturbance in our city.

21 and proclaim customs that are not permitted for us to receive nor to do, being Romans.

They are Jews, and are teaching customs which we, as Romans, are not permitted to adopt or practise."

22 And the multitude rose up together against them. And the magistrates, having torn off their clothes, commanded to beat them with rods.

The crowd, too, joined in the outcry against them, till at length the praetors ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods;

23 And having laid many blows upon them, they cast them into prison, having ordered the jailor to guard them securely,

and, after severely flogging them, they threw them into jail and bade the jailer keep them safely.

24 who, having received such an order, threw them into the inner prison, and fastened their feet in the stocks.

He, having received an order like that, lodged them in the inner prison, and secured their feet in the stocks.

25 Now toward midnight Paul and Silas, while praying, were singing praises to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,

26 And suddenly a great earthquake occurred, so as for the foundations of the prison to shake. And immediately all the doors were opened, and the bonds of all the men were unfastened.

when suddenly there was such a violent shock of earthquake that the prison shook to its foundations. Instantly the doors all flew open, and the chains fell off from every prisoner.

27 And the jailor, who became awake and who saw the prison doors opened, having drawn out a sword was going to kill himself, supposing the prisoners to have fled.

Starting up from sleep and seeing the doors of the jail wide open, the jailer drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.

28 But Paul cried out in a great voice, saying, Do nothing harmful to thyself, for we are all here.

But Paul shouted loudly to him, saying, "Do yourself no injury: we are all here.

29 And having asked for lights, he rushed in, and having become trembling, he fell down before Paul and Silas.

Then, calling for lights, he sprang in and fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas;

30 And after bringing them outside, he said, Sirs, what must I do so that I may be saved?

and, bringing them out of the prison, he exclaimed, "O sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

31 And they said, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and thou will be saved, thou and thy household.

"Believe on the Lord Jesus," they replied, "and both you and your household will be saved."

32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all those in his house.

And they told the Lord's Message to him as well as to all who were in his house.

33 And having taken them in that hour of the night, he washed from the stripes, and was immersed, he and all those of him, immediately.

Then he took them, even at that time of night, washed their wounds, and he and all his household were immediately baptized;

34 And having brought them into his house, he set out a table, and rejoiced, having believed in God with all his house.

and bringing the Apostles up into his house, he spread a meal for them, and was filled with gladness, with his whole household, his faith resting on God.

35 But when it became day, the magistrates sent out the police, saying, Release those men.

In the morning the praetors sent their lictors with the order, "Release those men."

36 And the jailor reported these words to Paul: The magistrates have sent out so that ye may be released. Now therefore after coming out, go in peace.

So the jailer brought Paul word, saying, "The praetors have sent orders for you to be released. Now therefore you can go, and proceed on your way in peace."

37 But Paul said to them, Having beaten us publicly, uncondemned men, being Romans, they cast us into prison, and now they thrust us out privately? Certainly not, but after coming, they shall lead us out.

But Paul said to them, "After cruelly beating us in public, without trial, Roman citizens though we are, they have thrown us into prison, and are they now going to send us away privately? No, indeed! Let them come in person and fetch us out."

38 And the police reported these sayings to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans.

This answer the lictors took back to the praetors, who were alarmed when they were told that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.

39 And having come they besought them, and when they brought them out, they asked them to go out of the city.

Accordingly they came and apologized to them; and, bringing them out, asked them to leave the city.

40 And having departed from the prison, they came in to Lydia. And after seeing the brothers, they encouraged them, and departed.

Then Paul and Silas, having come out of the prison, went to Lydia's house; and, after seeing the brethren and encouraging them, they left Philippi.