Acts 16

1 And he came to Derbe and Lystra: and there was a certain disciple there named Timothy, whose mother was one of the Jews of the faith, but his father was a Greek;

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 Of whom the brothers at Lystra and Iconium had a high opinion.

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

3 Paul had a desire for him to go with him, and he gave him circumcision because of the Jews who were in those parts: for they all had knowledge 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 on their way through the towns, they gave them the rules which had been made by the Apostles and the rulers of the church at Jerusalem, so that they might keep them.

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 So the churches were made strong in the faith and were increased in number every day.

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

6 And after they had gone through the land of Phrygia and Galatia, the Holy Spirit did not let them take the word into 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 And having come to Mysia, they made an attempt to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not let 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 going past Mysia, they came down to Troas.

So, passing along Mysia, they came to Troas.

9 And Paul had a vision in the night; a man of Macedonia came, requesting him, and saying, Come over into Macedonia and give us help.

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 when he had seen the vision, straight away we made the decision to go into Macedonia, for it seemed certain to us that God had sent us to give 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 So, from Troas we went straight by ship to Samothrace and the day after 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 the most important town of Macedonia and a Roman colony: and we were there for 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 we went outside the town, by the river, where we had an idea that there would be a place of prayer; and, being seated, we had talk with the women who had come 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 trader in purple cloth of the town of Thyatira, and a God-fearing woman, gave ear to us: whose heart the Lord made open to give attention to the things which Paul was saying.

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 and her family had had baptism, she made a request to us, saying, If it seems to you that I am true to the Lord, come into my house and be my guests. And she made us come.

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 when we were going to the place of prayer, we came across a girl with a spirit which gave knowledge of the future, whose masters made great profit from her power.

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 She came after Paul and us, crying out and saying, These men are the servants of the Most High God, who are giving you news of 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 this she did on a number of days. But Paul was greatly troubled and, turning, said to the spirit, I give you orders in the name of Jesus Christ, to come out of her. And it came out that very 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 their hope of profit was gone, they took Paul and Silas, pulling them into the market-place before 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 when they had taken them before the authorities, they said, These men, who are Jews, are greatly troubling our town;

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

21 Teaching rules of living which it is not right for us to have or to keep, being Romans.

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

22 And the people made an attack on them all together: and the authorities took their clothing off them, and gave orders for them to be whipped.

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 when they had given them a great number of blows, they put them in prison, giving orders to the keeper of the prison to keep them safely:

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

24 And he, having such orders, put them into the inner prison with chains on their feet.

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

25 But about the middle of the night, Paul and Silas were making prayers and songs to God in the hearing of the prisoners;

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

26 And suddenly there was an earth-shock, so that the base of the prison was moved: and all the doors came open, and everyone's chains came off.

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 keeper, coming out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, took his sword and was about to put himself to death, fearing that the prisoners had got away.

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 said in a loud voice, Do yourself no damage, for we are all here.

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

29 And he sent for lights and came rushing in and, shaking with fear, went down on his face before Paul and Silas,

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

30 And took them out and said, Sirs, what have I to do to get salvation?

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

31 And they said, Have faith in the Lord Jesus, and you and your family will have salvation.

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

32 And they gave the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.

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

33 And that same hour of the night, he took them, and when he had given attention to their wounds, he and all his family had baptism straight away.

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

34 And he took them into his house and gave them food, and he was full of joy, having faith in God with all his family.

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 was day, the authorities sent the police, saying, Let these men go.

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

36 And the keeper said to Paul, The authorities have given orders to let you go: come out now, and 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, They have given us who are Romans a public whipping without judging us, and have put us in prison. Will they now send us out secretly? no, truly, let them come themselves and take 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 gave an account of these words to the authorities, and they were full of fear on hearing 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 Then they came and made prayers to them, requesting them, when they had taken them out, to go away from the town.

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

40 And they came out of the prison and went to the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brothers they gave them comfort and went away.

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.