Acts 16

1 And he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, there was a certain disciple there named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman that believed; but his father was a Gentile.

Paul went on to Derbe and Lystra, and behold, a disciple named Timothy was there. He was the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.

2 To this man the brethren that were in Lystra and Iconium, gave a good testimony.

He was well spoken of by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium.

3 Him Paul would have to go along with him: and taking him he circumcised him, because of the Jews who were in those places. For they all knew that his father was a Gentile.

Paul wanted this man to go on with him, so he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

4 And as they passed through the cities, they delivered unto them the decrees for to keep, that were decreed by the apostles and ancients who were at Jerusalem.

As they went through the cities, they delivered the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and the elders in Jerusalem for the Gentile believers to obey.

5 And the churches were confirmed in faith, and increased in number daily.

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

6 And when they had passed through Phrygia, and the country of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia.

Then Paul and his companions went through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit from speaking the word in Asia.

7 And when they were come into Mysia, they attempted to go into Bythynia, and the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not.

When they reached Mysia, they tried to go on toward Bithynia, but the Spirit did not allow them.

8 And when they had passed through Mysia, they went down to Troas.

So passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.

9 And a vision was shewed to Paul in the night, which was a man of Macedonia standing and beseeching him, and saying: Pass over into Macedonia, and help us.

During the night Paul had a vision. A Macedonian man was standing there, urging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!”

10 And as soon as he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, being assured that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

After Paul saw the vision, we immediately endeavored to go on to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

11 And sailing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the day following to Neapolis;

So we set sail from Troas and followed a straight course to Samothrace, and on the next day we went to Neapolis.

12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were in this city some days conferring together.

From there we went on to Philippi, which is a Roman colony and a leading city of that district of Macedonia. We stayed in that city for several days.

13 And upon the sabbath day, we went forth without the gate by a river side, where it seemed that there was prayer; and sitting down, we spoke to the women that were assembled.

On the Sabbath day we went outside the city to a riverside, where it was customary for there to be prayer. We sat down and began speaking to the women who had gathered together.

14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, did hear: whose heart the Lord opened to attend to those things which were said by Paul.

One of those listening to us was a woman named Lydia. She was a worshiper of God from the city of Thyatira and a seller of purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying.

15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying: If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

After she was baptized, along with her household, she urged us, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come stay at my house.” And she persuaded us to do so.

16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain girl, having a pythonical spirit, met us, who brought to her masters much gain by divining.

One day, as we were on our way to prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination. She had brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling.

17 This same following Paul and us, cried out, saying: These men are the servants of the most high God, who preach unto you the way of salvation.

She followed along behind Paul and us and kept crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of salvation.”

18 And this she did many days. But Paul being grieved, turned, and said to the spirit: I command thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, to go out from her. And he went out the same hour.

She kept on doing this for many days, and Paul became so annoyed that he turned and said to the spirit, “I command yoʋ in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.

19 But her masters, seeing that the hope of their gain was gone, apprehending Paul and Silas, brought them into the marketplace to the rulers.

When her masters saw that their hope for profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, dragged them to the marketplace, and set them before the authorities.

20 And presenting them to the magistrates, they said: These men disturb our city, being Jews;

After bringing them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews,

21 And preach a fashion which it is not lawful for us to receive nor observe, being Romans.

and they are proclaiming customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.”

22 And the people ran together against them; and the magistrates rending off their clothes, commanded them to be beaten with rods.

The crowd rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore their garments off them and ordered them to be beaten with rods.

23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the gaoler to keep them diligently.

After inflicting many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them under close guard.

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

When he received this order, he put them in the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

25 And at midnight, Paul and Silas praying, praised God. And they that were in prison, heard them.

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

26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and the bands of all were loosed.

Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. Immediately all the doors opened, and all the chains came loose.

27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the doors of the prison open, drawing his sword, would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

Then the jailer was awakened, and when he saw that the doors of the prison were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, assuming that the prisoners had escaped.

28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying: Do thyself no harm, for we all are here.

But Paul cried out with a loud voice, “Do yoʋrself no harm, for we are all here.”

29 Then calling for a light, he went in, and trembling, fell down at the feet of Paul and Silas.

Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.

30 And bringing them out, he said: Masters, what must I do, that I may be saved?

Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 But they said: Believe in the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and yoʋ will be saved, yoʋ and yoʋr household.”

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

Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his household.

33 And he, taking them the same hour of the night, washed their stripes, and himself was baptized, and all his house immediately.

He then took them in that hour of the night and washed their wounds. Then he was baptized at once, along with his entire household.

34 And when he had brought them into his own house, he laid the table for them, and rejoiced with all his house, believing God.

After bringing Paul and Silas into his house, he set a meal before them. And he rejoiced, along with his entire household, because he had come to believe in God.

35 And when the day was come, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.

When daybreak came, the magistrates sent their officers, saying, “Release those men.”

36 And the keeper of the prison told these words to Paul: The magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore depart, and go in peace.

So the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent orders for you to be released. Therefore come out now and go in peace.”

37 But Paul said to them: They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Romans, and have cast us into prison: and now do they thrust us out privately? Not so; but let them come,

But Paul said to them, “They beat us in public without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and they threw us into prison. And now they are sending us away secretly? Certainly not! Rather, let them come and escort us out themselves.”

38 And let us out themselves. And the serjeants told these words to the magistrates. And they were afraid, hearing that they were Romans.

So the officers reported these words to the magistrates, and the magistrates were afraid when they heard that the men were Roman citizens.

39 And coming, they besought them; and bringing them out, they desired them to depart out of the city.

So they came and spoke to them in a conciliatory manner. As they escorted them out, they begged them to leave the city.

40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia; and having seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

So Paul and Silas came out of the prison and went to Lydia's house. And after seeing the brothers and encouraging them, they departed.