Acts 16

1 Paul went first to Derbe, and then on to Lystra, where he met a believer by the name of Timothy. He was the son of a Jewish Christian mother, and his father was Greek.

Then he arrived at Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple named Timothy was there, the son of a faithful Jewish woman, his father a Gentile.

2 The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.

The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium rendered good testimony to him.

3 Paul wanted Timothy to travel with him, so he circumcised him because the Jews in the area all knew that Timothy's father was Greek.

Paul wanted this man to travel 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.

4 As they went through the different towns they gave them the requirements the apostles and elders in Jerusalem had said should be observed.

And as they were traveling through the cities, they delivered to them the dogmas to be kept, which were decreed by the Apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.

5 The churches were strengthened in their trust in the Lord and every day their numbers increased.

And certainly, the Churches were being strengthened in faith and were increasing in number every day.

6 They traveled through the districts of Phrygia and Galatia, since the Holy Spirit prevented them from going to the province of Asia to speak the word.

Then, while crossing through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the Word in Asia.

7 When they arrived at the border of Mysia they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to enter.

But when they had arrived in Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them.

8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.

Then, when they had crossed through Mysia, they descended to Troas.

9 There Paul saw in vision during the night a man from Macedonia standing up, pleading with him, “Please come over to Macedonia and help us!”

And a vision in the night was revealed to Paul of a certain man of Macedonia, standing and pleading with him, and saying: “Cross into Macedonia and help us!”

10 After Paul saw this vision, we immediately made arrangements to go to Macedonia, since we concluded that God had called us to share the good news with them.

Then, after he saw the vision, immediately we sought to set out for Macedonia, having been assured that God had called us to evangelize to them.

11 We set sail from Troas and made straight for Samothrace. The next day we went on to Neapolis,

And sailing from Troas, taking a direct path, we arrived at Samothrace, and on the following day, at Neapolis,

12 and from there to Philippi, the most important town in Macedonia, and also a Roman colony. We stayed in this city for several days.

and from there to Philippi, which is the preeminent city in the area of Macedonia, a colony. Now we were in this city some days, conferring together.

13 On the Sabbath day we went out of the town gates down to the riverside where we thought people would come to pray. We sat down and talked with the women that had gathered there.

Then, on the Sabbath day, we were walking outside the gate, beside a river, where there seemed to be a prayer gathering. And sitting down, we were speaking with the women who had assembled.

14 One of them was called Lydia, who sold purple cloth from the town of Thyatira. She worshiped God, and she listened to us. The Lord opened her mind to what Paul was saying, and she accepted what he told her.

And a certain woman, named Lydia, a seller of purple in the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened. And the Lord opened her heart to be receptive to what Paul was saying.

15 After she and all her household were baptized, she pleaded with us, “If you really think that I'm truly committed to the Lord, then come and stay at my house.” She kept on insisting until we agreed!

And when she had been baptized, with her household, she pleaded with us, saying: “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, enter into my house and lodge there.” And she convinced us.

16 One day when we were going down to the place of prayer we met a slave girl possessed by an evil spirit. She earned her masters a great deal of money by fortune-telling.

Then it happened that, as we were going out to prayer, a certain girl, having a spirit of divination, met with us. She was a source of great profit to her masters, through her divining.

17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us around, shouting, “These men are the servants of Almighty God. They are telling you how to be saved!”

This girl, following Paul and us, was crying out, saying: “These men are servants of the Most High God! They are announcing to you the way of salvation!”

18 She went on doing this for several days. This bothered Paul so he turned around and told the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to leave her!” The spirit immediately left her.

Now she behaved in this way for many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you, in the name of Jesus Christ, to go out from her.” And it went away in that same hour.

19 But when her masters saw they had lost their means of making money, they grabbed hold of Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace.

But her masters, seeing that the hope of their profit went away, apprehended Paul and Silas, and they brought them to the rulers at the courthouse.

20 They brought them in front of the magistrates, and accused them: “These Jewish men are causing a great disturbance in our town,” they said.

And presenting them to the magistrates, they said: “These men are disturbing our city, since they are Jews.

21 “They're advocating things that are illegal for us as Romans to accept or to practice.”

And they are announcing a way which is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, since we are Romans.”

22 The crowd joined together in an attack on them. The magistrates tore off Paul and Silas' clothes, and ordered them beaten with rods.

And the people rushed together against them. And the magistrates, tearing their tunics, ordered them to be beaten with staffs.

23 After giving them a severe beating, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them locked up.

And when they had inflicted many scourges on them, they cast them into prison, instructing the guard to watch them diligently.

24 The jailer followed his orders. He threw Paul and Silas into the inner cell and shackled their feet in the stocks.

And since he had received this kind of order, he cast them into the interior prison cell, and he restricted their feet with stocks.

25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

Then, in the middle of the night, Paul and Silas were praying and praising God. And those who were also in custody were listening to them.

26 Suddenly a tremendous earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. Immediately all the doors flew open and everyone's chains fell off.

Yet truly, there was a sudden earthquake, so great that the foundations of the prison were moved. And immediately all the doors were opened, and the bindings of everyone were released.

27 The jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison wide open. He drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped.

Then the prison guard, having been jarred awake, and seeing the doors of the prison open, drew his sword and intended to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had fled.

28 But Paul shouted out, “Don't hurt yourself—we're all still here!”

But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying: “Do no harm to yourself, for we are all here!”

29 The jailer asked for lights to be brought and rushed in. Shaking with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.

Then calling for a light, he entered. And trembling, he fell before the feet of Paul and Silas.

30 He escorted them out and asked them, “Sirs, what do I have to do so I can be saved?”

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

31 “Trust in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your whole household,” they replied.

So they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and then you will be saved, with your household.”

32 Then they shared the word of the Lord with him and everyone who lived in his house.

And they spoke the Word of the Lord to him, along with all those who were in his house.

33 Even though it was late at night he bathed their wounds, and he was baptized right away, along with all his family.

And he, taking them in the same hour of the night, washed their scourges. And he was baptized, and next his entire household.

34 He took them home and had a meal prepared for them. The jailer and his whole family were full of joy because they trusted in God.

And when he had brought them into his own house, he set a table for them. And he was joyous, with his entire household, believing in God.

35 Early the next day the magistrate sent officials to the jailer, telling him, “Release those men.”

And when daylight had arrived, the magistrates sent the attendants, saying, “Release those men.”

36 The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have sent word to release you. So you can leave, and go in peace.”

But the prison guard reported these words to Paul: “The magistrates have sent to have you released. Now therefore, depart. Go in peace.”

37 But Paul told them, “They publicly beat us without a trial—and yet we're Roman citizens! Then they threw us in prison. Now they want to quietly let us go? No, they should come themselves and release us!”

But Paul said to them: “They have beaten us publicly, though we were not condemned. They have cast men who are Romans into prison. And now they would drive us away secretly? Not so. Instead, let them come forward,

38 The officials went back and reported this to the magistrates. When they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens they were really worried,

and let us drive them away.” Then the attendants reported these words to the magistrates. And upon hearing that they were Romans, they were afraid.

39 and went to apologize to them. They escorted them out and begged them to leave town.

And arriving, they pleaded with them, and leading them out, they begged them to depart from the city.

40 So Paul and Silas left the prison and went to Lydia's house. There they met with the believers, encouraged them, and then went on their way.

And they went away from the prison and entered into the house of Lydia. And having seen the brothers, they consoled them, and then they set out.