Acts 16

1 And he arrived into Derbe and Lystra. And, behold, a certain disciple was there, by name Timothy, the son of a faithful Jewish woman, and a Greek father,

2 who was of good report by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium.

3 Paul wished him to go out with him; and having taken him circumcised him on account of the Jews who were in those places: for they all knew his father that he was a Greek.

4 And while they were traveling through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees which were adjudicated by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem, to keep.

5 Then the churches were indeed strengthened in faith, and abounded in number daily.

6 And they traveled through Phrygia and the Galatian country, being prohibited by the Holy Ghost from speaking the word in Asia.

7 And having come opposite Mysia, they were endeavoring to go on into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;

8 and having come through Mysia they descended into Troas.

9 And a vision was seen by Paul during the night: Some Macedonian man was standing and entreating him and saying, Having come over into Macedonia, help us.

10 And when he saw the vision, we immediately sought to depart into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

11 And having embarked from Troas, we sailed directly to Samothrace, and on the following day into Neapolis,

12 and thence into Philippi, which is the first city of the Macedonian region, a colony. And we were in that city spending some days.

13 And on the Sabbath day we went out from the gate by the river, where we were accustomed that prayer should be, and having sat down, we spoke to the women having assembled.

14 And a certain woman Lydia by name, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, worshiping God, was hearing us: whose heart the Lord opened to give attention to the words spoken by Paul.

15 And when she and her household were baptized, she entreated us, saying, If you have found me to be faithful to the Lord, having come into my house, abide: and she constrained us.

16 And it came to pass, we going to the prayer, a certain damsel having a spirit of divination met us, who brought much gain to her masters telling fortunes.

17 She, following Paul and us, continued to cry out, saying, These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.

18 And she continued to do this many days. And Paul, being worn out, and turning round, said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out from her. And he came out the same hour.

19 And her masters seeing that the hope of their gain was gone, arresting Paul and Silas, dragged them into the forum to the rulers,

20 and leading them to the magistrates, said, These men do exceedingly trouble our city, being Jews,

21 and they proclaimed customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, or to do, being Romans.

22 And the crowd stood up together against them: and the magistrates tearing off their garments, commanded the lictors to beat them with rods.

23 And having laid many stripes on them, they cast them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them safely:

24 who, having received such a charge, cast them into the interior prison, and fastened their feet into the wood.

25 But at midnight Paul and Silas, praying, continued to sing praises to God: and the prisoners heard them.

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

27 And the jailer, being awakened, and seeing the doors of the prison open, seizing a sword, was about to kill himself, thinking that his prisoners had escaped.

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

29 And having asked for a light, he sprang in, and being alarmed, he fell down before Paul and Silas,

30 and leading them out said, Sirs, what does it behoove me to do in order that I may be saved?

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

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

33 And taking them that hour of the night, he washed the blood from their stripes; and he and his were baptized immediately:

34 and leading them into his house, he set a table by them, and rejoiced throughout his house, having believed in God.

35 But it being day, the magistrates sent the lictors, saying, Send away these men.

36 And the jailer proclaimed these words to Paul, The magistrates have sent word that you may be released: now therefore having gone out, depart in peace.

37 But Paul said to them, Having beaten us publicly uncondemned, being Roman men, they cast us into prison, and now do they cast us out privately? for no; but having come themselves let them lead us out.

38 And the lictors proclaimed these words to the magistrates. And hearing that they are Romans, they were alarmed;

39 and having come they called for them, and leading them out, requested them to go away from their city.

40 And having come out from the prison they came to Lydia, and seeing the brethren, comforted them, and departed.