Acts 16

1 THEN he came to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold! a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman, who believed; but his father was a Greek:

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 who was highly spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium.

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

3 Him Paul resolved to take out with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places: for they all knew his father, that he was a Greek.

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 So as they passed through the cities, they delivered to them for their observance the ordinances decreed by the apostles and presbyters that 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 Then were the churches established truly in the faith, and increased in number daily.

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

6 So passing through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, being forbidden by the Holy Ghost to speak 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 coming as far as Mysia, they made an effort to go unto Bythinia: but the Spirit permitted them not.

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

8 Whereupon passing by Mysia they went down to Troas.

So passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.

9 And a vision by night appeared to Paul; a certain man, a Macedonian, stood by him, entreating 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 But when he saw the vision, immediately we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord 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 Therefore sailing from Troas, we came in a direct course to Samothrace, and the next day 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 first city in that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we abode in that city some days.

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 on the sabbath-day we went forth out of the city to the river side, where an oratory was by custom established; and sitting down, we spoke to the women who there 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, Lydia by name, a seller of purple, from the city of Thyatira, a worshipper of God, hearkened: whose heart the Lord thoroughly opened, to attend to the words spoken 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 So when she was baptised, and her house, she entreated, saying, Since ye have judged that I am faithful to the Lord, come and abide at my house. 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 Now it happened as we were going to the oratory, a certain damsel having a pythonic spirit met us, who produced for her masters much gain as a fortuneteller:

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 she following Paul and us, cried out, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, who preach to 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 for several days. Then Paul was wearied out, and turning, said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out that very 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 when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the forum before the chief 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 are the men that exceedingly disturb the peace of our city, being Jews,

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

21 and enjoin customs which it is not lawful for us to receive, or to practise, being Romans.

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

22 And the populace stood up together against them: and the magistrates, after having had their garments torn from their backs, 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 laying on them many stripes, cast them into prison, commanding the jailor to keep them in safe custody:

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

24 who, receiving such an injunction, 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 But about midnight Paul and Silas, after joining in prayer, sang hymns to God: and the prisoners 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 very foundations of the prison were shaken: and instantly all the doors flew open, and every man’s chains 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 Then the jailor being roused from sleep, and seeing the doors of the prison open, drew his sword, going to destroy himself, supposing the prisoners had escaped.

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 called out with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no injury: for we are all here.

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

29 Thereupon calling for a light, he rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas;

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

30 and having first brought them out, said, Sirs! what must I do to be saved?

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

31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, thou, and thy house.

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

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

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

33 And taking them that same hour of the night, he washed their stripes; and was baptised, himself and all who belonged to him 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 house, he spread the table, and greatly rejoiced with all his household, believing in 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 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the lictors, saying, Set those men at large.

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

36 Then the jailor told these words to Paul, That the magistrates had sent to set them at liberty: now therefore, said he, get ye out, and pursue your journey 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 Roman citizens, and have cast us into prison; and would they now clandestinely send us away? no, verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.

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 Then the lictors reported all these words to the magistrates: and they were terrified, when they heard they were Roman citizens.

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

39 So they came and spoke kindly to them, and fetching them out, besought them to depart from 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 Then leaving the prison, they went unto Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and went their way.

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.