Acts 16

1 And he came to Derbe and Lystra, and behold, a certain disciple was there, by name Timotheus, son of a certain woman, a believing Jewess, but of a father, a Greek,

Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father.

2 who was well testified to by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium;

The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.

3 Paul wished this one to go forth with him, and having taken [him], he circumcised him, because of the Jews who are in those places, for they all knew his father—that he was a Greek.

Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, so he took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

4 And as they were going on through the cities, they were delivering to them the decrees to keep, that have been judged by the apostles and the elders who [are] in Jerusalem,

As they went from town to town, they delivered the decisions handed down by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.

5 then, indeed, were the assemblies established in the faith, and were abounding in number every day;

So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

6 and having gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia,

After the Holy Spirit had prevented them from speaking the word in the province of Asia, they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia.

7 having gone toward Mysia, they were trying to go on toward Bithynia, and the Spirit did not permit them,

And when they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them.

8 and having passed by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.

9 And a vision through the night appeared to Paul—a certain man of Macedonia was standing, calling on him, and saying, “Having passed through to Macedonia, help us.”

During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

10 And when he saw the vision, immediately we endeavored to go forth to Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the LORD has called us to preach good news to them,

As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

11 having set sail, therefore, from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, on the next day also to Neapolis,

We sailed from Troas straight to Samothrace, and the following day on to Neapolis.

12 there also to Philippi, which is a principal city of the part of Macedonia—a colony. And we were abiding in this city some days;

From there we went to the Roman colony of Philippi, the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.

13 on the day of the Sabbaths we also went forth outside of the city, by a river, where there used to be prayer, and having sat down, we were speaking to the women who came together,

On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river, where it was customary to find a place of prayer. After sitting down, we spoke to the women who had gathered there.

14 and a certain woman, by name Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, worshiping God, was hearing, whose heart the LORD opened to attend to the things spoken by Paul;

Among those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

15 and when she was immersed, and her household, she called on us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the LORD, having entered into my house, remain”; and she constrained us.

And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

16 And it came to pass in our going on to prayer, a certain maid, having a spirit of Python, met us, who brought much employment to her masters by soothsaying;

One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling.

17 she having followed Paul and us, was crying, saying, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who declare to us [the] way of salvation!”

This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!”

18 And this she was doing for many days, but Paul having been grieved, and having turned, said to the spirit, “I command you, in the Name of Jesus Christ, to come forth from her”; and it came forth the same hour.

She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment.

19 And her masters having seen that the hope of their employment was gone, having caught Paul and Silas, drew [them] into the marketplace, to the rulers,

When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace.

20 and having brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men being Jews exceedingly trouble our city;

They brought them to the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews and are throwing our city into turmoil

21 and they proclaim customs that are not lawful for us to receive nor to do, being Romans.”

by promoting customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.”

22 And the multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates having torn their garments from them, were commanding to beat [them] with rods,

The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered that they be stripped and beaten with rods.

23 having also laid on them many blows, they cast them into prison, having given charge to the jailor to keep them safely,

And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely.

24 who having received such a charge, put them into the inner prison, and fastened their feet in the stocks.

On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

25 And at midnight Paul and Silas praying, were singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were hearing them,

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

26 and suddenly a great earthquake came, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, also all the doors were immediately opened, and of all—the bands were loosed;

Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.

27 and the jailor having come out of sleep, and having seen the doors of the prison open, having drawn a sword, was about to kill himself, supposing the prisoners to have fled,

When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, presuming that the prisoners had escaped.

28 and Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “You may not do yourself any harm, for we are all here!”

But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself! We are all here!”

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

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

30 and having brought them forth, said, “Lords, what must I do that I may be saved?”

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

31 And they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”

32 And they spoke to him the word of the LORD, and to all those in his household;

Then Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house.

33 and having taken them, in that hour of the night, he bathed [them] from the blows, and immediately he and all of his were immersed,

At that hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed their wounds. And without delay, he and all his household were baptized.

34 having also brought them into his house, he set food before [them], and was glad with all the household, he having believed in God.

Then he brought them into his home and set a meal before them. So he and all his household rejoiced that they had come to believe in God.

35 And day having come, the magistrates sent the rod-bearers, saying, “Let those men go”;

When daylight came, the magistrates sent their officers with the order: “Release those men.”

36 and the jailor told these words to Paul, “The magistrates have sent, that you may be let go; now, therefore, having gone forth go on in peace”;

The jailer informed Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders to release you. Now you may go on your way in peace.”

37 and Paul said to them, “Having beaten us publicly uncondemned—men, being Romans—they cast [us] to prison, and now privately they cast us forth! Why no! But having come themselves, let them bring us forth.”

But Paul said to the officers, “They beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison, even though we are Roman citizens. And now do they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! Let them come themselves and escort us out!”

38 And the rod-bearers told these sayings to the magistrates, and they were afraid, having heard that they are Romans,

So the officers relayed this message to the magistrates, who were alarmed to hear that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.

39 and having come, they implored them, and having brought [them] forth, they were asking [them] to go forth from the city;

They came to appease them and led them out, requesting that they leave the city.

40 and they, having gone forth out of the prison, entered into [the house of] Lydia, and having seen the brothers, they comforted them, and went forth.

After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house to see the brothers and encourage them. Then they left the city.