Acts 16

1 And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess which believed; but his father was a Greek.

Among other places Paul went to Derbe and Lystra. At the latter place they found a disciple, named Timothy, whose mother was a Jewess who had become a believer in Christ, while his father was a Greek,

2 The same was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

and who was well spoken of by the Brethren in Lystra and Iconium.

3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those parts: for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

Wishing to take this man with him on his journey, Paul caused him to be circumcised on account of the Jews in that neighbourhood, for they all knew that his father had been a Greek.

4 And as they went on their way through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, which had been ordained of the apostles and elders that were at Jerusalem.

As they traveled from town to town, they gave the Brethren the decisions which had been reached by the Apostles and Officers of the Church at Jerusalem, for them to observe.

5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

So the Churches grew stronger in the Faith, and increased in numbers from day to day.

6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden of the Holy Ghost to speak the word in Asia;

They next went through the Phrygian district of Galatia, but were restrained by the Holy Spirit from delivering the Message in Roman Asia.

7 and when they were come over against Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia; and the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not;

When they reached the borders of Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.

8 and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

Passing through Mysia, they went down to Troas;

9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There was a man of Macedonia standing, beseeching him, and saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

and there one night Paul saw a vision. A Macedonian was standing and appealing to him — ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’

10 And when he had seen the vision, straightway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

So, immediately after Paul had seen the vision, we looked for an opportunity to cross over to Macedonia, concluding that God had summoned us to tell the Good News to the people there.

11 Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis;

Accordingly we set sail from Troas, and ran before the wind to Samothrace, reaching Neapolis the next day.

12 and from thence to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the first of the district, a [Roman] colony: and we were in this city tarrying certain days.

From there we made our way to Philippi, which is the principal city of that part of Macedonia, and also a Roman Settlement. In that city we spent several days.

13 And on the sabbath day we went forth without the gate by a river side, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which were come together.

On the Sabbath we went outside the gate to the river-side, where we supposed there would be a Place of Prayer; and we sat down and talked to the women who were gathered there.

14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul.

Among them was a woman, named Lydia, belonging to Thyatira, a dealer in purple cloth, who was accustomed to join in the worship of God. The Lord touched this woman’s heart, so that she gave attention to the Message delivered by Paul,

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

and, when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us to become her guests. “Since you have shown your conviction,” she said, “that I really am a believer in the Lord, come and stay in my house.” And she insisted on our doing so.

16 And it came to pass, as we were going to the place of prayer, that a certain maid having a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.

One day, as we were on our way to the Place of Prayer, we were met by a girl possessed by a divining spirit, who made large profits for her masters by fortune-telling.

17 The same following after Paul and us cried out, saying, These men are servants of the Most High God, which proclaim unto you the way of salvation.

This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, calling: “These men are servants of the most high God, and they are bringing you news of a way to Salvation.”

18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, being sore troubled, turned and said to the spirit, I charge thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out that very hour.

She had been doing this for several days, when Paul, much vexed, turned and said to the spirit within her: “In the Name of Jesus Christ I command you to leave her.” That very moment the spirit left her.

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 marketplace before the rulers,

When her masters saw that there was no hope of further profit from her, they seized Paul and Silas, dragged them into the public square to the authorities,

20 and when they had brought them unto the magistrates, they said, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

and took them before the Magistrates. “These men are causing a great disturbance in our town,” they complained;

21 and set forth customs which it is not lawful for us to receive, or to observe, being Romans.

“They are Jews, and they are teaching customs which it is not right for us, as Romans, to sanction or adopt.”

22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent their garments off them, and commanded to beat them with rods.

On this the mob rose as one man against them, and the Magistrates stripped them of their clothing 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 jailor to keep them safely:

After beating them severely, the Magistrates put them in prison, with orders to the Governor of the Jail to keep them in safe custody.

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

On receiving so strict an order, the Governor put them into the inner cell, and secured their feet in the stocks.

25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God, and the prisoners were listening to them;

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

26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison-house were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened; and every one’s bands were loosed.

suddenly there was an earthquake of such violence that the Jail was shaken to its foundations; all the doors flew open, and all the prisoners’ chains were loosened.

27 And the jailor being roused out of sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword, and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.

Roused from his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, the Governor drew his sword intending to kill himself, in the belief that the prisoners had escaped.

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

But Paul called our loudly: “Do not harm yourself; we are all here.”

29 And he called for lights, and sprang in, and, trembling for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas,

Calling for a light, the Governor rushed in, and flung himself trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas.

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

Then he led them out, and said: “What must I do to be saved?”

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

“Believe in Jesus, our Lord,” they replied, “and you shall be saved, you and your household too.”

32 And they spake the word of the Lord unto him, with all that were in his house.

Then they spoke to him of God’s Message, and to all his household as well.

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

And that very hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds, and he himself and every one belonging to him were baptized without delay.

34 And he brought them up into his house, and set meat before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his house, having believed in God.

Afterwards he took them up to his house and set before them something to eat, rejoicing that he, with all his household, had come to believe in God.

35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.

In the morning the Magistrates sent the police with an order for the men to be discharged.

36 And the jailor reported the words to Paul, [saying], The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore come forth, and go in peace.

The Governor of the Jail told Paul of his instructions. “The Magistrates have sent an order for your discharge,” he said, “so you had better leave the place at once and go quietly away.”

37 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Romans, and have cast us into prison; and do they now cast us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and bring us out.

But Paul’s answer to them was: “They have flogged us in public without trial, though we are Roman citizens, and they have put us in prison, and now they are for sending us out secretly! No, indeed! Let them come and take us out themselves.”

38 And the serjeants reported these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans;

The police reported his words to the Magistrates, who, on hearing that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, were alarmed,

39 and they came and besought them; and when they had brought them out, they asked them to go away from the city.

and went to the prison, and did their best to conciliate them. Then they took them out, and begged them to leave the city.

40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into [the house of] Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

When Paul and Silas left the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, and, after they had seen the Brethren, and encouraged them, they left the place.