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.

He came to Derbe and Lystra; and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess who believed, but his father was a Greek.

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

The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium gave a good testimony about him.

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.

Paul wanted to have him go out with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was 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 went on their way through the cities, they delivered the decrees to them to keep which had been ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.

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

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

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

When they had gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in 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 had come opposite Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit didn’t allow them.

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

Passing by Mysia, they came 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.

A vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a man of Macedonia standing, begging him and saying, “Come over into 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.

When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go out to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the Good News to them.

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

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

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.

and from there to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the foremost of the district, a Roman colony. We were staying some days in this city.

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 day we went outside of the city by a riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.

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.

A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us. The Lord opened her heart to listen to the things which were spoken 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.

When she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.

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.

As we were going to prayer, a certain girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain 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.

Following Paul and us, she cried out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of 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 was doing this for many days. But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” 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 marketplace before the rulers,

But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.

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

When they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men, being Jews, are agitating our city

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

and advocate customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans.”

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

The multitude rose up together against them and the magistrates tore their clothes from them, then commanded 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:

When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely.

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

Having received such a command, he threw them into the inner prison 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;

But 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 foundations of the prison-house were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened; and every one’s bands were loosed.

Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds 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.

The jailer, 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.

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

But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, “Don’t harm yourself, for we are all here!”

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

He called for lights, sprang in, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas,

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

brought them out, and said, “Sirs, 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.

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

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

They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house.

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

He took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household.

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.

He brought them up into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly with all his household, having believed in God.

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

But when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, “Let those men go.”

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 jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore come out and go in peace.”

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 said to them, “They have beaten us publicly without a trial, men who are Romans, and have cast us into prison! Do they now release us secretly? No, most certainly, but let them come themselves and bring us out!”

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

The sergeants reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans,

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

and they came and begged them. When they had brought them out, they asked them to depart from 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.

They went out of the prison and entered into Lydia’s house. When they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them, then departed.