Acts 16

1 And he came to the city Derbe, and to Lystra. And there was a certain disciple there, whose name was Timothy, the son of a believing Jewess, but his father was a Gentile.

2 And all the disciples of Lystra and Iconium gave good testimony of him.

3 Him Paul was disposed to take with him: and he took him, and circumcised him, because of the Jews that were in that region; for they all knew that his father was a Gentile.

4 And as they went among the cities, they preached and taught them, that they should observe those injunctions which the legates and Elders at Jerusalem had written.

5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and were increased in number daily.

6 And they travelled through the regions of Phrygia and Galatia; and the Holy Spirit forbid them to speak the word of God in Asia.

7 And when they came into the region of Mysia, they were disposed to go from there into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus permitted them not.

8 And when they departed from Mysia, they came down to the region of Troas.

9 And in a vision of the night, there appeared unto Paul, a man of Macedonia, who stood and besought him, saying: Come to Macedonia and help us.

10 And when Paul had seen this vision, immediately we were desirous to depart for Macedonia; because we inferred, that our Lord called us to preach to them.

11 And we sailed from Troas, and came direct to Samothrace; and from there, on the following day, we came to the city Neapolis.

12 And from there to Philippi, which is the chief city of Macedonia, and is a colony. And we remained in that city certain days.

13 And on the sabbath day, we went without the gate of the city to the side of a river, because a house of prayer was seen there. And when we were seated, we conversed with the women who there assembled.

14 And a certain woman who feared God, a seller of purple, whose name was Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, was there. Her heart our Lord opened, and she hearkened to what Paul spake.

15 And she was baptized, and her household. And she entreated us, saying: If ye are really persuaded that I have believed in our Lord, come and take lodging in my house. And she urged us much.

16 And it occurred that, as we were going to the house of prayer, a certain maid met us, who had a spirit of divination, and who procured for her lords great gain by the divination which she performed.

17 And she followed after Paul and us, and cried, saying: These men are the servants of the Most High God, and they announce to you the way of life.

18 And this she did many days. And Paul was indignant; and he said to that spirit, I command thee, in the name of Jesus Messiah, that thou come out of her. And it came out the same hour.

19 And when her lords saw that the prospect of their gain from her was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragging them along brought them to the market-place,

20 and set them before the prefects and chiefs of the city, and said: These men disturb our city; for they are Jews,

21 and they preach to us customs, which it is not lawful for us to receive and to practise, because we are Romans.

22 And a great company was collected against them. Then the prefects rent their garments, and commanded to scourge them.

23 And when they had scourged them much, they cast them into the prison, and commanded the keeper of the prison to keep them with care.

24 And he, having received this command, carried and immured them in the inner part of the prison, and confined their feet in the stocks.

25 And at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and glorifying God: and the prisoners heard them.

26 And suddenly there was a great shaking, and the foundations of the prison were moved; and at once all the doors opened, and the bands of all were loosed.

27 And when the keeper of the prison awoke, and saw that the doors of the prison were open, he took a sword and sought to kill himself; because he supposed the prisoners had escaped.

28 But Paul called to him, in a loud voice, and said: Do thyself no harm, for we are all here.

29 And he lighted for himself a lamp, and sprang and came in, trembling, and fell at the feet of Paul and Silas.

30 And he brought them out, and said to them: My lords, what must I do, that I may have life?

31 And they said to him: Believe on the name of our Lord Jesus Messiah, and thou wilt have life, thou and thy house.

32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all the members of his house.

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

34 And he took them and brought them into his house, and set a table for them; and he rejoiced in the faith of God, he and all the members of his house.

35 And when it was morning, the prefects sent rod-bearers to say to the superior of the prison: Let those men loose.

36 And when the superior of the prison heard it, he went in, and said the same thing to Paul; namely, that the prefects have sent word that ye be set free. And now, said he, Go ye out, and depart in peace.

37 But Paul said to him: They have scourged us, unoffending men, and Romans, before all the world, and have cast us into prison; and now, do they secretly let us out? No, surely: but let them come themselves and bring us out.

38 And the rod-bearers went and told to the prefects the words which were told to them: and when they heard that they were Romans, they were afraid,

39 and came to them, and entreated of them that they would come out, and that they would leave the city.

40 And when they came out from the prison, they entered the house of Lydia; and there they saw the brethren, and comforted them, and departed.