< 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.
He also came to Derbe and to Lystra. At Lystra he found a disciple, Timothy by name--the son of a Christian Jewess, though he had a Greek father.
2 And all the disciples of Lystra and Iconium gave good testimony of him.
Timothy was well spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium,
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.
and Paul desiring that he should accompany him on his journey, took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
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.
As they journeyed on from town to town, they handed to the brethren for their observance the decisions which had been arrived at by the Apostles and Elders in Jerusalem.
5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and were increased in number daily.
So the Churches went on gaining a stronger faith and growing in numbers from day to day.
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.
Then Paul and his companions passed through Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Message in the province of 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.
When they reached the frontier of Mysia, they were about to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit this.
8 And when they departed from Mysia, they came down to the region of Troas.
So, passing along Mysia, they came to 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.
Here, one night, Paul saw a vision. There was a Macedonian who was standing, entreating him and saying, "Come over into 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.
So when he had seen the vision, we immediately looked out for an opportunity of passing on into Macedonia, confidently inferring that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to the people there.
11 And we sailed from Troas, and came direct to Samothrace; and from there, on the following day, we came to the city Neapolis.
Accordingly we put out to sea from Troas, and ran a straight course to Samothrace. The next day we came to 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.
and thence to Philippi, which is a city in Macedonia, the first in its district, a Roman colony. And there we stayed some little time.
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.
On the Sabbath we went beyond the city gate to the riverside, where we had reason to believe that there was a place for prayer; and sitting down we talked with the women who had come together.
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.
Among our hearers was one named Lydia, a dealer in purple goods. She belonged to the city of Thyateira, and was a worshipper of the true God. The Lord opened her heart, so that she gave attention to what Paul was saying.
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.
When she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If in your judgement I am a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house." And she made us go there.
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.
One day, as we were on our way to the place of prayer, a slave girl met us who claimed to be inspired and was accustomed to bring her owners large profits by telling fortunes.
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.
She kept following close behind Paul and the rest of us, crying aloud, "These men are the bondservants of the Most High God, and are proclaiming to you the way of salvation."
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.
This she persisted in for a considerable time, until Paul, wearied out, turned round and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out immediately.
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,
But when her owners saw that their hopes of gain were gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them off to the magistrates in the public square.
20 and set them before the prefects and chiefs of the city, and said: These men disturb our city; for they are Jews,
Then they brought them before the praetors. "These men," they said, "are creating a great disturbance in our city.
21 and they preach to us customs, which it is not lawful for us to receive and to practise, because we are Romans.
They are Jews, and are teaching customs which we, as Romans, are not permitted to adopt or practise."
22 And a great company was collected against them. Then the prefects rent their garments, and commanded to scourge them.
The crowd, too, joined in the outcry against them, till at length the praetors ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods;
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.
and, after severely flogging them, they threw them into jail and bade the jailer keep them safely.
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.
He, having received an order like that, lodged them in the inner prison, and secured their feet in the stocks.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and glorifying 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 shaking, and the foundations of the prison were moved; and at once all the doors opened, and the bands of all were loosed.
when suddenly there was such a violent shock of earthquake that the prison shook to its foundations. Instantly the doors all flew open, and the chains fell off from every prisoner.
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.
Starting up from sleep and seeing the doors of the jail wide open, the jailer drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, supposing that 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.
But Paul shouted loudly to him, saying, "Do yourself no injury: 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.
Then, calling for lights, he sprang in and fell trembling 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?
and, bringing them out of the prison, he exclaimed, "O sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31 And they said to him: Believe on the name of our Lord Jesus Messiah, and thou wilt have life, thou and thy house.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus," they replied, "and both you and your household will be saved."
32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all the members of his house.
And they told the Lord's Message to him as well as to all who were in 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.
Then he took them, even at that time of night, washed their wounds, and he and all his household were immediately baptized;
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.
and bringing the Apostles up into his house, he spread a meal for them, and was filled with gladness, with his whole household, his faith resting on God.
35 And when it was morning, the prefects sent rod-bearers to say to the superior of the prison: Let those men loose.
In the morning the praetors sent their lictors with the order, "Release those men."
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.
So the jailer brought Paul word, saying, "The praetors have sent orders for you to be released. Now therefore you can go, and proceed on your way 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.
But Paul said to them, "After cruelly beating us in public, without trial, Roman citizens though we are, they have thrown us into prison, and are they now going to send us away privately? No, indeed! Let them come in person and fetch 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,
This answer the lictors took back to the praetors, who were alarmed when they were told that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.
39 and came to them, and entreated of them that they would come out, and that they would leave the city.
Accordingly they came and apologized to them; and, bringing them out, asked them to 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.
Then Paul and Silas, having come out of the prison, went to Lydia's house; and, after seeing the brethren and encouraging them, they left Philippi.

< Acts 16 >