Acts 16

1 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,

And he came to Derbe and to Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain faithful Jewish woman, but of a Greek father,

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

who was well reported of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.

3 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.

Paul wanted this man to go forth with him. And having taken him, he circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those regions, for they had all seen that his father was a Greek.

4 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.

And as they were going through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.

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

Indeed therefore the congregations were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

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

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

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

having come toward Mysia, they attempted to go toward Bithynia. And the Spirit did not allow them.

8 Passing through Mysia, they went down to Troas;

And after passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

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

And a vision appeared to Paul during the night. A certain Macedonian man was standing, imploring him, and saying, After crossing over into Macedonia, help us.

10 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.

And after he saw the vision, straightaway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord called us to preach the good news to them.

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

Therefore, having launched from Troas, we took a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis,

12 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.

and from there to Philippi, which is a principle city of the district of Macedonia colony. And we were in the same city remaining some days.

13 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.

And on the sabbath day we went outside the city beside a river, where it was customary for prayer to be. And having sat down, we spoke to the women who came together.

14 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,

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, a woman who worshiped God, was listening, whose heart the Lord opened to heed the things being spoken by Paul.

15 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.

And when she was immersed, and her household, she urged us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, after coming into my house, remain. And she constrained us.

16 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.

And it came to pass, as we were going to prayer, for a certain servant girl having a spirit of divination to meet us, who brought her masters much business by soothsaying.

17 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.”

This woman having followed Paul and us was crying out, saying, These men are bondmen of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.

18 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.

And she did this on many days. But Paul, after being exasperated, and having turned, he said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out the same hour.

19 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,

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

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

And after bringing them to the magistrates, they said, These men, being Jews, disturb our city,

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

and proclaim customs that are not permitted for us to receive nor to do, being Romans.

22 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.

And the multitude rose up together against them. And the magistrates, having torn off their clothes, commanded to beat them with rods.

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

And having laid many blows upon them, they cast them into prison, having ordered the jailor to guard them securely,

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

who, having received such an order, threw them into the inner prison, and fastened their feet in the stocks.

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

Now toward midnight Paul and Silas, while praying, were singing praises to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

26 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.

And suddenly a great earthquake occurred, so as for the foundations of the prison to shake. And immediately all the doors were opened, and the bonds of all the men were unfastened.

27 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.

And the jailor, who became awake and who saw the prison doors opened, having drawn out a sword was going to kill himself, supposing the prisoners to have fled.

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

But Paul cried out in a great voice, saying, Do nothing harmful to thyself, for we are all here.

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

And having asked for lights, he rushed in, and having become trembling, he fell down before Paul and Silas.

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

And after bringing them outside, he said, Sirs, what must I do so that I may be saved?

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

And they said, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and thou will be saved, thou and thy household.

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

And they spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all those in his house.

33 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.

And having taken them in that hour of the night, he washed from the stripes, and was immersed, he and all those of him, immediately.

34 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.

And having brought them into his house, he set out a table, and rejoiced, having believed in God with all his house.

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

But when it became day, the magistrates sent out the police, saying, Release those men.

36 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.”

And the jailor reported these words to Paul: The magistrates have sent out so that ye may be released. Now therefore after coming out, go in peace.

37 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.”

But Paul said to them, Having beaten us publicly, uncondemned men, being Romans, they cast us into prison, and now they thrust us out privately? Certainly not, but after coming, they shall lead us out.

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

And the police reported these sayings to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans.

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

And having come they besought them, and when they brought them out, they asked them to go out of the city.

40 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.

And having departed from the prison, they came in to Lydia. And after seeing the brothers, they encouraged them, and departed.