Acts 16

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

1 Paul ▼
▼ Greek He
 came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named b Timothy, c the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by d the brothers ▼
▼ Or  brothers and sisters; also verse 40
 at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he f took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance g the decisions h that had been reached by i the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5  j So the churches were strengthened in k the faith, and they increased in numbers l daily.

The Macedonian Call

6 And m they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but n the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down o to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul ▼
▼ Greek he
 had seen the vision, immediately q we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

The Conversion of Lydia

11 So, setting sail from Troas, we r made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to s Philippi, which is a leading city of the ▼
▼ Or that
 district of Macedonia and u a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And v on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate w to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we x sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods y who was a worshiper of God. The Lord z opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized aa and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she ab prevailed upon us.

Paul and Silas in Prison

16 As we were going to ac the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had ad a spirit of ae divination and af brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us ag crying out, “These men are ah servants ▼
▼ Greek bondservants
 of aj the Most High God, who proclaim to you ak the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit al “I command you am in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And an it came out that very hour.

19 But ao when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and ap dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They aq advocate customs that are not lawful for us ar as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders as to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner at prison and fastened their feet in au the stocks.

The Philippian Jailer Converted

25  av About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly aw there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately ax all the doors were opened, and ay everyone’s bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and az was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer ▼
▼ Greek he
 called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he bb fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs bc what must I do to be bd saved?” 31 And they said be “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you bf and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them bg the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he bh was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he bi rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly bj uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” 38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and bk they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and bl asked them to leave the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and visited bm Lydia. And when they had seen bn the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

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