Actuum Apostolorum 16
1 Pervenit autem Derben et Lystram. Et ecce discipulus quidam erat ibi nomine Timotheus, filius mulieris Judææ fidelis, patre gentili.
Among other places Paul went to Derbe and Lystra. At the latter place they found a disciple, named Timothy, whose mother was a Jewish woman who was a believer, while his father was a Greek,
2 Huic testimonium bonum reddebant qui in Lystris erant et Iconio fratres.
and who was well spoken of by the followers of the Lord in Lystra and Iconium.
3 Hunc voluit Paulus secum proficisci: et assumens circumcidit eum propter Judæos qui erant in illis locis. Sciebant enim omnes quod pater ejus erat gentilis.
Wishing to take this man with him on his journey, Paul caused him to be circumcised out of consideration for the Jews in that region, for they all knew that his father had been a Greek.
4 Cum autem pertransirent civitates, tradebant eis custodiri dogmata quæ erant decreta ab Apostolis et senioribus qui erant Jerosolymis.
As they traveled from town to town, they gave the followers the decisions which had been reached by the apostles and church elders at Jerusalem, for them to observe.
5 Et ecclesiæ quidem confirmabantur fide, et abundabunt numero quotidie.
So the churches grew stronger in the faith, and increased in numbers from day to day.
6 Transeuntes autem Phrygiam et Galatiæ regionem, vetati sunt a Spiritu Sancto loqui verbum Dei in Asia.
They next went through the Phrygian district of Galatia, but were restrained by the Holy Spirit from delivering the message in Roman Asia.
7 Cum venissent autem in Mysiam, tentabant ire in Bithyniam: et non permisit eos Spiritus Jesu.
When they reached the borders of Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.
8 Cum autem pertransissent Mysiam, descenderunt Troadem:
Passing through Mysia, they went down to Troas;
9 et visio per noctem Paulo ostensa est: vir Macedo quidam erat stans et deprecans eum, et dicens: Transiens in Macedoniam, adjuva nos.
and there one night Paul saw a vision. A Macedonian was standing and appealing to him – “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
10 Ut autem visum vidit, statim quæsivimus proficisci in Macedoniam, certi facti quod vocasset nos Deus evangelizare eis.
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.
11 Navigantes autem a Troade, recto cursu venimus Samothraciam, et sequenti die Neapolim:
Accordingly we set sail from Troas, and ran before the wind to Samothrace, reaching Neapolis the next day.
12 et inde Philippos, quæ est prima partis Macedoniæ civitas, colonia. Eramus autem in hac urbe diebus aliquot, conferentes.
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.
13 Die autem sabbatorum egressi sumus foras portam juxta flumen, ubi videbatur oratio esse: et sedentes loquebamur mulieribus quæ convenerant.
On the Sabbath we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and talked to the women who were gathered there.
14 Et quædam mulier nomine Lydia, purpuraria civitatis Thyatirenorum, colens Deum, audivit: cujus Dominus aperuit cor intendere his quæ dicebantur a Paulo.
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,
15 Cum autem baptizata esset, et domus ejus, deprecata est, dicens: Si judicastis me fidelem Domino esse, introite in domum meam, et manete. Et coëgit nos.
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.
16 Factum est autem euntibus nobis ad orationem, puellam quamdam habentem spiritum pythonem obviare nobis, quæ quæstum magnum præstabat dominis suis divinando.
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.
17 Hæc subsecuta Paulum et nos, clamabat dicens: Isti homines servi Dei excelsi sunt, qui annuntiant vobis viam salutis.
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.’
18 Hoc autem faciebat multis diebus. Dolens autem Paulus, et conversus, spiritui dixit: Præcipio tibi in nomine Jesu Christi exire ab ea. Et exiit eadem hora.
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.
19 Videntes autem domini ejus quia exivit spes quæstus eorum, apprehendentes Paulum et Silam, perduxerunt in forum ad principes:
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,
20 et offerentes eos magistratibus, dixerunt: Hi homines conturbant civitatem nostram, cum sint Judæi:
and took them before the Magistrates. ‘These men are causing a great disturbance in our town,’ they complained;
21 et annuntiant morem quem non licet nobis suscipere neque facere, cum simus Romani.
‘They are Jews, and they are teaching customs which it is not right for us, as Romans, to sanction or adopt.’
22 Et cucurrit plebs adversus eos: et magistratus, scissis tunicis eorum, jusserunt eos virgis cædi.
The mob rose as one person against them, and the Magistrates stripped them of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods.
23 Et cum multas plagas eis imposuissent, miserunt eos in carcerem, præcipientes custodi ut diligenter custodiret eos.
After beating them severely, the Magistrates put them in prison, with orders to the jailer to keep them in safe custody.
24 Qui cum tale præceptum accepisset, misit eos in interiorem carcerem, et pedes eorum strinxit ligno.
On receiving so strict an order, the Governor put them into the inner cell, and secured their feet in the stocks.
25 Media autem nocte Paulus et Silas orantes, laudabant Deum: et audiebant eos qui in custodia erant.
About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and while the prisoners were listening to them,
26 Subito vero terræmotus factus est magnus, ita ut moverentur fundamenta carceris. Et statim aperta sunt omnia ostia: et universorum vincula soluta sunt.
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.
27 Expergefactus autem custos carceris, et videns januas apertas carceris, evaginato gladio volebat se interficere, æstimans fugisse vinctos.
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.
28 Clamavit autem Paulus voce magna, dicens: Nihil tibi mali feceris: universi enim hic sumus.
But Paul called our loudly, ‘Do not harm yourself; we are all here.’
29 Petitoque lumine, introgressus est: et tremefactus procidit Paulo et Silæ ad pedes:
Calling for a light, the Governor rushed in, and flung himself trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas.
30 et producens eos foras, ait: Domini, quid me oportet facere, ut salvus fiam?
Then he led them out, and said, ‘What must I do to be saved?’
31 At illi dixerunt: Crede in Dominum Jesum, et salvus eris tu, et domus tua.
‘Believe in Jesus, our Lord,’ they replied, ‘and you will be saved, you and your household too.’
32 Et locuti sunt ei verbum Domini cum omnibus qui erant in domo ejus.
Then they spoke to him of God’s message, and to all his household as well.
33 Et tollens eos in illa hora noctis, lavit plagas eorum: et baptizatus est ipse, et omnis domus ejus continuo.
And that very hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds, and he himself and everyone belonging to him were baptized without delay.
34 Cumque perduxisset eos in domum suam, apposuit eis mensam, et lætatus est cum omni domo sua credens Deo.
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.
35 Et cum dies factus esset, miserunt magistratus lictores, dicentes: Dimitte homines illos.
In the morning the Magistrates sent the guards with an order for the men to be discharged.
36 Nuntiavit autem custos carceris verba hæc Paulo: Quia miserunt magistratus ut dimittamini: nunc igitur exeuntes, ite in pace.
The jailer 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.’
37 Paulus autem dixit eis: Cæsos nos publice, indemnatos homines Romanos, miserunt in carcerem: et nunc occulte nos ejiciunt? Non ita: sed veniant,
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.’
38 et ipsi nos ejiciant. Nuntiaverunt autem magistratibus lictores verba hæc. Timueruntque audito quod Romani essent:
The guards reported his words to the Magistrates, who, on hearing that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, were alarmed,
39 et venientes deprecati sunt eos, et educentes rogabant ut egrederentur de urbe.
and went to the prison, and did their best to conciliate them. Then they took them out, and begged them to leave the city.
40 Exeuntes autem de carcere, introierunt ad Lydiam: et visis fratribus consolati sunt eos, et profecti sunt.
When Paul and Silas left the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, and, after they had seen the Lord’s followers, and encouraged them, they left the place.
