< Acts 16 >

1 And he came even unto Derbe, and unto Lystra; and lo! a certain disciple, was there, by name Timothy, son of a believing Jewish woman, but whose father was a Greek, —
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 who was well-attested by the brethren in Lystra, and Iconium.
and who was well spoken of by the followers of the Lord in Lystra and Iconium.
3 The same, would Paul have go forth with him, and took and circumcised him, on account of the Jews who were in those places; for they one and all knew that, his father, was, a Greek.
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 And, as they passed through the cities, they were delivering unto them, for observance, the decrees which had been decided upon by the Apostles and Elders who were in Jerusalem.
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 The assemblies, therefore, were being confirmed in the faith, and increasing in number, every day.
So the churches grew stronger in the faith, and increased in numbers from day to day.
6 And they passed through the Phrygian and Galatian country, being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word 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 but, coming along Mysia, they were attempting to journey into Bithynia, —and, the Spirit of Jesus, suffered them not;
When they reached the borders of Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.
8 but, passing by Mysia, they came down unto Troas.
Passing through Mysia, they went down to Troas;
9 And, a vision, by night, unto Paul appeared: —A man of Macedonia, there was, standing and beseeching him, and saying—Come over into Macedonia, and bring us succour!
and there one night Paul saw a vision. A Macedonian was standing and appealing to him – “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
10 Now, when, the vision, he had seen, straightway, we sought to go forth unto Macedonia, concluding that God, had summoned us to tell the glad tidings unto them.
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 Setting sail, therefore, from Troas, we ran straight into Samothracia, and, on the morrow, unto New City,
Accordingly we set sail from Troas, and ran before the wind to Samothrace, reaching Neapolis the next day.
12 and, from thence, unto Philippi, —which, indeed, is the first city of the part of Macedonia—a colony. And we were, in this city, spending certain days;
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 and on the day of rest, we went forth outside the gate, beside a river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, —and, sitting down, we went on to speak unto the women who had come together.
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 And, a certain woman, by name Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, devout towards God, was hearkening, whose heart, the Lord, fully opened, to be giving heed unto the things being spoken by Paul.
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 And, when she was immersed, and her house, she besought [us], saying—If ye have judged me to be a believer in the Lord, come into my house, and abide [there]. And she constrained us.
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 And it came to pass, as we were on our way unto the place of prayer, a certain damsel, having a spirit of Python, met us, —who, indeed, much gain, was presenting unto her masters, by divining.
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 The same, following after Paul and us, kept crying aloud, saying—These men, are servants of the Most High God, —who, indeed, are declaring unto you a way of salvation.
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 And, this, she continued to do for many days. But Paul, worn out, and turning unto the spirit, said—I charge thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, to come out from her. And it came out the same hour.
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 And, her masters, seeing that their hope of gain had gone out, laying hold on Paul and Silas, dragged them into the market-place, unto the rulers;
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 and, leading them forward unto the magistrates, said—These men, are exceedingly troubling our city, they, being Jews,
and took them before the Magistrates. ‘These men are causing a great disturbance in our town,’ they complained;
21 And are declaring customs, which it is not allowable for us either to accept or to observe, being Romans.
‘They are Jews, and they are teaching customs which it is not right for us, as Romans, to sanction or adopt.’
22 And the multitude rose up together against them, and, the magistrates, rending off them their mantles, were giving orders to beat them with rods;
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 and, laying upon them many stripes, they thrust them into prison, charging the prison-keeper, safely, to be keeping them:
After beating them severely, the Magistrates put them in prison, with orders to the jailer to keep them in safe custody.
24 who, a charge like this receiving, thrust them into the inner prison, and, their feet, made he fast in the stocks.
On receiving so strict an order, the Governor put them into the inner cell, and secured their feet in the stocks.
25 And, at midnight, Paul and Silas, being at prayer, began singing praise unto God; and the prisoners unto them, did hearken.
About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and while the prisoners were listening to them,
26 And, suddenly, a great earthquake took place, —so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and all the doors were [instantly] set open, and the bonds of all were unfastened.
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 And, the prison-keeper, being wakened and seeing that the doors of the prison had been opened, drawing his sword, was about to kill himself, supposing the prisoners to have fled.
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 But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying—By no means, do thyself harm, for we are, one and all, here.
But Paul called our loudly, ‘Do not harm yourself; we are all here.’
29 And, asking for a light, he sprang in, and becoming, agitated, fell down unto Paul and Silas,
Calling for a light, the Governor rushed in, and flung himself trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas.
30 and, leading them forth outside, said—Sirs! what must I be doing, that I may be saved?
Then he led them out, and said, ‘What must I do to be saved?’
31 And, they, said—Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou, and thy house.
‘Believe in Jesus, our Lord,’ they replied, ‘and you will be saved, you and your household too.’
32 And they spake unto him the word of God, with all who were in his house.
Then they spoke to him of God’s message, and to all his household as well.
33 And, taking them with him, in that hour of the night, he bathed them from their stripes, and was immersed, he, and his, one and all, on the spot;
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 and, leading them up into his house, he set near a table, —and exulted, having, with all his house, believed in God.
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 And. when day came. the magistrates sent off the constables saying—Let those men go!
In the morning the Magistrates sent the guards with an order for the men to be discharged.
36 And the prison-keeper reported the words unto Paul—The magistrates have sent, that ye be let go. Now, therefore, going forth, be taking your journey in peace.
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 But, Paul, said unto them—Beating us, in public, uncondemned, men that are Romans, they thrust us into prison; —and, now, by stealth, are they thrusting us forth? Nay, verily! but let them come, themselves, and lead us out!
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 And the constables reported unto the magistrates these words; and they were struck with fear, when they heard that they were, Romans;
The guards reported his words to the Magistrates, who, on hearing that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, were alarmed,
39 and came, and besought them, and, leading them out, went on to request them to depart from the city.
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 And so, coming forth from the prison, they went unto Lydia, and, seeing the brethren, they comforted them, and went forth.
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.

< Acts 16 >