Acts 16

1. He then arrived at Derbe and Lystra; and behold, there was a certain disciple named Timothy, son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was a Greek.

2. He was recommended to Paul by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium,

3. And Paul desired to take him with him; but because of the Jews in those places, he took him and circumcised him, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

4. And as they passed through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, the ones that had been decided upon by the apostles and the elders in Jerusalem.

5. Then the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number every day.

6. And after passing through Phrygia and the region of Galatia (for they had been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia),

7. They came down to Mysia and attempted to go to Bithynia; but the Spirit did not permit them to go there.

8. Now when they had passed by Mysia, they came to Troas;

9. And a vision appeared to Paul during the night. A certain man of Macedonia was standing, beseeching him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

10. And after he had seen the vision, we immediately sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

11. Therefore, after sailing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and on the next day to Neapolis;

12. And from there we went to Philippi, which is the primary city in that part of Macedonia, and a colony. And we stayed in this city for a number of days.

13. Then on the day of the weeks (see explanation) we went outside the city by a river, where it was customary for prayer to be made; and after sitting down, we spoke to the women who were gathered together there.

14. And a certain woman who worshiped God was listening; she was named Lydia and was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira; whose heart the Lord opened to receive the things spoken by Paul.

15. And after she and her household were baptized, she besought us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and lodge there.” And she constrained us.

16. Now it came to pass that as we were going to prayer, a certain damsel who had a spirit of Python met us; and she brought her masters much gain by divining.

17. She followed Paul and us and cried out, saying, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and are preaching to us the way of salvation.”

18. Now she did this for many days. Then Paul, being grieved, turned to the spirit and said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out the same hour.

19. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold of Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the magistrates.

20. And they brought them to the captains, saying, “These men, who are Jews, are greatly troubling our city,

21. And are preaching customs that are not lawful for us, as Romans, to receive or to practice.”

22. Then a multitude rose up against them, and the captains tore off their garments, and commanded that they be beaten with rods.

23. And after laying many stripes on them, they cast them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them safely.

24. After receiving this command, he threw them into the inner prison and secured their feet with stocks.

25. But about midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;

26. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so great that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors opened, and the bonds of all were loosed.

27. When the jailer awoke from his sleep and saw the doors of the prison open, he drew a sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped,

28. But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself; for we are all here.”

29. And after asking for lights, he rushed in and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.

30. And when he had brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do, that I may be saved?”

31. Then they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, you and your household.”

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

33. And he took them in that hour of the night, and washed their wounds; and he and all his household were immediately baptized.

34. Then he brought them into his house and laid out a table for them; and he rejoiced with all his household, who had believed in God.

35. Now when day came, the captains sent the sergeants, saying, “Let those men go.”

36. And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The captains have sent word to let you go. Now then, you may go out and depart in peace.”

37. But Paul said to them, “After publicly beating us, who are Romans, without condemnation, and casting us into prison, do they think now to secretly thrust us out? No, indeed, but let them come in person and bring us out.”

38. Then the sergeants reported these words to the captains. And when they heard that they were Romans, they were afraid.

39. And they came and entreated them; and after bringing them out, they asked them to depart from the city.

40. Now after leaving the prison, they came to Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, and had exhorted them, they departed.