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Acts 16
1 And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra: and look, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman that believed; but his father was a Greek.2 The same was well reported of by the brothers that were at Lystra and Iconium.3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those parts: for they all knew that his father was a Greek.4 And as they went on their way through the cities, they delivered them the decrees to keep which had been determined by the apostles and elders that were at Jerusalem.5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden of the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;7 and when they had come across from Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia; and the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them;8 and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There was a man of Macedonia standing and imploring him, and saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.10 And when he had seen the vision, right away we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.11 And setting sail from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis;12 and from there to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the first of the district, a [Roman] colony: and we were in this city tarrying certain days.13 And on the Sabbath day we went forth outside the gate by a riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down, and spoke to the women that had come together.14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, one that worshiped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened to give heed to the things which were spoken by Paul.15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she implored us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide [there]. And she constrained us.
16 And it came to pass, as we were going to the place of prayer, that a certain female slave having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune-telling.17 The same following after Paul and us cried out, saying, These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, being very troubled, turned and said to the spirit, I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out that very hour.19 But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers,20 and when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,21 and set forth customs which it is not lawful for us to receive, or to observe, being Romans.22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent their garments off them, and commanded to beat them with rods.23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:24 who, having received such a charge, cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison-house were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.27 And the jailor, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do yourself no harm: for we are all here.29 And he called for lights and sprang in, and, trembling for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas,30 and brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your house.32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him, with all that were in his house.33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, immediately.34 And he brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his house, having believed in God.
35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, Let those men go.36 And the jailor reported these words to Paul, [saying], The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore come forth, and go in peace.37 But Paul said to them, They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Romans, and have cast us into prison; and do they now cast us out secretly? No truly; but let them come themselves and bring us out.38 And the sergeants reported these words to the magistrates: and they feared when they heard that they were Romans;39 and they came and implored them; and when they had brought them out, they asked them to go away from the city.40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into [the house] of Lydia: and when they had seen the brothers, they comforted them, and departed.
Updated Bible Version
Scripture quotations are from the UPDV® Updated Bible Version 1.9, Copyright © 2003-4 by Updated Publishers. Used by permission. All Rights Reserved.