Acts 16

Living_Oracles^{(i) 1} and came to Derbe and Lystra; and, behold, a certain disciple was there, whose name was Timothy, the son of a believing Jewess, but of a Grecian father; ² who had an honorable character given by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium. ³ Him Paul would have to go forth with him: and took and circumcised him, on account of the Jews who were in those places: for they all knew his father, that he was a Greek. ⁴ And as they passed through the cities, they delivered to their custody the decrees, which were determined by the Apostles and elders that were at Jerusalem. ⁵ The congregations, therefore, were confirmed in the faith, and increased in number daily. ⁶ And they went through Phrygia, and the region of Galatia, and being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; ⁷ when they were come to Mysia, they attempted to go to Bithynia; but the spirit did not permit them. ⁸ And passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. ⁹ And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There stood a certain Macedonia, entreating him, and saying, Come over to Macedonia, and help us. ¹⁰ And as soon as he had seen this vision, we immediately endeavored to go to Macedonia; assuredly inferring, that the Lord had called us to declare the gospel to them. ¹¹ Setting sail, therefore, from Troas, we ran directly to Samothracia; and the next day to Neapolis; ¹² and came thence to Philippi, which is a city of the first part of Macedonia, a colony: and we continued in this city for some days. ¹³ And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the side of the river, according to the custom, where was an oratory; and sitting down, we spoke to the women that were assembled there. ¹⁴ And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, heard the discourse: whose heart the Lord opened to attend to the things which were spoken by Paul. ¹⁵ And when she was immersed, with her family, she entreated us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, enter into my house, and continue there. And she compelled us. ¹⁶ Now it came to pass, that as we were going to the oratory, we were met by a certain maid-servant that had a spirit of divination, who brought her owners much gain by prophesying: ¹⁷ the same, following after Paul and us, cried out, These men are the servants of the Most High God, who declare to you the way of salvation. ¹⁸ And this she did for several days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I charge you, in the name of Jesus Christ, to go out of her. And it went out that very hour. ¹⁹ But when her owners saw that the hope of their gain was gone; laying hold of Paul and Silas, they dragged them to the market place, to the magistrates: ²⁰ and having brought them to the generals of the army, they said, These men, who are Jews, mightily disturb our city; ²¹ and teach customs, which it is not lawful for us to receive and practice, being Romans. ²² And the populace rose up together against them; and the generals tearing off their garments, commanded them to be beaten with rods. ²³ And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely. ²⁴ Who, having received such a strict charge, threw them into the inner prison, and secured their feet fast in the stocks. ²⁵ But at midnight, Paul and Silas having prayed, sung a hymn to God: and the prisoners heard them. ²⁶ And, on a sudden, there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prisoner were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and the bonds of all the prisoners were loosed. ²⁷ And the jailor, awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the doors of the prison opened, drew his sword, and was going to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners were fled. ²⁸ But Paul cried out, with a loud voice, saying, Do yourself no harm, for we are all here. ²⁹ And he called for lights, and sprung in; and, being in a tremor, fell down before Paul and Silas; ³⁰ and, bringing them out, he said, O Sirs, what must I do to be saved? ³¹ And they said, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your house. ³² And they spoke to him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. ³³ And taking them, that very hour of the night, he washed their stripes; and was immediately immersed, himself, and all his. ³⁴ And having brought them into his house, he spread the table before them: and believing in the God, with all his house, he was transported with joy. ³⁵ And when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, Dismiss those men. ³⁶ And the keeper of the prison told these things to Paul, The generals have sent that you may be dismissed; now, therefore, go out, and pursue your journey in peace. ³⁷ But Paul said to them, They have beaten us, who are Romans, publicly and uncondemned, and have cast us into prison; and do they now thrust us out privately? By no means: but let them come themselves, and conduct us out. ³⁸ And the sergeants reported these words to the generals. And when they had heard that they were Romans, they were afraid: ³⁹ and they came and comforted them; and conducting them out, requested that they would depart from the city. ⁴⁰ And coming out of the prison, they entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.