Acts 16:1-18

MLV(i) 1 Now he arrived in Derbe and Lystra, and behold, a certain disciple was there, Timothy by name, the son of a certain believing Jewess and a Greek father. 2 He was being testified of by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium. 3 This one, Paul wished to go forth together with him, and he took Timothy and circumcised him because of the Jews who are in those places; for they all knew that his father was Greek. 4 Now as they were traveling through the cities, they were giving them the decrees, to observe what had been decided by the apostles and the elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 Therefore indeed, the congregations were being strengthened in the faith, and were abounding in number every day.
6 Now they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; 7 and when they came down to Mysia, they were attempting to travel to Bithyna, and the Spirit did not permit them; 8 and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision was seen by Paul in the night. There was a certain man, a Macedonian, standing, pleading with him and saying, When you have crossed over into Macedonia, help us! 10 Now as he saw the vision, we immediately sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord has called us to proclaim the good-news to them.


11 Therefore setting-sail from Troas, we made a straight route to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis; 12 and from there to Philippi, which is the first city of that part of Macedonia, a Roman colony. Now we were staying in the city for some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day, we went forth outside the city beside a river, where we supposed it to be a place of prayer, and having sat down and we were speaking to the women who had come together. 14 And a certain woman, Lydia by name, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira was hearing us and worshiping God, whose heart the Lord opened to take-heed to the things being spoken from Paul. 15 Now as she and her household were immersed, she pleaded with us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, abide here, having entered into my house. And she constrained us.

16 Now it happened, while traveling to the place of prayer, that a certain maidservant encountered us, having a spirit of divination, who was providing her lords much business by fortune-telling. 17 This maidservant was crying out, having followed after Paul and us, saying, These men are bondservants of the Highest God, who are proclaiming to us the way of salvation. 18 Now she was doing this for many days. But Paul, also being pained, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come forth away from her. And it came out in the same hour.