TCNT ACTs Chapter 16

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

16 Paul [fn]went on to Derbe and Lystra, and behold, a disciple named Timothy was there. He was the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted this man to go on with him, so he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went through the cities, they delivered the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and the elders in Jerusalem for the Gentile believers to obey. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in number every day.

Paul's Vision of the Macedonian Man

6 Then Paul and his companions went through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit from speaking the word in Asia. 7 When they reached Mysia, they tried to go [fn]on toward Bithynia, but the [fn]Spirit did not allow them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision. A Macedonian man was standing there, urging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 After Paul saw the vision, we immediately endeavored to go on to Macedonia, concluding that [fn]the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

The Conversion of Lydia

11 So we set sail from Troas and followed a straight course to Samothrace, and on the next day we went to Neapolis. 12 From there we went on to Philippi, which is a Roman colony and a [fn]leading city of that district of Macedonia. We stayed in that city for several days. 13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the [fn]city to a riverside, where [fn]it was customary for there to be prayer. We sat down and began speaking to the women who had gathered together. 14 One of those listening to us was a woman named Lydia. She was a worshiper of God from the city of Thyatira and a seller of purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying. 15 After she was baptized, along with her household, she urged us, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come stay at my house.” And she persuaded us to do so.

Paul and Silas Imprisoned in Philippi

16 One day, as we were on our way to prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination. She had brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 She followed along behind Paul and [fn]us and kept crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to [fn]us a way of salvation.” 18 She kept on doing this for many days, and Paul became so annoyed that he turned and said to the spirit, “I command yoʋ in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.

19 When her masters saw that their hope for profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, dragged them to the marketplace, and set them before the authorities. 20 After bringing them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews, 21 and they are proclaiming customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore their garments off them and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23 After inflicting many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them under close guard. 24 When he received this order, he put them in the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. Immediately all the doors opened, and all the chains came loose. 27 Then the jailer was awakened, and when he saw that the doors of the prison were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, assuming that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, “Do yoʋrself no harm, for we are all here.” 29 Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus [fn]Christ, and yoʋ will be saved, yoʋ and yoʋr household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of [fn]the Lord to him [fn]and to everyone in his household. 33 He then took them in that hour of the night and washed their wounds. Then he was baptized at once, along with his entire household. 34 After bringing Paul and Silas into [fn]his house, he set a meal before them. And he rejoiced, along with his entire household, because he had come to believe in God.

35 When daybreak came, the magistrates sent their officers, saying, “Release those men.” 36 So the jailer reported [fn]these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent orders for you to be released. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They beat us in public without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and they threw us into prison. And now they are sending us away secretly? Certainly not! Rather, let them come and escort us out themselves.” 38 So the officers reported these words to the magistrates, and the magistrates were afraid when they heard that the men were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and spoke to them in a conciliatory manner. As they escorted them out, they begged them to leave the city. 40 So Paul and Silas came out of the prison and went to Lydia's house. And after seeing the brothers and encouraging them, they departed.