Acts Chapter 16
1 Then Paul went to Derbe and Lystra. And behold a certain disciple named Timothy was there. Timothy was the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer and a Greek father
2 who was well thought⁺ of by the family⁺ at Lystra and Iconium.
3 Paul wanted⁺ Timothy to go with him, so he took him to be circumcised because of the Jews who were in that area⁺, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
4 As they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to be kept that had been ordained by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.
5 In this way the assemblies⁺ of believers were established in the faith, and they increased in number daily.
6 When they went throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to proclaim⁺ the Word in Asia.
7 After they came to Mysia, they tried⁺ to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not allow⁺ them to go.
8 So they passed by Mysia and went to Troas.
9 Then a vision appeared to Paul in the night in which a man of Macedonia begged⁺ him saying: Come over to Macedonia and help us.
10 After seeing the vision, we immediately endeavored to go to Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us to proclaim⁺ the Gospel to them.
11 Therefore sailing⁺ from Troas, we went with a straight course to Samothracia and the next day to Neapolis.
12 From there⁺ we went to Philippi, which is the chief city in that part of Macedonia and a colony. We stayed⁺ in that city for several⁺ days.
13 On the Sabbath, we went out of the city by a river side and prayed, as was our custom⁺, and we sat down and spoke to the women there.
14 A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God, heard us. The Lord opened her heart so that she was very attentive⁺ to the things that Paul said.
15 Therefore she and all of her household were baptized and she begged⁺ us saying: If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay⁺ there. And so she convinced⁺ us.
16 Now, it came to pass, as we went to prayer, that a certain girl⁺ possessed with a spirit of divination met us. This girl brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.
17 The girl followed Paul and us and cried out saying: These men are servants of the most high God who show the way of salvation to us.
18 She did this for many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit: I command~ you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And the spirit came out of the girl that same hour.
19 When the girl's masters saw that their hope of gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas and took⁺ them to the marketplace to the rulers.
20 They took⁺ them to the highest officials⁺ saying: These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city.
21 They teach customs that are not lawful for us to receive or observe since we are Romans.
22 Therefore the crowd⁺ rose up against them and the highest officials⁺ tore⁺ off their clothes and commanded that they be beaten.
23 After they laid many whippings⁺ on them, they cast them into prison, and charged the jailer to keep them secured⁺.
24 Having received this charge, he threw⁺ them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 At midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God so that all the other prisoners heard them.
26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. Immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains⁺ were loosed.
27 When the keeper of the prison awoke out of his sleep and saw the prison doors open, he drew out his sword and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had fled.
28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice saying: Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.
29 So the jailer called for a light, got up⁺, came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas.
30 Then he brought them out and said: Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 They said: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved~, you and your entire household⁺.
32 They spoke the Word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
33 Then the jailer took them, at that same hour of the night, and washed their wounds⁺ and he and all his family were baptized immediately⁺.
34 Then he took them into his house, sat food⁺ before them, and rejoiced, believing in God along with all the rest of his household.
35 When it was day, the highest officials⁺ sent the sergeants saying: Let those men go.
36 The keeper of the prison then reported⁺ this to Paul, saying: The highest officials⁺ have sent instructions to let you go. Therefore, you may now leave⁺ and go in peace.
37 But Paul said to them: They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison. Now do they thrust us out privately⁺? No truly⁺, but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
38 The sergeants reported⁺ these words to the highest officials⁺ and they became very fearful when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.
39 So the officials then personally came and begged⁺ them and brought them out and asked⁺ them to leave⁺ their city.
40 Then Paul and Silas left the prison and went⁺ to Lydia's house. When they saw the family⁺, they comforted them, and then departed.