Acts 16

1 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain woman, who was a Jewess, who believed; but his father was a Greek:

2 Who was spoken well of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

3 This Timothy, would Paul want to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts: for they knew all that his father was Greek.

4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees for them to keep, that were ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.

5 And so were the churches established in the faith (of Jesus Christ) and increased daily in number.

6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were prevented by the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

7 After they had come to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia (in Asia): but the Spirit (of Jesus) did not allow them.

8 And they, passing by Mysia, came down to Troas.

9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and asked him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that (certainly) the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

11 Therefore, having sailed from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;

12 And from there to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we remained in that city some days.

13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a riverside, which was a customary place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there.

14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple (garments), from the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she listened to the things which were spoken of Paul (and believed).

15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she sought us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and remain there. And she persuaded us.

16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of python (a diviner) met us, who brought her master’s much gain by fortune-telling:

17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, who show to us the way of salvation.

18 And 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 he came out the same hour.

19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers,

20 And brought them to the rulers, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, nor to observe, being Romans.

22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the chief magistrates tore off their clothes, and they commanded that they be beaten with rods.

23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them securely:

24 Who, having received such a charge, cast them into the inner prison (dungeon), and secured their feet in the stocks.

25 And at midnight, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God: and the prisoners heard them.

26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bands were loosed.

27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.

28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do not harm yourself: for we are all here.

29 Then he called for a light, and rushed in, and came trembling, and 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 Christ, and you shall be saved, you and your house.

32 And they spoke to him the word of the Lord, and to 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 household immediately.

34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants (to the prison) saying, Let those men go.

 

36 And the keeper of the prison said this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent (saying) to let you go: now therefore depart and go in peace.

 

37 But Paul said to them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they cast us out secretly? No, truly; instead, let them come and bring us out (publicly).

 

38 And the sergeants said these words to the magistrates: and they feared when they heard that they were Roman (citizens).

39 And they came and sought them, brought them out, and desired for them to leave the city.

40 And they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them and departed.