Acts 16

1 And he arrived also at Derbe and at Lystra. And look — a certain disciple was there named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was faithful, but of a Greek father, 2 who was testified to by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium. [a] 3 Paul wanted this man to go out with him, and 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 And as they went through the cities, they handed on to them for keeping the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. 5 So then the gatherings were being made firm in the faith and were growing in number day by day. [b]

6 And they went through the Phrygian and Galatian country, kept by the Holy Spirit from speaking the word in Asia; 7 and when they had come opposite Mysia they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; 8 so passing by Mysia they came down to Troas.

9 And during the night a vision appeared to Paul: a certain Macedonian man was standing and calling on him and saying, “Cross over into Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when he had seen the vision, at once we sought to go out into Macedonia, putting it together that God had called us to bring them good news. [c] †

11 So putting out from Troas we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in this city some days. [d] 13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate beside a river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.

14 And a certain woman named Lydia was listening, a dealer in purple from the city of Thyatira, one who reverenced God; and the Lord opened her heart wide to attend to the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she was immersed, and her household, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed on us. [e]

16 And it happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain servant girl who had a python spirit met us, who brought her masters much business by divining. [f] 17 She kept following after Paul and us, crying out and saying, “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who are announcing to you a way of rescue.” 18 And she did this for many days. But Paul was worn out by it, and turning to the spirit he said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.

19 But when her masters saw that their hope of business had gone out, they took hold of Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers, 20 and bringing them to the praetors they said, “These men are throwing our city into an uproar. They are Jews, [g] 21 and they announce customs that it is not lawful for us to take up or to practice, since we are Romans.”

22 And the crowd rose up together against them, and the praetors tore the clothes off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had laid many blows on them they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to guard them securely; 24 and he, having received such an order, threw them into the inner prison and made their feet fast in the wood. [h]

25 And about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and at once all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 And the jailer woke up, and seeing the doors of the prison open he drew his sword and was about to do away with himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”

29 And he asked for lights and rushed in, and trembling he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 and bringing them outside he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Trust in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him, together with all those in his house.

33 And he took them at that hour of the night and washed their wounds, and he was immersed at once, he and all his people; 34 and bringing them up into his house he set a table before them, and with his whole household he was glad that he had come to trust God.

35 And when day came the praetors sent the rod-bearers, saying, “Release those men.” 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul: “The praetors have sent word that you may be released. So come out now and go in peace.”

37 But Paul said to them, “They beat us in public, uncondemned, men who are Romans, and threw us into prison; and now they are throwing us out secretly? No indeed — let them come themselves and lead us out.” [i] 38 And the rod-bearers reported these words to the praetors; and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans, 39 and they came and urged them, and leading them out they asked them to go away from the city. 40 And going out of the prison they went to Lydia; and when they had seen the brothers they encouraged them and went away.