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A Call from Macedonia

Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia,[a] but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas.

That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 So we[b] decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.

Lydia of Philippi Believes in Jesus

11 We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. 12 From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days.

13 On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. 14 One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. 15 She and her household were baptized, and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed.

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Footnotes

  1. 16:6-7 Phrygia, Galatia, Asia, Mysia, and Bithynia were all districts in what is now Turkey.
  2. 16:10 Luke, the writer of this book, here joined Paul and accompanied him on his journey.

Paul’s Vision of the Man of Macedonia

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia(A) and Galatia,(B) having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.(C) When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus(D) would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.(E) During the night Paul had a vision(F) of a man of Macedonia(G) standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we(H) got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel(I) to them.

Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi

11 From Troas(J) we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi,(K) a Roman colony and the leading city of that district[a] of Macedonia.(L) And we stayed there several days.

13 On the Sabbath(M) we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira(N) named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart(O) to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household(P) were baptized,(Q) she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 16:12 The text and meaning of the Greek for the leading city of that district are uncertain.