Acts 16
King James Version
16 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
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 prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
11 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;
12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.
13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee 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 drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto 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 every one'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 been fled.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang 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 thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto 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, straightway.
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 serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
36 And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
37 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
38 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
39 And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
Acts 16
English Standard Version
Timothy Joins Paul and Silas
16 Paul[a] came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named (A)Timothy, (B)the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by (C)the brothers[b] at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he (D)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 on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance (E)the decisions (F)that had been reached by (G)the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 (H)So the churches were strengthened in (I)the faith, and they increased in numbers (J)daily.
The Macedonian Call
6 And (K)they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but (L)the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down (M)to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul[c] had seen the vision, immediately (N)we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
The Conversion of Lydia
11 So, setting sail from Troas, we (O)made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to (P)Philippi, which is a leading city of the[d] district of Macedonia and (Q)a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And (R)on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate (S)to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we (T)sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, (U)who was a worshiper of God. The Lord (V)opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, (W)and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she (X)prevailed upon us.
Paul and Silas in Prison
16 As we were going to (Y)the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had (Z)a spirit of (AA)divination and (AB)brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, (AC)crying out, “These men are (AD)servants of (AE)the Most High God, who proclaim to you (AF)the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, (AG)“I command you (AH)in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And (AI)it came out that very hour.
19 But (AJ)when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and (AK)dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They (AL)advocate customs that are not lawful for us (AM)as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders (AN)to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner (AO)prison and fastened their feet in (AP)the stocks.
The Philippian Jailer Converted
25 (AQ)About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly (AR)there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately (AS)all the doors were opened, and (AT)everyone's bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and (AU)was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer[e] called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he (AV)fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, (AW)what must I do to be (AX)saved?” 31 And they said, (AY)“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you (AZ)and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them (BA)the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he (BB)was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he (BC)rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, (BD)uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” 38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and (BE)they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and (BF)asked them to leave the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and visited (BG)Lydia. And when they had seen (BH)the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.
Footnotes
- Acts 16:1 Greek He
- Acts 16:2 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 40
- Acts 16:10 Greek he
- Acts 16:12 Or that
- Acts 16:29 Greek he
Acts 16
Young's Literal Translation
16 And he came to Derbe and Lystra, and lo, a certain disciple was there, by name Timotheus son of a certain woman, a believing Jewess, but of a father, a Greek,
2 who was well testified to by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium;
3 this one did Paul wish to go forth with him, and having taken [him], he circumcised him, because of the Jews who are in those places, for they all knew his father -- that he was a Greek.
4 And as they were going on through the cities, they were delivering to them the decrees to keep, that have been judged by the apostles and the elders who [are] in Jerusalem,
5 then, indeed, were the assemblies established in the faith, and were abounding in number every day;
6 and having gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia,
7 having gone toward Mysia, they were trying to go on toward Bithynia, and the Spirit did not suffer them,
8 and having passed by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
9 And a vision through the night appeared to Paul -- a certain man of Macedonia was standing, calling upon him, and saying, `Having passed through to Macedonia, help us;' --
10 and when he saw the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go forth to Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord hath called us to preach good news to them,
11 having set sail, therefore, from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, on the morrow also to Neapolis,
12 thence also to Philippi, which is a principal city of the part of Macedonia -- a colony. And we were in this city abiding certain days,
13 on the sabbath-day also we went forth outside of the city, by a river, where there used to be prayer, and having sat down, we were speaking to the women who came together,
14 and a certain woman, by name Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, worshipping God, was hearing, whose heart the Lord did open to attend to the things spoken by Paul;
15 and when she was baptized, and her household, she did call upon us, saying, `If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, having entered into my house, remain;' and she constrained us.
16 And it came to pass in our going on to prayer, a certain maid, having a spirit of Python, did meet us, who brought much employment to her masters by soothsaying,
17 she having followed Paul and us, was crying, saying, `These men are servants of the Most High God, who declare to us a way of salvation;'
18 and this she was doing for many days, but Paul having been grieved, and having turned, said to the spirit, `I command thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, to come forth from her;' and it came forth the same hour.
19 And her masters having seen that the hope of their employment was gone, having caught Paul and Silas, drew [them] to the market-place, unto the rulers,
20 and having brought them to the magistrates, they said, `These men do exceedingly trouble our city, being Jews;
21 and they proclaim customs that are not lawful for us to receive nor to do, being Romans.'
22 And the multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates having torn their garments from them, were commanding to beat [them] with rods,
23 many blows also having laid upon them, they cast them to prison, having given charge to the jailor to keep them safely,
24 who such a charge having received, did put them to the inner prison, and their feet made fast in the stocks.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas praying, were singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were hearing them,
26 and suddenly a great earthquake came, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, opened also presently were all the doors, and of all -- the bands were loosed;
27 and the jailor having come out of sleep, and having seen the doors of the prison open, having drawn a sword, was about to kill himself, supposing the prisoners to be fled,
28 and Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, `Thou mayest not do thyself any harm, for we are all here.'
29 And, having asked for a light, he sprang in, and trembling he fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 and having brought them forth, said, `Sirs, what must I do -- that I may be saved?'
31 and they said, `Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved -- thou and thy house;'
32 and they spake to him the word of the Lord, and to all those in his household;
33 and having taken them, in that hour of the night, he did bathe [them] from the blows, and was baptized, himself and all his presently,
34 having brought them also into his house, he set food before [them], and was glad with all the household, he having believed in God.
35 And day having come, the magistrates sent the rod-bearers, saying, `Let those men go;'
36 and the jailor told these words unto Paul -- `The magistrates have sent, that ye may be let go; now, therefore, having gone forth go on in peace;'
37 and Paul said to them, `Having beaten us publicly uncondemned -- men, Romans being -- they did cast [us] to prison, and now privately do they cast us forth! why no! but having come themselves, let them bring us forth.'
38 And the rod-bearers told to the magistrates these sayings, and they were afraid, having heard that they are Romans,
39 and having come, they besought them, and having brought [them] forth, they were asking [them] to go forth from the city;
40 and they, having gone forth out of the prison, entered into [the house of] Lydia, and having seen the brethren, they comforted them, and went forth.
Acts 16
Darby Translation
16 And he came to Derbe and Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, by name Timotheus, son of a Jewish believing woman, but [the] father a Greek,
2 who had a [good] testimony of the brethren in Lystra and Iconium.
3 Him would Paul have go forth with him, and took [him and] circumcised him on account of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew his father that he was a Greek.
4 And as they passed through the cities they instructed them to observe the decrees determined on by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.
5 The assemblies therefore were confirmed in the faith, and increased in number every day.
6 And having passed through Phrygia and the Galatian country, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia,
7 having come down to Mysia, they attempted to go to Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them;
8 and having passed by Mysia they descended to Troas.
9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There was a certain Macedonian man, standing and beseeching him, and saying, Pass over into Macedonia and help us.
10 And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go forth to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to announce to them the glad tidings.
11 Having sailed therefore away from Troas, we went in a straight course to Samothracia, and on the morrow to Neapolis,
12 and thence to Philippi, which is [the] first city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city certain days.
13 And on the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where it was the custom for prayer to be, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had assembled.
14 And a certain woman, by name Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God, heard; whose heart the Lord opened to attend to the things spoken by Paul.
15 And when she had been baptised and her house, she besought [us], saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide [there]. And she constrained us.
16 And it came to pass as we were going to prayer that a certain female slave, having a spirit of Python, met us, who brought much profit to her masters by prophesying.
17 She, having followed Paul and us, cried saying, These men are bondmen of the Most High God, who announce to you [the] way of salvation.
18 And this she did many days. And Paul, being distressed, turned, and said to the spirit, I enjoin thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out the same hour.
19 And her masters, seeing that the hope of their gains was gone, having seized Paul and Silas, dragged [them] into the market before the magistrates;
20 and having brought them up to the praetors, said, These men utterly trouble our city, being Jews,
21 and announce customs which it is not lawful for us to receive nor practise, being Romans.
22 And the crowd rose up too against them; and the praetors, having torn off their clothes, commanded to scourge [them].
23 And having laid many stripes upon them they cast [them] into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely;
24 who, having received such a charge, cast them into the inner prison, and secured their feet to the stocks.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas, in praying, were praising God with singing, and the prisoners listened to them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison shook, and all the doors were immediately opened, and the bonds of all loosed.
27 And the jailor being awakened out of his sleep, and seeing the doors of the prison opened, having drawn a sword was going to kill himself, thinking the prisoners had fled.
28 But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm, for we are all here.
29 And having asked for lights, he rushed in, and, trembling, fell down before Paul and Silas.
30 And leading them out said, Sirs, what must I do that I may be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house.
32 And they spoke to him the word of the Lord, with all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed [them] from their stripes; and was baptised, he and all his straightway.
34 And having brought them into his house he laid the table [for them], and rejoiced with all his house, having believed in God.
35 And when it was day, the praetors sent the lictors, saying, Let those men go.
36 And the jailor reported these words to Paul: The praetors have sent that ye may be let go. Now therefore go out and depart in peace.
37 But Paul said to them, Having beaten us publicly uncondemned, us who are Romans, they have cast us into prison, and now they thrust us out secretly? no, indeed, but let them come themselves and bring us out.
38 And the lictors reported these words to the praetors. And they were afraid when they heard they were Romans.
39 And they came and besought them, and having brought them out, asked them to go out of the city.
40 And having gone out of the prison, they came to Lydia; and having seen the brethren, they exhorted them and went away.
Acts 16
Wycliffe Bible
16 And he came into Derbe and Lystra. And lo! a disciple was there, by name Timothy, the son of a Jewess christian[a], and of the father heathen.
2 And brethren that were in Lystra and Iconium [The brethren that were in Lystra and Iconium], yielded good witnessing to him.
3 And Paul would that this man should go forth with him [Paul would him to go forth with himself], and he took, and circumcised him, for Jews that were in those places. For all knew, that his father was heathen.
4 [Forsooth] When they passed by cities, they betook to them to keep the teachings, that were deemed of apostles and elder men, that were at Jerusalem.
5 And the churches were confirmed in faith, and increased in number each day.
6 And they passed Phrygia, and the country of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to speak the word of God in Asia.
7 And when they came to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus suffered not them [and the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not].
8 But when they had passed by Mysia, they came down to Troas;
9 and a vision by night was showed to Paul. But a man of Macedonia that stood, prayed him, and said [and a vision in night was showed to Paul. Some man of Macedonia was standing, and praying him, and saying], Go thou into Macedonia, and help us.
10 And as he had seen the vision, at once [anon] we sought to go forth into Macedonia, and were made certain, that God had called us to preach to them [made certain that God had called us to evangelize to them].
11 And we went by ship from Troas, and came to Samothracia with straight course [Soothly we going by boat, or sailing, from Troas, with straight course came to Samothracia]; and the day following to Neapolis;
12 and from thence to Philippi, that is the first part of Macedonia, the city colony [the city of colony]. And we were in this city some days, and spake together [speaking together].
13 And in the day of sabbaths we went forth without the gate beside the river, where prayer seemed to be [Soothly in the day of sabbaths, we went out without the gate beside the flood, where prayer was seen to be]; and we sat, and spake to women that came together.
14 And a woman [And some woman], Lydia by name, a purpless of the city of Thyatira, worshipping God, heard; whose heart the Lord opened to give attention to these things, that were said of Paul.
15 And when she was baptized and her house, she prayed, and said, If ye have deemed that I am faithful to the Lord, enter ye into mine house, and dwell [she prayed, saying, If ye have deemed me to be faithful to the Lord, enter ye into mine house, and dwell]. And she constrained us.
16 And it was done, when we went to prayer, that a damsel that had a spirit of divination [some wench having a spirit of divination], met us, which gave great winning to her lords in divining.
17 This followed Paul and us, and cried, and said [saying], These men be servants of the high God, that tell to you the way of health.
18 And this she did in many days. And Paul sorrowed, and turned, and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ, that thou go out of her [I command to thee in the name of Jesus Christ, to go out of her]. And he went out in the same hour.
19 And the lords of her saw, that the hope of their winning went away, and they took Paul and Silas, and led into the market, either doom place, to the princes [catching Paul and Silas, they led them into the market, or doom place, to the princes].
20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, These men disturb our city [These men distrouble our city], for they be Jews,
21 and show a custom, which is not leaveful to us to receive [and show a custom, which it is not leaveful to us to receive], neither do, since we be Romans.
22 And the people and magistrates ran against them [And the people ran against them, and the magistrates], and when they had rent (to pieces) the coats of them, they commanded them to be beaten with rods.
23 And when they had given to them many wounds, they sent them into prison, and commanded to the keeper, that he should keep them diligently [commanding to the keeper, that he diligently should keep them].
24 And when he had taken such a precept, he put them into the inner prison [Which, when he had taken such a precept, sent them into the inner prison], and restrained the feet of them in a tree.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas worshipped, and praised God; and they that were in [the] keeping heard them.
26 And suddenly a great earth-moving was made, so that the foundaments of the prison were moved. And at once [And anon] all the doors were opened, and the bonds of all were loosed.
27 And the keeper of the prison was awaked, and saw the gates of the prison opened [and seeing the gates of the prison opened], and with a sword drawn out he would have slain himself, and guessed that the men that were bound had fled [weening the bound men to have fled].
28 But Paul cried with a great voice, and said [saying], Do thou no harm to thyself, for all we be here.
29 And he asked light, and entered [in], and trembled, and fell down to Paul and to Silas at their feet [and trembling he fell down to Paul and Silas at the feet].
30 And he brought them withoutforth, and said, Lords, what behooveth me to do, that I be made safe?
31 And they said, Believe thou in the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be safe, and thine house.
32 And they spake to him the word of the Lord, with all that were in his house.
33 And he took them in the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds. And he was baptized, and all his house at once [anon].
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set to them a board. And he was glad with all his house, and believed to God [And he gladded with all his house, believing to God].
35 And when day was come, the magistrates sent constables, and said, Deliver thou those men. [And when day was made, the magistrates sent tormentors, saying, Dismiss, or deliver, ye those men.]
36 And the keeper of the prison told these words to Paul, That the magistrates have sent, that ye be delivered; now therefore go ye out, and go ye in peace [and go in peace].
37 And Paul said to them, They sent us men of Rome into prison, that were beaten openly and uncondemned, and now privily they bring us out; not so, but come they themselves, and deliver us out. [Forsooth Paul said to them, They sent into prison us, beaten openly uncondemned, men Romans, and now privily they cast us out; not so, but come they, and themselves cast us out.]
38 And the constables told these words to the magistrates; and they dreaded, for they heard that they were Romans.
39 And they came, and besought them, and they brought them out, and prayed, that they should go out of the city.
40 And they went out of the prison, and entered to Lydia [entered into Lydia]. And when they saw brethren [And the brethren seen], they comforted them, and went forth.
Footnotes
- Acts 16:1 the son of a woman Jewess faithful, or christian
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)
2001 by Terence P. Noble