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Acts 16
New International Version

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

16 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra,(A) where a disciple named Timothy(B) lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer(C) but whose father was a Greek. 2 The believers(D) at Lystra and Iconium(E) spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.(F) 4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders(G) in Jerusalem(H) for the people to obey.(I) 5 So the churches were strengthened(J) in the faith and grew daily in numbers.(K)

Paul’s Vision of the Man of Macedonia

6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia(L) and Galatia,(M) having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.(N) 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus(O) would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.(P) 9 During the night Paul had a vision(Q) of a man of Macedonia(R) standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we(S) got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel(T) to them.

Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi

11 From Troas(U) 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,(V) a Roman colony and the leading city of that district[a] of Macedonia.(W) And we stayed there several days.

13 On the Sabbath(X) 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(Y) named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart(Z) to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household(AA) were baptized,(AB) 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.

Paul and Silas in Prison

16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer,(AC) we were met by a female slave who had a spirit(AD) by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God,(AE) who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.(AF)

19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money(AG) was gone, they seized Paul and Silas(AH) and dragged(AI) them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar(AJ) 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans(AK) to accept or practice.”(AL)

22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.(AM) 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer(AN) was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.(AO)

25 About midnight(AP) Paul and Silas(AQ) were praying and singing hymns(AR) to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.(AS) At once all the prison doors flew open,(AT) and everyone’s chains came loose.(AU) 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.(AV) 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.(AW) 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”(AX)

31 They replied, “Believe(AY) in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved(AZ)—you and your household.”(BA) 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night(BB) the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.(BC) 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he(BD) was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

35 When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” 36 The jailer(BE) told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”(BF)

37 But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens,(BG) and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”

38 The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed.(BH) 39 They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city.(BI) 40 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house,(BJ) where they met with the brothers and sisters(BK) and encouraged them. Then they left.

Footnotes

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

16 1 And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there— Timothy by name, the son of a believing Jewish woman[a], but of a Greek father— 2 who was being attested by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted this one to go forth with him. And having taken him, he circumcised him because of the Jews being in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 And as they were proceeding through the cities, they were delivering[b] to them the decrees[c] to be keeping[d] having been determined[e] by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. 5 So indeed the churches were being made-firm in the faith and were abounding in number daily.

Paul Sees a Vision of a Macedonian Asking For His Help, And Makes Plans To Go

6 And they went through the Phrygian[f] and Galatian region, having been forbidden[g] by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And having come opposite Mysia, they were trying to proceed into Bithynia and the Spirit of [h] Jesus did not allow them. 8 And having passed-by[i] Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul during the night— a certain Macedonian man[j] was standing and appealing-to him, and saying, “Having crossed to Macedonia, help us”. 10 And when he saw the vision, immediately we[k] sought to go forth to Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to announce-the-good-news-to them.

In Philippi, Paul Meets Lydia And She Becomes a Believer

11 And having put-to-sea from Troas, we ran-a-straight-course to Samothrace, and on the following day to Neapolis. 12 And from there we went to Philippi, which is a city of the first[l] district of Macedonia, a colony[m]. And we were spending some days in this city. 13 And on the day of the Sabbath, we went outside the gate beside a river where we were supposing that there was a place of prayer[n]. And having sat-down, we were speaking to the women having come together. 14 And a certain woman worshiping God— Lydia by name, a purple-fabric-dealer from the city of Thyatira— was listening, whose heart the Lord opened to pay-attention-to the things being spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be a believer[o] in the Lord, then having entered into my house, be staying with me”. And she prevailed-upon us.

Paul Casts a Demon Out of a Fortune-Telling Servant-Girl

16 And it came about while we were going to the place of prayer that a certain servant-girl having a soothsaying[p] spirit met us, who was bringing-about a large profit to her masters telling-fortunes. 17 This one, while closely-following Paul and us[q], was crying-out, saying, “These men are slaves of the Most-High God[r], who are proclaiming to you a way[s] of salvation”. 18 And she was doing this for many days. And Paul, having been greatly-annoyed, and having turned to the spirit, said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to depart from her!” And it went out at the very hour.

The Girl’s Masters Have Paul And Silas Beaten And Imprisoned

19 And her masters, having seen that their hope of profit went-out, having taken-hold-of Paul and Silas, dragged them into the marketplace[t] before the rulers. 20 And having brought them to the magistrates[u], they said, “These men are throwing our city into confusion, being Jews. 21 And they are proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us to be accepting nor to be doing, being Romans”. 22 And the crowd rose up together against them. And the magistrates, having torn-off their[v] garments, were giving-orders to beat them with rods[w]. 23 And having laid many blows on them, they threw them into prison, having commanded the jailer to keep them securely— 24 who, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and secured their feet to the wood[x].

After an Earthquake Opens The Jail, The Jailer Believes And Is Baptized

25 And about midnight Paul and Silas were singing-praise-to God while praying. And the prisoners were listening-to[y] them. 26 And suddenly a great earthquake took place, so that the foundations of the jailhouse were shaken. And at-once all the doors were opened, and the bonds[z] of everyone were unfastened[aa]. 27 And the jailer— having become awakened, and having seen the doors of the prison having been opened, having drawn his sword— was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul called-out with a loud voice, saying, “Do no harm to yourself, for we are all here”. 29 And having asked-for lights, he rushed-in. And having become trembling, he fell before Paul and Silas. 30 And having brought them outside, he said, “Sirs, what must I do in order that I may be saved?” 31 And the ones said, “Put faith upon the Lord Jesus and you will be saved— you and your household”. 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him, along with all the ones in his house. 33 And having taken them at that hour of the night, he washed off their wounds. And he was baptized at-once— he and all his household. 34 And having led them up to his house, he set a table before them and rejoiced-greatly— having believed in God with-his-whole-household.

The Magistrates Release Paul And Silas After Learning They Are Roman Citizens

35 And having become day, the magistrates sent forth their officers[ab], saying, “Release those men”. 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, that “The magistrates have sent forth in order that you may be released. Now therefore having come out, proceed in peace”. 37 But Paul said to them, “Having beaten us in public— uncondemned[ac] men being Romans[ad]— they threw us into prison. And now they are throwing us out secretly? No indeed! But having come themselves, let them lead us out!” 38 And the officers reported these words to the magistrates. And having heard that they were Romans, they became afraid. 39 And having come, they appealed-to them. And having led them out, they were asking them to depart from the city. 40 And having gone forth from the prison, they went-in[ae] to Lydia. And having seen the brothers[af], they encouraged them, and went forth.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 16:1 Her name was Eunice, 2 Tim 1:5.
  2. Acts 16:4 Or, passing-on, handing-down.
  3. Acts 16:4 Or, decisions, commands.
  4. Acts 16:4 Or, that they should be keeping the decrees.
  5. Acts 16:4 Or, decided.
  6. Acts 16:6 Or, Phrygia and the Galatian region (meaning North Galatia). See 14:28.
  7. Acts 16:6 Or, prevented... from speaking.
  8. Acts 16:7 That is, given by.
  9. Acts 16:8 That is, in terms of ministry.
  10. Acts 16:9 Some think this was Luke, who joins Paul in v 10.
  11. Acts 16:10 This is the first time Luke includes himself in Paul’s group.
  12. Acts 16:12 Or, a leading city of the district.
  13. Acts 16:12 That is, a Roman colony, with its special privileges.
  14. Acts 16:13 There were apparently not enough Jews in this Roman colony to have a synagogue (ten men were required).
  15. Acts 16:15 Or, faithful to, trustworthy in.
  16. Acts 16:16 Or, divination.
  17. Acts 16:17 This is the last time Luke includes himself with Paul until 20:5, again in Philippi.
  18. Acts 16:17 Or, god. She may mean the highest of the gods she worships; or, the true God.
  19. Acts 16:17 Or, the way. The hearers probably understood her to mean a way, not the only way.
  20. Acts 16:19 That is, the public square where the rulers and courts were also found.
  21. Acts 16:20 That is, the two Roman governors of the colony.
  22. Acts 16:22 That is, those of Paul and Silas.
  23. Acts 16:22 This was a Roman method of punishment, carried out by the officers in v 35.
  24. Acts 16:24 That is, the beam, log, or post, with chains. Or, in the stocks.
  25. Acts 16:25 Or, overhearing.
  26. Acts 16:26 Or, bindings, fetters, chains.
  27. Acts 16:26 Or, loosened, let go.
  28. Acts 16:35 Or, lictors, rod-bearers.
  29. Acts 16:37 That is, by a proper trial. It was illegal to do this to a Roman citizen.
  30. Acts 16:37 That is, Roman citizens.
  31. Acts 16:40 That is, went into her house.
  32. Acts 16:40 That is, fellow-believers, including Lydia.
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Acts 16
New King James Version

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

16 Then he came to (A)Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, (B)named Timothy, (C)the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he (D)took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek. 4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the (E)decrees to keep, (F)which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. 5 (G)So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

The Macedonian Call

6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of (H)Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in [a]Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the [b]Spirit did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they (I)came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A (J)man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go (K)to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Lydia Baptized at Philippi

11 Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, 12 and from there to (L)Philippi, which is the [c]foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. 14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of (M)Thyatira, who worshiped God. (N)The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So (O)she persuaded us.

Paul and Silas Imprisoned

16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl (P)possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters (Q)much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days.

But Paul, (R)greatly [d]annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” (S)And he came out that very hour. 19 But (T)when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and (U)dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.

20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, (V)exceedingly trouble our city; 21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” 22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes (W)and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

The Philippian Jailer Saved

25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 (X)Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately (Y)all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”

29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, (Z)“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 So they said, (AA)“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, (AB)he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

Paul Refuses to Depart Secretly

35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the [e]officers, saying, “Let those men go.”

36 So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.”

37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned (AC)Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”

38 And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. 39 Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and (AD)asked them to depart from the city. 40 So they went out of the prison (AE)and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 16:6 The Roman province of Asia
  2. Acts 16:7 NU adds of Jesus
  3. Acts 16:12 Lit. first
  4. Acts 16:18 distressed
  5. Acts 16:35 lictors, lit. rod bearers
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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

  1. Acts 16:1 Greek He
  2. Acts 16:2 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 40
  3. Acts 16:10 Greek he
  4. Acts 16:12 Or that
  5. Acts 16:29 Greek he
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