⁵ So the churches were strengthened^(A) in the faith and grew daily in numbers.^(B)

Paul’s Vision of the Man of Macedonia

⁶ Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia^(C) and Galatia,^(D) having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.^{(E) 7} When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus^(F) would not allow them to. ⁸ So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.^{(G) 9} During the night Paul had a vision^(H) of a man of Macedonia^(I) standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” ¹⁰ After Paul had seen the vision, we^(J) got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel^(K) to them.

Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi

¹¹ From Troas^(L) 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,^(M) a Roman colony and the leading city of that district^[a] of Macedonia.^(N) And we stayed there several days.

¹³ On the Sabbath^(O) 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^(P) named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart^(Q) to respond to Paul’s message. ¹⁵ When she and the members of her household^(R) were baptized,^(S) 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,^(T) we were met by a female slave who had a spirit^(U) by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling.