Acts 16
Amplified Bible
The Macedonian Vision
16 Now Paul traveled to Derbe and also to Lystra. A disciple named Timothy was there, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer [in Christ], however, his father was a Greek. 2 Timothy was well spoken of by the brothers and sisters who were in Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to go with him [as a missionary]; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, since they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decrees decided on by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem, for the churches to observe. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they continually increased in number day after day.
6 Now they passed through the territory of Phrygia and Galatia, after being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in [the west coast province of] Asia [Minor]; 7 and after they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; 8 so passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 Then a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man from [the Roman province of] [a]Macedonia was standing and pleading with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 And when he had seen the vision, [b]we (including Luke) tried to go on into Macedonia at once, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
11 So setting sail from Troas, we ran a direct course to Samothrace, and the next day [went on] to Neapolis; 12 and from there [we came] to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony. We stayed on in this city for several days; 13 and on the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate to the bank of the [Gangites] river, where we thought there would be a [c]place of prayer, and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had come there.
First Convert in Europe
14 A woman named [d]Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a dealer in [e]purple fabrics who was [already] a worshiper of God, listened to us; and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention and to respond to the things said by Paul. 15 And when she was baptized, along with her household, she pleaded with us, saying, “If you have judged me and decided that I am faithful to the Lord [a true believer], come to my house and stay.” And she persuaded us.
16 It happened that as we were on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave-girl who had [f]a spirit of divination [that is, a demonic spirit claiming to foretell the future and discover hidden knowledge], and she brought her owners a good profit by fortune-telling. 17 She followed after Paul and us and kept screaming and shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God! They are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!” 18 She continued doing this for several days. Then Paul, being greatly annoyed and worn out, turned and said to the spirit [inside her], “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ [as His representative] to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment.
19 But when her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the market place [where trials were held], 20 and when they had brought them before the chief magistrates, they said, “These men, who are Jews, are throwing our city into confusion and causing trouble. 21 They are publicly teaching customs which are unlawful for us, as Romans, to accept or observe.”
Paul and Silas Imprisoned
22 The crowd also joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and ordered that Paul and Silas be beaten with rods.(A) 23 After striking them many times [with the rods], they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely. 24 He, having received such a [strict] command, threw them into the inner prison (dungeon) and fastened their feet in the stocks [in an agonizing position].
25 But about midnight when Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26 suddenly there was a great earthquake, so [powerful] that the very foundations of the prison were shaken and at once all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. 27 When the jailer, shaken out of sleep, saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, saying, “Do not hurt yourself, we are all here!” 29 Then the jailer called for torches and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 and after he brought them out [of the inner prison], he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
The Jailer Converted
31 And they answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus [as your personal Savior and entrust yourself to Him] and you will be saved, you and your household [if they also believe].” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ] to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their bloody wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. 34 Then he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, since he had believed in God with his entire family [accepting with joy what had been made known to them about the Christ].
35 Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their officers, saying, “Release those men.” 36 And the jailer repeated the words to Paul, saying, “The chief magistrates have sent word to release you; so come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us in public without a trial, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison; and now they are sending us out secretly? No! Let them come here themselves and bring us out!” 38 The officers reported this message to the chief magistrates, and [g]when they heard that the prisoners were Romans, they were frightened; 39 so they came [to the prison] and appealed to them [with apologies], and when they brought them out, they kept begging them to leave the city. 40 So they left the prison and went to Lydia’s house; and when they had seen the brothers and sisters, they encouraged and comforted them, and left.
Footnotes
- Acts 16:9 Northern Greece.
- Acts 16:10 At this point Luke (the writer) apparently joined the journey and includes himself in the narrative, speaking in the first person.
- Acts 16:13 Apparently there were not enough Jews living in Philippi to establish a synagogue.
- Acts 16:14 The first recorded believer in Europe.
- Acts 16:14 This was an important and valuable fabric, having great demand, being used on the official toga in Rome and its colonies.
- Acts 16:16 Lit a python spirit. In Greek mythology, Python the earth-dragon (serpent goddess), was associated with the oracle at Delphi.
- Acts 16:38 Paul was a Roman citizen because he was born in Tarsus (22:28), capitol of Cilicia and a city that the emperor Augustus had pronounced “free” because of its support of Rome. Nothing is known of Silas’ family background, but if his name is short for “Silvanus,” it is a Roman name (taken from the god of the forest) and it could be that Silas was also born a Roman citizen. Details on Roman citizenship at that time are sketchy at best, but it is clear from Acts that punishing a citizen without a trial and guilty verdict was illegal, probably involving severe penalties for the magistrates in charge. Also, a Roman citizen charged with a crime had the right to go to Rome and be tried in the emperor’s court (25:9-12).
Acts 16
Authorized (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
1599 Geneva Bible
16 1 Paul having circumcised Timothy, 12 being at Philippi, 14 instructed Lydia in the faith. 16 The spirit of divination, 18 is by him cast out: 20 and for that cause 22 they are whipped, 24 and imprisoned. 26 Through an earthquake, 27 the prison doors are opened. 31, 32 The Gaoler receiveth the faith.
1 Then [a]came he to Derbe and to Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named (A)Timothy, a woman’s son, which was a [b]Jewess and believed, but his father was a Grecian,
2 Of whom the brethren which were at Lystra and Iconium, [c]reported well.
3 [d]Therefore Paul would that he should 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 Grecian.
4 [e]And as they went through the cities, they delivered them [f]the decrees to keep, 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 ¶ [g]Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia, and the region of Galatia, they were [h]forbidden of the holy Ghost, to preach the word in Asia.
7 Then came they to Mysia, and sought to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
8 Therefore they passed through Mysia, and came down to Troas,
9 [i]Where a vision appeared to Paul in the night. There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come into Macedonia, and help us.
10 [j]And after he had seen the vision, immediately we prepared to go into Macedonia, being assured that the Lord had called us to preach the Gospel unto them.
11 Then went we forth from Troas, and with a straight course came to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis.
12 ¶ And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city in the parts of Macedonia, and whose inhabitants came from Rome to dwell there: and we were in that city abiding certain days.
13 [k]And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city, besides a river, where they were wont to [l]pray: and we sat down, and spake unto the women, which were come together.
14 [m]And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of the Thyatirians, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things, which Paul spake.
15 [n]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 mine house, and abide there: and she constrained us.
16 [o]And it came to pass that as we went to prayer, a certain maid having a spirit [p]of divination, met us, which gat her masters much vantage with divining.
17 She followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto you the way of salvation.
18 And this did she [q]many days: but Paul being grieved, turned about, and said to the spirit, I command thee in the Name of Jesus Christ, that thou come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
19 [r]Now when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the Magistrates.
20 [s]And brought them to the governors, saying, These men which are Jews trouble our city,
21 [t]And preach ordinances, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, seeing we are Romans.
22 [u]The people also rose up together against them, and the governors rent their clothes, and commanded them to be beaten with rods.
23 And when they had beaten them sore, they cast them into prison, commanding the Gaoler to keep them surely,
24 Who having received such commandment, cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet [v]fast in the stocks.
25 [w]Now at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sung Psalms unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundation of the prison was shaken: and by and by all the doors opened, and every man’s bands were loosed.
27 [x]Then the keeper of the prison waked out of his sleep, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew out his sword and would have killed himself, supposing the prisoners had been fled.
28 [y]But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we all are here.
29 Then he called for a light, and leaped 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 in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thine household.
32 And they preached unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in the house.
33 [z]Afterward he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was baptized with all that belonged unto him straightway.
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced that he with all his household believed in God.
35 [aa]And when it was day, the governors sent the sergeants, saying, Let those men go.
36 Then the keeper of the prison told these words unto Paul, saying, The governors have sent to loose you: now therefore get you hence, and go in peace.
37 [ab]Then said Paul unto them, After that they have beaten us openly uncondemned, which are Romans, they have cast us into prison, and now would they put us out privily? nay verily: but let them come and bring us out.
38 [ac]And the sergeants told these words unto the governors, who feared when they heard that they were Romans.
39 Then came they and prayed them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
40 [ad]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.
Footnotes
- Acts 16:1 Paul himself doth not receive Timothy into the ministry without sufficient testimony, and allowance of the brethren.
- Acts 16:1 Paul in his latter Epistle to Timothy, commendeth the godliness of Timothy’s mother and grandmother.
- Acts 16:2 Both for his godliness and honesty.
- Acts 16:3 Timothy is circumcised, not simply for any necessity, but in respect of the time only to win the Jews.
- Acts 16:4 Charity is to be observed in things indifferent so that regard be had both of the weak, and the quietness of the Church.
- Acts 16:4 These decrees which he spake of in the former chapter.
- Acts 16:6 God appointeth certain and determinate times to open and set forth his truth, that both the election and the calling may proceed of grace.
- Acts 16:6 He showeth not why they were forbidden, but only that they were forbidden, teaching us to obey and not to inquire.
- Acts 16:9 They are the ministers of the Gospel, by whom he helpeth such as were like to perish.
- Acts 16:10 The Saints did not easily believe every vision.
- Acts 16:13 God beginneth his kingdom in Macedonia by the conversion of a woman, and so showeth that there is no [exception] of persons in the Gospel.
- Acts 16:13 Where they were wont to assemble themselves.
- Acts 16:14 The Lord only openeth the heart to hear the word which is preached.
- Acts 16:15 An example of a godly housewife.
- Acts 16:16 Satan transformeth himself into an Angel of light, and coveteth to enter by undermining, but Paul openly letteth him, and casteth him out.
- Acts 16:16 This is a proper note of Apollo, which was wont to give answers to them that asked him.
- Acts 16:18 Paul made no haste to this miracle, for he did all things as he was led by the Spirit.
- Acts 16:19 Covetousness of lucre and gain is an occasion of persecuting the truth. In the mean season, God sparing Timothy, calleth Paul and Silas as the stronger, to battle.
- Acts 16:20 Covetousness pretendeth a desire of common peace and godliness.
- Acts 16:21 It is an argument of the devil, to urge the authority of ancestors without any distinction.
- Acts 16:22 An Example of evil Magistrates to obey the fury and rage of the people.
- Acts 16:24 Because he would be more sure of them, he set them fast in the stocks.
- Acts 16:25 The prayers of the godly do shake both heaven and earth.
- Acts 16:27 The merciful Lord, so oft as he listeth, draweth men to life, even through the midst of death, and whereas justly they deserved great punishment, he showeth them great mercy.
- Acts 16:28 In means which are especially extraordinary, we ought not to move our foot forward, unless that God goes before us.
- Acts 16:33 God with one selfsame hand woundeth and healeth, when it pleaseth him.
- Acts 16:35 Shame and confusion is in process of time, the reward of wicked and unjust Magistrates.
- Acts 16:37 We must not render injury for injury, and yet notwithstanding it is lawful for us to use such helps as God giveth us, to bridle the outrageousness of the wicked, that they hurt not others in like sort.
- Acts 16:38 The wicked are not moved with the fear of God, but with the fear of men: and by that means also God provideth for his, when it is needful.
- Acts 16:40 We may eschew dangers, so that we never neglect our duty.
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.
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Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
