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Timothy is circumcised. Paul preaches at Phillipi, and there he is put in prison.

16 Then Paul went to Derbe and to Lystra. And a certain disciple was there named Timothy, the son of a woman who was a Jewess and believed, but his father was a Greek. The brethren of Lystra and of Iconium spoke well of Timothy. Paul wanted him to go forth with him, and took and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those quarters, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went through the towns, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, as resolved by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem. And so the congregations were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

When they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia, they came to the region of Mysia, and sought to go into Bithynia. But the Spirit would not permit them. Then they went over Mysia and down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: there stood a man from Macedonia who appealed to him, saying, Come into Macedonia and help us! 10 After he had seen the vision, immediately we prepared to go into Macedonia, persuaded that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. 11 Then we set sail from Troas, and with a straight course went to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is the chief city in the parts of Macedonia, and a Roman colony.

We were in that city for several days. 13 And on the Sabbath days we went out of the city, beside a river where people were accustomed to pray. And we sat down and spoke to the women who gathered there. 14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira who worshipped God, listened to us, and the Lord opened her heart so that she attended to the things that Paul said. 15 When she was baptized, and her household, she invited us, saying, If you think that I believe on the Lord, come into my house and stay there. And she constrained us.

16 And it happened as we went to prayer that a certain girl possessed with a spirit that prophesied met us, who brought her masters much income by prophesying. 17 She followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, who show to us the way of salvation! 18 And she did this many days. But Paul, not pleased, turned about and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! And it came out the same hour.

19 And when her master and mistress saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas and drew them into the marketplace to the authorities, 20 and brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men are troubling our city. They are Jews, and preach customs 21 that are not lawful for us to receive nor to observe, seeing we are Romans.

22 And the people ran on them, and the magistrates tore their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had beaten them sore, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Which jailer, when he had received such direction, thrust them into the inner prison and made their feet fast in the stocks.

25 At midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and lauding God, and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundation of the prison was shaken. And immediately all the doors opened, and every man’s bonds were loosed. 27 When the keeper of the prison awoke out of his sleep and saw the prison doors open, he drew out his sword and would have killed himself, supposing the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, Do yourself no harm, for we are all here!

29 Then he called for a light and rushed 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, and you shall be saved, and your household. 32 And they preached 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 wounds, and was baptized with all who belonged to him straightaway. 34 When he had brought Paul and Silas into his house, he set food before them, and rejoiced that he with all his household believed on God.

35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent their officers, saying, Let those men go. 36 The keeper of the prison told this to Paul, saying, The magistrates have sent word to release you; now therefore take your leave, and go in peace.

37 Then Paul said to them, They have beaten us openly, without a trial, for all that we are Romans, and have cast us into prison. And now would they send us away quietly? No, not so, but let them come themselves and get us out.

38 When the officers told these words to the magistrates, they feared, hearing that Paul and Silas were Romans, 39 and came and entreated 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.

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: which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. 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. 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. And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

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, after they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 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.

提摩太与保罗和西拉同行

16 保罗去了特庇和路司得。那里有一个名叫提摩太的门徒。他母亲是犹太人,是一名信徒,他父亲是非犹太人。 路司得和以哥念的弟兄们都对提摩太赞不绝口。 保罗要提摩太与他旅行,于是便为他行了割礼,因为住在那个地区的犹太人都知道,提摩太的父亲是个非犹太人。 他们走遍了各城镇,一路上向信徒们转达耶路撒冷的使徒和长老们的指示。 因此,教会(信徒的团体)的信仰越来越强,信徒们也日益增多。

异象召唤保罗来到马其顿

因为圣灵阻止保罗和他的同行人在亚西亚传道,所以,他们路经弗吕家和加拉太一带, 当来到每西亚边境时,他们打算进入了庇推尼,可是耶稣的圣灵又制止了他们。 因此,他们越过每西亚,来到了特罗亚。 那天夜里,保罗看见了异象:一个马其顿人站在那里,肯求他说∶“请到马其顿来,帮帮我们吧!” 10 保罗看见异象后,我们立即准备前往马其顿。因为我们推断,上帝在召唤我们去给那里的人传播福音。

吕底亚归主

11 我们坐船离开了特罗亚,径直去了撒摩特喇。第二天,我们又航行到了尼亚波利。 12 然后,我们又从那儿出发,去了腓立比,那是马其顿地区的重要城市,是罗马人的殖民地。我们在这个城里呆了几天。

13 安息日 [a]那天,我们出了城门,来到河边,在那里我们想会有一个做祷告的地方。我们坐下来,开始向聚在那里的妇女们讲话。 14 其中有一个妇女名字叫吕底亚。她是推雅推喇城人,是卖紫色布匹的商人。她是上帝的崇拜者,倾听着我们。主开启了她的心,让她接受保罗的信息。 15 她和她的家人接受了洗礼 [b]后,她便邀请我们说∶“如果你们认为我真心信主,那么,就请住到我家来吧。”她说服我们去了她家。

保罗和西拉在狱中

16 一次,我们正往那祷告的地方去,遇到一个邪灵附体的女仆,她靠着邪灵给她的预测未来的能力,为她的主人们赚了一大笔钱。 17 她一路跟着保罗和我们,边走边喊∶“这些人是至高无上的上帝的仆人!他们在向你们宣布被拯救的道路!” 18 她一连这样很多天,保罗觉得不耐烦了,转身对这灵说∶“我以耶稣基督的名义命令你,从她身上出去!”立刻,那个灵便离开了她。

19 女仆的主人们一看赚钱的希望没有了,立刻揪住了保罗和西拉,把他们拽到了集市上去见官。 20 他们把保罗和西拉带到了官吏们那里说∶“这些人是犹太人,正在骚扰我们的城市! 21 他们鼓吹的规矩,是违法的,是我们罗马人既不能接受,也不能实行的。” 22 众人也对他们表示敌意。官吏们于是吩咐剥下他们的衣服,并命令手下人痛打他们。 23 保罗和西拉挨了一顿痛打,然后就被扔进了监狱。官吏们命令狱卒对他们严加看管, 24 于是,狱卒就把他们扔进了监狱里的最里层,还给他们上了足枷。

25 大约在午夜,保罗和西拉做着祷告,唱歌赞美上帝,其他的犯人都倾听着。 26 突然,一场剧烈的大地震发生了。牢房的地基颤动起来,所有的牢门都突然打开了,每个犯人的镣铐都松开了。 27 狱卒醒过来,看见牢门打开时,拔剑就要自杀,因为他以为犯人全都逃跑了。 28 这时保罗大声地喊道∶“别伤害自己!我们都在这里!”

29 狱卒叫人端进来一些灯,然后跑进牢里,吓得浑身直颤抖,匍伏在保罗和西拉的面前。 30 这个狱卒把他们带了出去,问道∶“我必须做什么才能得救?”

31 他们答道∶“信仰主耶稣。那样你们就会得救-你和所有住在你们家的人就会得救。” 32 他们还对他和在他家的人讲了主的信息。 33 当夜狱卒又带保罗和西拉去洗了伤口。然后,他和他的家人也立即受了洗礼 [c] 34 狱卒把保罗和西拉带到家里,请他们吃了顿饭。他和全家人都非常高兴,因为他们已经信仰上帝了。

35 第二天早晨,官吏们派警官来说∶“把那些人放了。”

36 于是,那个狱卒便把这话告诉了保罗∶“官吏们下令,让把你们释放了。所以,现在出来吧,平平安安地走吧。”

37 但是,保罗却对警官们说∶“他们没发现我们有任何罪状,竟当着人们的面打了我们一顿,尽管我们是罗马公民 [d],把我们关进了牢里。他们现在想悄悄地把我们送走,当然不行!他们应该亲自来接我们出去!”

38 警官把这些话报告给了官吏们。他们听说保罗和西拉是罗马人时,都非常害怕。 39 所以就去向他们道了歉,并且把他们接了出来,然后请他们离开那个城市。 40 保罗和西拉出监狱后,便来到了吕底亚的家。在那里,他们见到了兄弟们,鼓舞了他们一番,然后走了。

Footnotes

  1. 使 徒 行 傳 16:13 安息日: 犹太周的第七天。犹太人的一个特别的宗教日。(星期六)
  2. 使 徒 行 傳 16:15 洗礼或浸礼: 希腊字,意为短促地把人或东西浸入、浸泡或没入水中。
  3. 使 徒 行 傳 16:33 洗礼或浸礼: 希腊字,意为短促地把人或东西浸入、浸泡或没入水中。
  4. 使 徒 行 傳 16:37 罗马公民: 罗马法律说在受审之前,不许打罗马公民。