Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options
Close ASV

Acts 16
American Standard Version

16 And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess that believed; but his father was a Greek. 2 The same was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those parts: for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 And as they went on their way through the cities, they delivered them the decrees to keep which had been ordained of the apostles and elders that were at Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened [a]in the faith, and increased in number daily.

6 And they went through [b]the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden of the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; 7 and when they were come over against Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia; and the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not; 8 and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There was a man of Macedonia standing, beseeching him, and saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10 And when he had seen the vision, straightway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to [c]preach the gospel unto them.

11 Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis; 12 and from thence to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the first of the district, a Roman colony: and we were in this city tarrying certain days. 13 And on the sabbath day we went forth without the gate by a river side, [d]where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down, and spake unto the women that were come together. 14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened to give heed unto the things which were spoken by 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 were going to the place of prayer, that a certain maid having [e]a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by soothsaying. 17 The same following after Paul and us cried out, saying, These men are [f]servants of the Most High God, who proclaim unto you [g]the way of salvation. 18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, being sore troubled, turned and said to the spirit, I charge thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out that very hour.

19 But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was [h]gone, they laid hold on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers, 20 and when they had brought them unto the [i]magistrates, they said, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21 and set forth customs which it is not lawful for us to receive, or to observe, being Romans. 22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the [j]magistrates rent their garments off them, and commanded to beat them with rods. 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, cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. 25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison-house were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened; and every one’s bands were loosed. 27 And the jailor, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29 And he called for lights and sprang in, and, trembling for fear, 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 thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house. 32 And they spake the word of [k]the Lord unto him, with 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, immediately. 34 And he brought them up into his house, and set [l]food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his house, [m]having believed in God.

35 But when it was day, the [n]magistrates sent the [o]serjeants, saying, Let those men go. 36 And the jailor reported the words to Paul, saying, The [p]magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore come forth, and go in peace. 37 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Romans, and have cast us into prison; and do they now cast us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and bring us out. 38 And the [q]serjeants reported these words unto the [r]magistrates: and they feared when they heard that they were Romans; 39 and they came and besought them; and when they had brought them out, they asked them to go away from 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 [s]comforted them, and departed.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 16:5 Or, in faith
  2. Acts 16:6 Or, Phrygia and the region of Galatia
  3. Acts 16:10 Greek bring the good tidings. See 5:42.
  4. Acts 16:13 Many authorities read where was wont to be etc.
  5. Acts 16:16 Greek a spirit, a Python.
  6. Acts 16:17 Greek bondservants.
  7. Acts 16:17 Or, a way
  8. Acts 16:19 Greek come out.
  9. Acts 16:20 Greek praetors: compare verses 22, 35, 36, 38.
  10. Acts 16:22 Greek praetors. See verse 20.
  11. Acts 16:32 Some ancient authorities read God.
  12. Acts 16:34 Greek a table.
  13. Acts 16:34 Or, having believed God
  14. Acts 16:35 Greek praetors. See verse 20.
  15. Acts 16:35 Greek lictors.
  16. Acts 16:36 Greek praetors. See verse 20.
  17. Acts 16:38 Greek lictors.
  18. Acts 16:38 Greek praetors. See verse 20.
  19. Acts 16:40 Or, exhorted
Listen to Acts 16
Close NASB1995

Acts 16
New American Standard Bible 1995

The Macedonian Vision

16 Paul came also to (A)Derbe and to (B)Lystra. And a disciple was there, named (C)Timothy, the son of a (D)Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, 2 and he was well spoken of by (E)the brethren who were in (F)Lystra and (G)Iconium. 3 Paul wanted this man to [a]go with him; and he (H)took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 Now while they were passing through the cities, they were delivering (I)the decrees which had been decided upon by (J)the apostles and (K)elders who were in Jerusalem, for them to observe. 5 So (L)the churches were being strengthened [b]in the faith, and were (M)increasing in number daily.

6 They passed through the [c](N)Phrygian and (O)Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in [d](P)Asia; 7 and after they came to (Q)Mysia, they were trying to go into (R)Bithynia, and the (S)Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; 8 and passing by (T)Mysia, they came down to (U)Troas. 9 (V)A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of (W)Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 When he had seen (X)the vision, immediately (Y)we sought to [e]go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to (Z)preach the gospel to them.

11 So putting out to sea from (AA)Troas, we ran (AB)a straight course to Samothrace, and on the day following to Neapolis; 12 and from there to (AC)Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of (AD)Macedonia, (AE)a Roman colony; and we were staying in this city for some days. 13 And on (AF)the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled.

First Convert in Europe

14 A woman named Lydia, from the city of (AG)Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, (AH)a worshiper of God, was listening; [f]and the Lord (AI)opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and (AJ)her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

16 It happened that as we were going to (AK)the place of prayer, a slave-girl having (AL)a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, “These men are bond-servants of (AM)the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you [g]the way of salvation.” 18 She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you (AN)in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very [h]moment.

19 But when her masters saw that their hope of (AO)profit was [i]gone, they seized (AP)Paul and Silas and (AQ)dragged them into the market place before the authorities, 20 and when they had brought them to the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are throwing our city into confusion, being Jews, 21 and (AR)are proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being (AS)Romans.”

Paul and Silas Imprisoned

22 The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their [j]robes off them and proceeded to order [k]them to be (AT)beaten with rods. 23 When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding (AU)the jailer to guard them securely; 24 [l]and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in (AV)the [m]stocks.

25 But about midnight (AW)Paul and Silas were praying and (AX)singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26 and suddenly (AY)there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately (AZ)all the doors were opened and everyone’s (BA)chains were unfastened. 27 When (BB)the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about (BC)to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” 29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before (BD)Paul and Silas, 30 and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, (BE)what must I do to be saved?”

The Jailer Converted

31 They said, “(BF)Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and (BG)your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of [n]the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. 33 And he took them (BH)that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. 34 And he brought them into his house and set [o]food before them, and rejoiced [p]greatly, having believed in God with (BI)his whole household.

35 Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their policemen, saying, “Release those men.” 36 And (BJ)the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The chief magistrates have sent to release you. Therefore come out now and go (BK)in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us in public without trial, (BL)men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they sending us away secretly? No indeed! But let them come themselves and bring us out.” 38 The policemen reported these words to the chief magistrates. (BM)They were afraid when they heard that they were Romans, 39 and they came and appealed to them, and when they had brought them out, they kept begging them (BN)to leave the city. 40 They went out of the prison and entered the house of (BO)Lydia, and when they saw (BP)the brethren, they [q]encouraged them and departed.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 16:3 Lit go out
  2. Acts 16:5 Or in faith
  3. Acts 16:6 Or Phrygia and the Galatian region
  4. Acts 16:6 I.e. west coast province of Asia Minor
  5. Acts 16:10 Lit go out
  6. Acts 16:14 Lit whose heart the Lord opened
  7. Acts 16:17 Lit a way
  8. Acts 16:18 Lit hour
  9. Acts 16:19 Lit gone out
  10. Acts 16:22 Or outer garments
  11. Acts 16:22 Lit to beat with rods
  12. Acts 16:24 Lit who
  13. Acts 16:24 Lit wood
  14. Acts 16:32 Two early mss read God
  15. Acts 16:34 Lit a table
  16. Acts 16:34 Or greatly with his whole household, having believed in God
  17. Acts 16:40 Or exhorted
Next
Acts 15
Acts 17
Next
dropdown
American Standard Version (ASV)

Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)

New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible is made available by The Lockman Foundation