Acts 16
Complete Jewish Bible
16 Sha’ul came down to Derbe and went on to Lystra, where there lived a talmid named Timothy. He was the son of a Jewish woman who had come to trust, and a Greek father. 2 All the brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of Timothy. 3 Sha’ul wanted Timothy to accompany him; so he took him and did a b’rit-milah, because of the Jews living in those areas; for they all knew that his father had been a Greek.
4 As they went on through the towns, they delivered to the people the decisions reached by the emissaries and the elders in Yerushalayim for them to observe. 5 Accordingly, the congregations were strengthened in the faith and increased in number day by day.
6 They traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, because they had been prevented by the Ruach HaKodesh from speaking the message in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the frontier of Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia; but the Spirit of Yeshua would not let them. 8 So, after passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
9 There a vision appeared to Sha’ul at night. A man from Macedonia was standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 As soon as he had seen the vision, we lost no time getting ready to leave for Macedonia; for we concluded that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.
11 Sailing from Troas, we made a straight run to Samothrace; the next day we went to Neapolis; 12 and from there, we went on to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that part of Macedonia. We spent a few days in this city; 13 then on Shabbat, we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we understood a minyan met. We sat down and began speaking to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in fine purple cloth. She was already a “God-fearer,” and the Lord opened up her heart to respond to what Sha’ul was saying. 15 After she and the members of her household had been immersed, she gave us this invitation: “If you consider me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay in my house.” And she insisted till we went.
16 Once, when we were going to the place where the minyan gathered, we were met by a slave girl who had in her a snake-spirit that enabled her to predict the future. She earned a lot of money for her owners by telling fortunes. 17 This girl followed behind Sha’ul and the rest of us and kept screaming, “These men are servants of God Ha‘Elyon! They’re telling you how to be saved!” 18 She kept this up day after day, until Sha’ul, greatly disturbed, turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Yeshua the Messiah, I order you to come out of her!” And the spirit did come out, at that very moment.
19 But when her owners saw that what had come out was any further prospect of profit for them, they seized Sha’ul and Sila and dragged them to the market square to face the authorities. 20 Bringing them to the judges, they said, “These men are causing a lot of trouble in our city, since they are Jews. 21 What they are doing is advocating customs that are against the law for us to accept or practice, since we are Romans.” 22 The mob joined in the attack against them, and the judges tore their clothes off them and ordered that they be flogged. 23 After giving them a severe beating, they threw them in prison, charging the jailer to guard them securely. 24 Upon receiving such an order, he threw them into the inner cell and clamped their feet securely between heavy blocks of wood.
25 Around midnight, Sha’ul and Sila were praying and singing hymns to God, while the other prisoners listened attentively. 26 Suddenly there was a violent earthquake which shook the prison to its foundations. All the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer awoke, and when he saw the doors open he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, for he assumed that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Sha’ul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We’re all here!”
29 Calling for lights, the jailer ran in, began to tremble and fell down in front of Sha’ul and Sila. 30 Then, leading them outside, he said, “Men, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They said, “Trust in the Lord Yeshua, and you will be saved — you and your household!” 32 Whereupon they told him and everyone in his household the message about the Lord.
33 Then, even at that late hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed off their wounds; and without delay, he and all his people were immersed. 34 After that, he brought them up to his house and set food in front of them; and he and his entire household celebrated their having come to trust in God.
35 The next morning, the judges sent police officers with the order, “Release those men.” 36 The jailer told Sha’ul, “The judges have sent word to release both of you. So come out, and go on your way in peace.” 37 But Sha’ul said to the officers, “After flogging us in public when we hadn’t been convicted of any crime and are Roman citizens, they threw us in prison. Now they want to get rid of us secretly? Oh, no! Let them come and escort us out themselves!”
38 The officers reported these words to the judges, who became frightened when they heard that Sha’ul and Sila were Roman citizens. 39 They came and apologized to them; then, after escorting them out, requested them to leave the city. 40 From the prison they went to Lydia’s house, and after seeing and encouraging the brothers they 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.
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
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.
