Acts 16
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
16 1 And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there— Timothy by name, the son of a believing Jewish woman[a], but of a Greek father— 2 who was being attested by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted this one to go forth with him. And having taken him, he circumcised him because of the Jews being in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 And as they were proceeding through the cities, they were delivering[b] to them the decrees[c] to be keeping[d] having been determined[e] by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. 5 So indeed the churches were being made-firm in the faith and were abounding in number daily.
Paul Sees a Vision of a Macedonian Asking For His Help, And Makes Plans To Go
6 And they went through the Phrygian[f] and Galatian region, having been forbidden[g] by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And having come opposite Mysia, they were trying to proceed into Bithynia and the Spirit of [h] Jesus did not allow them. 8 And having passed-by[i] Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul during the night— a certain Macedonian man[j] was standing and appealing-to him, and saying, “Having crossed to Macedonia, help us”. 10 And when he saw the vision, immediately we[k] sought to go forth to Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to announce-the-good-news-to them.
In Philippi, Paul Meets Lydia And She Becomes a Believer
11 And having put-to-sea from Troas, we ran-a-straight-course to Samothrace, and on the following day to Neapolis. 12 And from there we went to Philippi, which is a city of the first[l] district of Macedonia, a colony[m]. And we were spending some days in this city. 13 And on the day of the Sabbath, we went outside the gate beside a river where we were supposing that there was a place of prayer[n]. And having sat-down, we were speaking to the women having come together. 14 And a certain woman worshiping God— Lydia by name, a purple-fabric-dealer from the city of Thyatira— was listening, whose heart the Lord opened to pay-attention-to the things being spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be a believer[o] in the Lord, then having entered into my house, be staying with me”. And she prevailed-upon us.
Paul Casts a Demon Out of a Fortune-Telling Servant-Girl
16 And it came about while we were going to the place of prayer that a certain servant-girl having a soothsaying[p] spirit met us, who was bringing-about a large profit to her masters telling-fortunes. 17 This one, while closely-following Paul and us[q], was crying-out, saying, “These men are slaves of the Most-High God[r], who are proclaiming to you a way[s] of salvation”. 18 And she was doing this for many days. And Paul, having been greatly-annoyed, and having turned to the spirit, said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to depart from her!” And it went out at the very hour.
The Girl’s Masters Have Paul And Silas Beaten And Imprisoned
19 And her masters, having seen that their hope of profit went-out, having taken-hold-of Paul and Silas, dragged them into the marketplace[t] before the rulers. 20 And having brought them to the magistrates[u], they said, “These men are throwing our city into confusion, being Jews. 21 And they are proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us to be accepting nor to be doing, being Romans”. 22 And the crowd rose up together against them. And the magistrates, having torn-off their[v] garments, were giving-orders to beat them with rods[w]. 23 And having laid many blows on them, they threw them into prison, having commanded the jailer to keep them securely— 24 who, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and secured their feet to the wood[x].
After an Earthquake Opens The Jail, The Jailer Believes And Is Baptized
25 And about midnight Paul and Silas were singing-praise-to God while praying. And the prisoners were listening-to[y] them. 26 And suddenly a great earthquake took place, so that the foundations of the jailhouse were shaken. And at-once all the doors were opened, and the bonds[z] of everyone were unfastened[aa]. 27 And the jailer— having become awakened, and having seen the doors of the prison having been opened, having drawn his sword— was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul called-out with a loud voice, saying, “Do no harm to yourself, for we are all here”. 29 And having asked-for lights, he rushed-in. And having become trembling, he fell before Paul and Silas. 30 And having brought them outside, he said, “Sirs, what must I do in order that I may be saved?” 31 And the ones said, “Put faith upon the Lord Jesus and you will be saved— you and your household”. 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him, along with all the ones in his house. 33 And having taken them at that hour of the night, he washed off their wounds. And he was baptized at-once— he and all his household. 34 And having led them up to his house, he set a table before them and rejoiced-greatly— having believed in God with-his-whole-household.
The Magistrates Release Paul And Silas After Learning They Are Roman Citizens
35 And having become day, the magistrates sent forth their officers[ab], saying, “Release those men”. 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, that “The magistrates have sent forth in order that you may be released. Now therefore having come out, proceed in peace”. 37 But Paul said to them, “Having beaten us in public— uncondemned[ac] men being Romans[ad]— they threw us into prison. And now they are throwing us out secretly? No indeed! But having come themselves, let them lead us out!” 38 And the officers reported these words to the magistrates. And having heard that they were Romans, they became afraid. 39 And having come, they appealed-to them. And having led them out, they were asking them to depart from the city. 40 And having gone forth from the prison, they went-in[ae] to Lydia. And having seen the brothers[af], they encouraged them, and went forth.
Footnotes
- Acts 16:1 Her name was Eunice, 2 Tim 1:5.
- Acts 16:4 Or, passing-on, handing-down.
- Acts 16:4 Or, decisions, commands.
- Acts 16:4 Or, that they should be keeping the decrees.
- Acts 16:4 Or, decided.
- Acts 16:6 Or, Phrygia and the Galatian region (meaning North Galatia). See 14:28.
- Acts 16:6 Or, prevented... from speaking.
- Acts 16:7 That is, given by.
- Acts 16:8 That is, in terms of ministry.
- Acts 16:9 Some think this was Luke, who joins Paul in v 10.
- Acts 16:10 This is the first time Luke includes himself in Paul’s group.
- Acts 16:12 Or, a leading city of the district.
- Acts 16:12 That is, a Roman colony, with its special privileges.
- Acts 16:13 There were apparently not enough Jews in this Roman colony to have a synagogue (ten men were required).
- Acts 16:15 Or, faithful to, trustworthy in.
- Acts 16:16 Or, divination.
- Acts 16:17 This is the last time Luke includes himself with Paul until 20:5, again in Philippi.
- Acts 16:17 Or, god. She may mean the highest of the gods she worships; or, the true God.
- Acts 16:17 Or, the way. The hearers probably understood her to mean a way, not the only way.
- Acts 16:19 That is, the public square where the rulers and courts were also found.
- Acts 16:20 That is, the two Roman governors of the colony.
- Acts 16:22 That is, those of Paul and Silas.
- Acts 16:22 This was a Roman method of punishment, carried out by the officers in v 35.
- Acts 16:24 That is, the beam, log, or post, with chains. Or, in the stocks.
- Acts 16:25 Or, overhearing.
- Acts 16:26 Or, bindings, fetters, chains.
- Acts 16:26 Or, loosened, let go.
- Acts 16:35 Or, lictors, rod-bearers.
- Acts 16:37 That is, by a proper trial. It was illegal to do this to a Roman citizen.
- Acts 16:37 That is, Roman citizens.
- Acts 16:40 That is, went into her house.
- Acts 16:40 That is, fellow-believers, including Lydia.
Hechos 16
Dios Habla Hoy
Timoteo acompaña a Pablo y a Silas
16 Pablo llegó a Derbe y Listra, donde encontró a un creyente llamado Timoteo, hijo de una mujer judía creyente y de padre griego. 2 Los hermanos de Listra y de Iconio hablaban bien de él. 3 Pablo quiso que Timoteo lo acompañara, pero antes lo hizo circuncidar para que no se ofendieran los judíos que vivían en aquellos lugares, ya que todos sabían que el padre de Timoteo era griego. 4 En todos los pueblos por donde pasaban, comunicaron a los hermanos las instrucciones dadas por los apóstoles y los ancianos de la iglesia de Jerusalén. 5 Así que las iglesias se afirmaban en la fe, y el número de creyentes aumentaba cada día.
Visión de Pablo
6 Como el Espíritu Santo no les permitió anunciar el mensaje en la provincia de Asia, atravesaron la región de Frigia y Galacia, 7 y llegaron a la frontera de Misia. De allí pensaban entrar en la región de Bitinia, pero el Espíritu de Jesús no se lo permitió. 8 Así que, pasando de largo por Misia, bajaron al puerto de Tróade. 9 Allí Pablo tuvo de noche una visión; vio a un hombre de la región de Macedonia, que puesto de pie le rogaba: «Pasa a Macedonia y ayúdanos.» 10 En cuanto Pablo tuvo esa visión, preparamos el viaje a Macedonia, seguros de que Dios nos estaba llamando para anunciar allí la buena noticia.
Predicación en Filipos
11 Nos embarcamos, pues, en Tróade, y fuimos directamente a la isla de Samotracia, y al día siguiente llegamos a Neápolis. 12 De allí fuimos a Filipos, que es una colonia romana y una ciudad muy importante de esa parte de Macedonia. Allí estuvimos algunos días. 13 El sábado salimos a las afueras de la ciudad, junto al río, donde pensamos que había un lugar de oración de los judíos. Nos sentamos y hablamos del evangelio a las mujeres que se habían reunido. 14 Una de ellas se llamaba Lidia; era de la ciudad de Tiatira y vendía telas finas de púrpura. A esta mujer, que adoraba a Dios y que estaba escuchando, el Señor la movió a poner toda su atención en lo que Pablo decía. 15 Fue bautizada, junto con toda su familia, y después nos rogó:
—Si ustedes juzgan que de veras soy creyente en el Señor, vengan a alojarse en mi casa.
Y nos obligó a quedarnos.
16 Sucedió una vez, cuando íbamos al lugar de oración, que encontramos a una muchacha poseída por un espíritu de adivinación. Era una esclava que, adivinando, daba a ganar mucho dinero a sus amos. 17 Esta muchacha comenzó a seguirnos a Pablo y a nosotros, gritando:
—¡Estos hombres son servidores del Dios altísimo, y les anuncian a ustedes el camino de salvación!
18 Esto hizo durante muchos días, hasta que Pablo, ya molesto, terminó por volverse y decirle al espíritu que la poseía:
—En el nombre de Jesucristo, te ordeno que salgas de ella.
En aquel mismo momento el espíritu la dejó.
19 Pero cuando los amos de la muchacha vieron que ya no tenían más esperanza de ganar dinero por medio de ella, agarraron a Pablo y a Silas y los llevaron ante las autoridades, a la plaza principal. 20 Los presentaron a los jueces, diciendo:
—Estos judíos están alborotando nuestra ciudad, 21 y enseñan costumbres que nosotros no podemos admitir ni practicar, porque somos romanos.
22 Entonces la gente se levantó contra ellos, y los jueces ordenaron que les quitaran la ropa y los azotaran con varas. 23 Después de haberlos azotado mucho, los metieron en la cárcel, y ordenaron al carcelero que los vigilara con el mayor cuidado. 24 Al recibir esta orden, el carcelero los metió en el lugar más profundo de la cárcel y los dejó con los pies sujetos en el cepo.
25 Pero a eso de la medianoche, mientras Pablo y Silas oraban y cantaban himnos a Dios, y los otros presos estaban escuchando, 26 vino de repente un temblor tan fuerte que sacudió los cimientos de la cárcel. En el mismo momento se abrieron todas las puertas, y a todos los presos se les soltaron las cadenas. 27 Cuando el carcelero despertó y vio que las puertas de la cárcel estaban abiertas, sacó su espada para matarse, pues pensaba que los presos se habían escapado. 28 Pero Pablo le gritó:
—¡No te hagas ningún daño, que todos estamos aquí!
29 Entonces el carcelero pidió una luz, entró corriendo y, temblando de miedo, se echó a los pies de Pablo y de Silas. 30 Luego los sacó y les preguntó:
—Señores, ¿qué debo hacer para salvarme?
31 Ellos contestaron:
—Cree en el Señor Jesús, y obtendrás la salvación tú y tu familia.
32 Y les hablaron del mensaje del Señor a él y a todos los que estaban en su casa. 33 A esa misma hora de la noche, el carcelero les lavó las heridas, y luego él y toda su familia fueron bautizados. 34 Los llevó después a su casa y les dio de comer, y él y su familia estaban muy contentos por haber creído en Dios.
35 Por la mañana, los jueces mandaron unos guardias al carcelero con orden de soltar a Pablo y a Silas. 36 El carcelero le dijo a Pablo:
—Los jueces me han ordenado que los suelte a ustedes; así que ya pueden irse tranquilos.
37 Pero Pablo dijo a los guardias:
—A nosotros, que somos ciudadanos romanos, nos azotaron públicamente sin antes habernos juzgado, y nos metieron en la cárcel; ¿y ahora quieren soltarnos a escondidas? ¡Pues no! Que vengan ellos mismos a sacarnos.
38 Los guardias hicieron saber esto a los jueces, los cuales se asustaron al oír que se trataba de ciudadanos romanos. 39 Fueron, pues, los jueces a disculparse ante Pablo y Silas, y los sacaron y les rogaron que salieran de la ciudad. 40 Al salir de la cárcel, Pablo y Silas se dirigieron a casa de Lidia, y después de ver a los hermanos y animarlos, se fueron de allí.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
Dios habla hoy ®, © Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas, 1966, 1970, 1979, 1983, 1996.