Dzieje 16
Nowe Przymierze
Wydarzenia w Derbe i Listrze
16 W trakcie podróży Paweł dotarł też do Derbe i Listry. Mieszkał tam pewien uczeń o imieniu Tymoteusz. Był on synem wierzącej Żydówki, a jego ojciec był Grekiem. 2 Bracia z Listry i Ikonium wystawiali mu dobre świadectwo. 3 Paweł postanowił zabrać go z sobą, dlatego wziął go i obrzezał. Uczynił to ze względu na Żydów, którzy mieszkali w tamtych okolicach, wszyscy bowiem wiedzieli, że jego ojcem był Grek. 4 Wędrując z miasta do miasta, mówili im o potrzebie przestrzegania postanowień powziętych przez apostołów i starszych w Jerozolimie. 5 Dzięki nim kościoły rzeczywiście utwierdzały się w wierze i z każdym dniem rosły liczebnie.
Podróż do Macedonii
6 Przez Frygię i Galację przeszli nie głosząc Słowa — Duch Święty powstrzymał ich od tego w Azji. 7 Gdy zbliżyli się do Myzji, próbowali skierować się do Bitynii, lecz Duch Jezusa nie pozwolił im na to. 8 Minęli zatem Myzję i doszli do Troady.
9 Nocą Paweł przeżył widzenie: Jakiś Macedończyk stał i prosił go: Przepraw się do Macedonii i pomóż nam. 10 Zaraz po tym widzeniu staraliśmy się wyruszyć do Macedonii, dochodząc wspólnie do wniosku, że Bóg nas wezwał, abyśmy głosili im dobrą nowinę.
Wydarzenia w Filippi
11 Odbiliśmy zatem z Troady i skierowaliśmy się do Samotraki. Następnego dnia dotarliśmy do Neapolis, 12 a stamtąd do Filippi, miasta położonego w pierwszym okręgu Macedonii, będącego kolonią rzymską. W tym mieście zatrzymaliśmy się na kilka dni.
13 W szabat wyszliśmy za bramę nad rzekę. Spodziewaliśmy się, że tam jest miejsce modlitwy. Usiedliśmy i rozmawialiśmy z przybyłymi kobietami. 14 Przysłuchiwała się temu niejaka Lidia, bogobojna sprzedawczyni purpury z Tiatyry. Pan otworzył jej serce, tak że uważnie słuchała słów Pawła. 15 A gdy została ochrzczona, wraz ze swoim domem, oznajmiła: Skoro uznaliście mnie za wierzącą Panu, wstąpcie i zamieszkajcie w moim domu. I wymogła to na nas.
16 Pewnego dnia, gdy szliśmy na modlitwę, natknęliśmy się na młodą kobietę, która była czyjąś służącą. Miała ona ducha wieszczego i swoim wróżeniem przynosiła spory zysk właścicielom. 17 Idąc za Pawłem i za nami, wołała: Ci ludzie są sługami Najwyższego Boga! Oni głoszą wam drogę zbawienia!
18 Czyniła tak przez wiele dni. W końcu Paweł, zmęczony tym, zwrócił się do ducha i powiedział: Rozkazuję ci w imieniu Jezusa Chrystusa, żebyś z niej wyszedł. I duch po chwili wyszedł.
19 Gdy właściciele służącej spostrzegli, że ich nadzieja na zysk przepadła, schwytali Pawła oraz Sylasa i zawlekli ich na rynek do przedstawicieli władzy. 20 Tam wprowadzili ich przed pretorów i wnieśli skargę: Ci oto ludzie, a są oni Żydami, bardzo niepokoją nasze miasto. 21 Głoszą zwyczaje, których nam, jako Rzymianom, nie wolno przyjmować ani praktykować.
22 Oskarżycieli poparł też tłum. Pretorzy kazali więc zedrzeć z nich szaty i wychłostać. 23 A gdy im zadali wiele razów, wtrącili ich do więzienia i nakazali stróżowi więziennemu, by objął ich szczególnym nadzorem. 24 Po otrzymaniu takiego rozkazu, stróż zamknął ich w wewnętrznym lochu, a ich nogi zakuł w dyby.
25 Około północy Paweł i Sylas modlili się i śpiewali Bogu hymny. Przysłuchiwali się im więźniowie. 26 Nagle zatrzęsła się ziemia, na tyle mocno, że przesunęły się fundamenty więzienia. Wszystkie drzwi stanęły natychmiast otworem i więzy wszystkich rozluźniły się. 27 Obudzono stróża więziennego. Ten, gdy zobaczył otwarte drzwi więzienia, dobył miecza i chciał się zabić, sądząc, że więźniowie uciekli. 28 Lecz Paweł zawołał: Nie czyń sobie nic złego! Jesteśmy tu wszyscy.
29 Stróż poprosił o światło. Wskoczył do środka i przerażony przypadł do Pawła i Sylasa. 30 A gdy już wyprowadził ich na zewnątrz, zapytał: Panowie, co mam czynić, abym był zbawiony?
31 Odpowiedzieli mu: Uwierz w Pana Jezusa, a będziesz zbawiony — ty i twój dom. 32 Następnie przekazali mu Słowo Pana, jemu oraz wszystkim, którzy byli w jego domu. 33 Wtedy stróż wziął ich, o tej godzinie, w nocy, obmył z ran i zaraz dał się ochrzcić, zarówno on sam, jak i wszyscy jego domownicy. 34 Wprowadził ich też do swojego domu, zastawił stół i wraz z całym domem cieszył się, że uwierzył Bogu.
35 Z nastaniem dnia pretorzy posłali straż z poleceniem: Zwolnij tych ludzi. 36 Stróż więzienny przekazał Pawłowi: Pretorzy przysłali polecenie, że macie być zwolnieni. Teraz zatem wyjdźcie i idźcie w pokoju.
37 Paweł jednak powiedział do nich: Wychłostali nas, obywateli rzymskich, publicznie i bez sądu, wtrącili nas do więzienia, a teraz potajemnie nas wypędzają? O, nie! Niech tu sami przyjdą i nas wyprowadzą.
38 Straż doniosła pretorom te słowa. A ci, gdy usłyszeli, że mają do czynienia z Rzymianami, przestraszyli się. 39 Przybyli więc, przeprosili ich, wyprowadzili i prosili, aby odeszli z miasta. 40 Po wyjściu więc z więzienia, wstąpili do Lidii, a gdy zobaczyli braci, dodali im otuchy i odeszli.
Acts 16
New King James Version
Timothy Joins Paul and Silas
16 Then he came to (A)Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, (B)named Timothy, (C)the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he (D)took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek. 4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the (E)decrees to keep, (F)which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. 5 (G)So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
The Macedonian Call
6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of (H)Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in [a]Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the [b]Spirit did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they (I)came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A (J)man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go (K)to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Lydia Baptized at Philippi
11 Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, 12 and from there to (L)Philippi, which is the [c]foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. 14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of (M)Thyatira, who worshiped God. (N)The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So (O)she persuaded us.
Paul and Silas Imprisoned
16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl (P)possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters (Q)much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days.
But Paul, (R)greatly [d]annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” (S)And he came out that very hour. 19 But (T)when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and (U)dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.
20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, (V)exceedingly trouble our city; 21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” 22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes (W)and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
The Philippian Jailer Saved
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 (X)Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately (Y)all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”
29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, (Z)“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, (AA)“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke 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 stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, (AB)he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
Paul Refuses to Depart Secretly
35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the [e]officers, saying, “Let those men go.”
36 So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.”
37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned (AC)Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”
38 And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. 39 Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and (AD)asked them to depart from the city. 40 So they went out of the prison (AE)and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.
Footnotes
- Acts 16:6 The Roman province of Asia
- Acts 16:7 NU adds of Jesus
- Acts 16:12 Lit. first
- Acts 16:18 distressed
- Acts 16:35 lictors, lit. rod bearers
Acts 16
English Standard Version
Timothy Joins Paul and Silas
16 Paul[a] came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named (A)Timothy, (B)the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by (C)the brothers[b] at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he (D)took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance (E)the decisions (F)that had been reached by (G)the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 (H)So the churches were strengthened in (I)the faith, and they increased in numbers (J)daily.
The Macedonian Call
6 And (K)they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but (L)the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down (M)to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul[c] had seen the vision, immediately (N)we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
The Conversion of Lydia
11 So, setting sail from Troas, we (O)made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to (P)Philippi, which is a leading city of the[d] district of Macedonia and (Q)a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And (R)on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate (S)to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we (T)sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, (U)who was a worshiper of God. The Lord (V)opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, (W)and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she (X)prevailed upon us.
Paul and Silas in Prison
16 As we were going to (Y)the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had (Z)a spirit of (AA)divination and (AB)brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, (AC)crying out, “These men are (AD)servants of (AE)the Most High God, who proclaim to you (AF)the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, (AG)“I command you (AH)in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And (AI)it came out that very hour.
19 But (AJ)when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and (AK)dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They (AL)advocate customs that are not lawful for us (AM)as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders (AN)to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner (AO)prison and fastened their feet in (AP)the stocks.
The Philippian Jailer Converted
25 (AQ)About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly (AR)there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately (AS)all the doors were opened, and (AT)everyone's bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and (AU)was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer[e] called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he (AV)fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, (AW)what must I do to be (AX)saved?” 31 And they said, (AY)“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you (AZ)and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them (BA)the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he (BB)was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he (BC)rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, (BD)uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” 38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and (BE)they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and (BF)asked them to leave the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and visited (BG)Lydia. And when they had seen (BH)the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.
Footnotes
- Acts 16:1 Greek He
- Acts 16:2 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 40
- Acts 16:10 Greek he
- Acts 16:12 Or that
- Acts 16:29 Greek he
© 2011 by Ewangeliczny Instytut Biblijny
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
