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Acts 16:1-18:23
New American Standard Bible

The Macedonian Vision

16 Now Paul also came 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 brothers and sisters who were in (F)Lystra and (G)Iconium. 3 Paul wanted this man to leave 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 ordinances for them to follow which had been determined by (J)the apostles and (K)elders in Jerusalem. 5 So (L)the churches were being strengthened [a]in the faith, and were (M)increasing in number daily.

6 They passed through the [b](N)Phrygian and (O)Galatian region, after being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in [c](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 allow them; 8 and passing by (T)Mysia, they went down to (U)Troas. 9 (V)And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of (W)Macedonia was standing and pleading with him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 When he had seen (X)the vision, (Y)we immediately sought to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to (Z)preach the gospel to them.

11 So after setting sail from (AA)Troas, we ran (AB)a straight course to Samothrace, and on the following day 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 spending some days in this city. 13 And on (AF)the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were thinking that there was 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 was listening; she was a seller of purple fabrics from the city of (AG)Thyatira, and (AH)a worshiper of God. [d]The Lord (AI)opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. 15 Now 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 woman who had (AL)a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing great profit to her masters by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us and cried out repeatedly, saying, “These men are bond-servants of (AM)the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you a way of salvation.” 18 Now she continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and he 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 [e]moment.

19 But when her masters saw that their hope of (AO)profit was suddenly gone, they seized (AP)Paul and Silas and (AQ)dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities, 20 and when they had brought them to the chief magistrates, they said, “These men, Jews as they are, are causing our city trouble, 21 and they (AR)are proclaiming customs that are not lawful for us to accept or to practice, since we are (AS)Romans.”

Paul and Silas Imprisoned

22 The crowd joined in an attack against them, and the chief magistrates tore their [f]robes off them and proceeded to order [g]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 [h]and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in (AV)the [i]stocks.

25 Now 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 was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison 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, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” 29 And the jailer asked 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 God 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 [j]food before them, and was [k]overjoyed, since he had become a believer in God together with (BI)his whole household.

35 Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their officers, saying, “Release those men.” 36 And (BJ)the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The chief magistrates have sent word that you be released. So come out now and go (BK)in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “After beating us in public without due process—(BL)men who are Romans—they threw us into prison; and now they are releasing us secretly? No indeed! On the contrary, let them come [l]in person and lead us out.” 38 The officers reported these words to the chief magistrates. (BM)And they became fearful when they heard that they were Romans, 39 and they came and pleaded with them, and when they had led them out, they repeatedly asked them (BN)to leave the city. 40 They left the prison and entered the house of (BO)Lydia, and when they saw (BP)the brothers and sisters, they [m]encouraged them and departed.

Paul in Thessalonica

17 Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to (BQ)Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And (BR)according to Paul’s custom, he [n]visited them, and for three (BS)Sabbaths reasoned with them from (BT)the Scriptures, 3 [o]explaining and [p]giving evidence that the [q]Christ (BU)had to suffer and (BV)rise from the dead, and saying, “(BW)This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the [r]Christ.” 4 (BX)And some of them were persuaded and joined (BY)Paul and Silas, [s]along with a large number of the (BZ)God-fearing (CA)Greeks and [t]a significant number of the (CB)leading women. 5 But (CC)the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and they attacked the house of (CD)Jason and were seeking to bring them out to the people. 6 When they did not find them, they began (CE)dragging Jason and some brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have upset [u](CF)the world have come here also; 7 [v]and Jason (CG)has welcomed them, and they all act (CH)contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” 8 They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things. 9 And when they had received a [w]pledge from (CI)Jason and the others, they released them.

Paul in Berea

10 (CJ)The brothers immediately sent (CK)Paul and Silas away by night to (CL)Berea, [x]and when they arrived, they went into (CM)the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these people were more noble-minded than those in (CN)Thessalonica, [y]for they received the word with [z]great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 12 Therefore, (CO)many of them believed, [aa]along with a significant number of (CP)prominent Greek (CQ)women and men. 13 But when the Jews of (CR)Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in (CS)Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds. 14 Then immediately (CT)the brothers sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and (CU)Silas and (CV)Timothy remained there. 15 Now (CW)those who escorted Paul brought him as far as (CX)Athens; and receiving a command for (CY)Silas and Timothy to (CZ)come to him as soon as possible, they left.

Paul in Athens

16 Now while Paul was waiting for them in (DA)Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he observed that the city was full of idols. 17 So he was reasoning (DB)in the synagogue with the Jews and (DC)the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be present. 18 And some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers as well were [ab]conversing with him. Some were saying, “What could (DD)this [ac]scavenger of tidbits want to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”—because he was preaching (DE)Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they (DF)took him and brought him [ad]to the [ae](DG)Areopagus, saying, “May we know what (DH)this new teaching is [af]which you are proclaiming? 20 For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean.” 21 (Now all the Athenians and the strangers (DI)visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

Sermon on Mars Hill

22 So Paul stood in the midst of the [ag]Areopagus and said, “Men of (DJ)Athens, I see that you are very (DK)religious in all respects. 23 For while I was passing through and examining the (DL)objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore, what (DM)you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24 (DN)The God who made the world and everything that is in it, since He is (DO)Lord of heaven and earth, does not (DP)dwell in temples made by hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, (DQ)as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26 and (DR)He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having (DS)determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might feel around for Him and find Him, (DT)though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for (DU)in Him we live and move and [ah]exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His descendants.’ 29 Therefore, since we are the descendants of God, we (DV)ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by human skill and thought. 30 So having (DW)overlooked (DX)the times of ignorance, God is (DY)now proclaiming to mankind that all people everywhere are to repent, 31 because He has set (DZ)a day on which (EA)He will judge [ai](EB)the world in righteousness [aj]through a Man whom He has (EC)appointed, having furnished proof to all people [ak]by (ED)raising Him from the dead.”

32 Now when they heard of (EE)the resurrection of the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, “We shall hear from you [al]again concerning this.” 33 So Paul went out from among them. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the (EF)Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Paul in Corinth

18 After these events Paul left (EG)Athens and went to (EH)Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named (EI)Aquila, a native of (EJ)Pontus having recently come from (EK)Italy with his wife (EL)Priscilla, because (EM)Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, 3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them, and (EN)they worked together, for they were tent-makers by trade. 4 And Paul was reasoning (EO)in the synagogue every (EP)Sabbath and trying to persuade (EQ)Jews and Greeks.

5 But when (ER)Silas and Timothy (ES)came down from (ET)Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, (EU)testifying to the Jews that (EV)Jesus was the [am]Christ. 6 But when they resisted and blasphemed, he (EW)shook out his garments and said to them, “Your (EX)blood is [an]on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go (EY)to the Gentiles.” 7 Then he left [ao]the synagogue and went to the house of a man named [ap]Titius Justus, (EZ)a worshiper of God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. 8 (FA)Crispus, (FB)the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord (FC)together with his entire household; and many of the (FD)Corinthians, as they listened to Paul, were believing and being baptized. 9 And the Lord said to Paul by (FE)a vision at night, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city.” 11 And he settled there for a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

12 But while Gallio was (FF)proconsul of (FG)Achaia, (FH)the Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before (FI)the [aq]judgment seat, 13 saying, “This man is inciting the people to worship God contrary to (FJ)the [ar]law.” 14 But when Paul was about to (FK)open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of some crime or vicious, unscrupulous act, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you; 15 but if there are [as](FL)questions about [at]teaching and [au]persons and your own law, see to it yourselves; I am unwilling to be a judge of these matters.” 16 And he drove them away from (FM)the [av]judgment seat. 17 But they all took hold of (FN)Sosthenes, (FO)the leader of the synagogue, and began beating him in front of (FP)the judgment seat. And yet Gallio was not concerned about any of these things.

18 Now Paul, when he had remained many days longer, (FQ)took leave of (FR)the brothers and sisters and sailed away to (FS)Syria, and (FT)Priscilla and (FU)Aquila were with him. [aw]Paul first (FV)had his hair cut at (FW)Cenchrea, for he was keeping a vow. 19 They came to (FX)Ephesus, and he left them there. Now he himself entered (FY)the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he did not consent, 21 but (FZ)took leave of them and said, “I will return to you again (GA)if God wills,” and he set sail from (GB)Ephesus.

22 When he had landed in (GC)Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church, and went down to (GD)Antioch.

Third Missionary Journey

23 And after spending some time there, he left and passed successively through the (GE)Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 16:5 Or in faith
  2. Acts 16:6 Or Phrygia and the Galatian region
  3. Acts 16:6 I.e., west coast province of Asia Minor
  4. Acts 16:14 Lit Whose heart the Lord opened
  5. Acts 16:18 Lit hour
  6. Acts 16:22 Or outer garments
  7. Acts 16:22 Lit to beat with rods
  8. Acts 16:24 Lit who
  9. Acts 16:24 Lit wood
  10. Acts 16:34 Lit a table
  11. Acts 16:34 Or overjoyed together with his whole household, since...God
  12. Acts 16:37 Lit themselves
  13. Acts 16:40 Or exhorted
  14. Acts 17:2 Lit entered to them
  15. Acts 17:3 Lit opening
  16. Acts 17:3 Lit placing before
  17. Acts 17:3 I.e., Messiah
  18. Acts 17:3 I.e., Messiah
  19. Acts 17:4 Lit and a large
  20. Acts 17:4 Lit not a few
  21. Acts 17:6 Lit the inhabited earth
  22. Acts 17:7 Lit whom Jason has welcomed
  23. Acts 17:9 Or bond
  24. Acts 17:10 Lit who when...arrived went
  25. Acts 17:11 Lit who received
  26. Acts 17:11 Lit all
  27. Acts 17:12 Lit and not a few
  28. Acts 17:18 Or disputing
  29. Acts 17:18 Lit seed gatherer; i.e., an unlearned person collecting only scraps of knowledge
  30. Acts 17:19 Or before
  31. Acts 17:19 Or Hill of Ares; Greek god of war
  32. Acts 17:19 Lit which is being spoken by you
  33. Acts 17:22 Or the Council of the Areopagus
  34. Acts 17:28 Lit are
  35. Acts 17:31 Lit the inhabited earth
  36. Acts 17:31 Lit by; or in
  37. Acts 17:31 Or when He raised
  38. Acts 17:32 Lit also again
  39. Acts 18:5 I.e., Messiah
  40. Acts 18:6 I.e., the responsibility is all yours
  41. Acts 18:7 Lit from there
  42. Acts 18:7 One early ms Titus
  43. Acts 18:12 Or tribunal
  44. Acts 18:13 Or Law
  45. Acts 18:15 Or arguments
  46. Acts 18:15 Lit word
  47. Acts 18:15 Lit names
  48. Acts 18:16 Or tribunal
  49. Acts 18:18 Lit Having had his hair cut
Listen to Acts 16:1-18:23
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Acts 16:1-18:23
New International Version

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

16 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra,(A) where a disciple named Timothy(B) lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer(C) but whose father was a Greek. 2 The believers(D) at Lystra and Iconium(E) spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.(F) 4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders(G) in Jerusalem(H) for the people to obey.(I) 5 So the churches were strengthened(J) in the faith and grew daily in numbers.(K)

Paul’s Vision of the Man of Macedonia

6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia(L) and Galatia,(M) having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.(N) 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus(O) would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.(P) 9 During the night Paul had a vision(Q) of a man of Macedonia(R) standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we(S) got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel(T) to them.

Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi

11 From Troas(U) we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi,(V) a Roman colony and the leading city of that district[a] of Macedonia.(W) And we stayed there several days.

13 On the Sabbath(X) we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira(Y) named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart(Z) to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household(AA) were baptized,(AB) she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

Paul and Silas in Prison

16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer,(AC) we were met by a female slave who had a spirit(AD) by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God,(AE) who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.(AF)

19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money(AG) was gone, they seized Paul and Silas(AH) and dragged(AI) them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar(AJ) 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans(AK) to accept or practice.”(AL)

22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.(AM) 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer(AN) was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.(AO)

25 About midnight(AP) Paul and Silas(AQ) were praying and singing hymns(AR) to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.(AS) At once all the prison doors flew open,(AT) and everyone’s chains came loose.(AU) 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.(AV) 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.(AW) 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”(AX)

31 They replied, “Believe(AY) in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved(AZ)—you and your household.”(BA) 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night(BB) the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.(BC) 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he(BD) was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

35 When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” 36 The jailer(BE) told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”(BF)

37 But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens,(BG) and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”

38 The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed.(BH) 39 They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city.(BI) 40 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house,(BJ) where they met with the brothers and sisters(BK) and encouraged them. Then they left.

In Thessalonica

17 When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica,(BL) where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue,(BM) and on three Sabbath(BN) days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,(BO) 3 explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer(BP) and rise from the dead.(BQ) “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,”(BR) he said. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas,(BS) as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.

5 But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city.(BT) They rushed to Jason’s(BU) house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.[b] 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged(BV) Jason and some other believers(BW) before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world(BX) have now come here,(BY) 7 and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.”(BZ) 8 When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 9 Then they made Jason(CA) and the others post bond and let them go.

In Berea

10 As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas(CB) away to Berea.(CC) On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue.(CD) 11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica,(CE) for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures(CF) every day to see if what Paul said was true.(CG) 12 As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.(CH)

13 But when the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea,(CI) some of them went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. 14 The believers(CJ) immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas(CK) and Timothy(CL) stayed at Berea. 15 Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens(CM) and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.(CN)

In Athens

16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue(CO) with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news(CP) about Jesus and the resurrection.(CQ) 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus,(CR) where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching(CS) is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians(CT) and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)

22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus(CU) and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.(CV) 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship(CW)—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it(CX) is the Lord of heaven and earth(CY) and does not live in temples built by human hands.(CZ) 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.(DA) 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.(DB) 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.(DC) 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’[c](DD) As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’[d]

29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill.(DE) 30 In the past God overlooked(DF) such ignorance,(DG) but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.(DH) 31 For he has set a day when he will judge(DI) the world with justice(DJ) by the man he has appointed.(DK) He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”(DL)

32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead,(DM) some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus,(DN) also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

In Corinth

18 After this, Paul left Athens(DO) and went to Corinth.(DP) 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla,(DQ) because Claudius(DR) had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.(DS) 4 Every Sabbath(DT) he reasoned in the synagogue,(DU) trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

5 When Silas(DV) and Timothy(DW) came from Macedonia,(DX) Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.(DY) 6 But when they opposed Paul and became abusive,(DZ) he shook out his clothes in protest(EA) and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads!(EB) I am innocent of it.(EC) From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”(ED)

7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.(EE) 8 Crispus,(EF) the synagogue leader,(EG) and his entire household(EH) believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision:(EI) “Do not be afraid;(EJ) keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you,(EK) and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.(EL)

12 While Gallio was proconsul(EM) of Achaia,(EN) the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 13 “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”

14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law(EO)—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” 16 So he drove them off. 17 Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes(EP) the synagogue leader(EQ) and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.

Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos

18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters(ER) and sailed for Syria,(ES) accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.(ET) Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae(EU) because of a vow he had taken.(EV) 19 They arrived at Ephesus,(EW) where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.”(EX) Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he landed at Caesarea,(EY) he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.(EZ)

23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia(FA) and Phrygia,(FB) strengthening all the disciples.(FC)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 16:12 The text and meaning of the Greek for the leading city of that district are uncertain.
  2. Acts 17:5 Or the assembly of the people
  3. Acts 17:28 From the Cretan philosopher Epimenides
  4. Acts 17:28 From the Cilician Stoic philosopher Aratus
Listen to Acts 16:1-18:23
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Acts 16:1-18:23
King James Version

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:

2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

3 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.

4 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.

5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

6 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,

7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.

9 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.

17 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:

2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.

9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.

14 And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.

15 And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

33 So Paul departed from among them.

34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

18 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;

2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.

3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

7 And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.

8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:

10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

12 And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,

13 Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.

14 And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:

15 But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.

16 And he drave them from the judgment seat.

17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.

18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.

20 When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;

21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.

23 And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.

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