Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

This psalm is a song for the music leader. He is to use stringed instruments.

All the nations should praise God^[a]

⁶ It is the Lord who gives wisdom to people. He teaches us to understand things, so that we know what is true. ⁷ He helps good people to be wise in how they live. And he keeps honest people safe. ⁸ He protects the lives of righteous people. He takes care of people who serve him faithfully.

Timothy travels with Paul and Silas

16 Paul travelled to Derbe and then he arrived in Lystra. A man called Timothy lived in Lystra. He was a believer. His mother was a Jew who had become a believer in Jesus. But Timothy's father was a Gentile who came from Greece. ² All the believers in Lystra and Iconium said good things about Timothy. ³ Paul wanted Timothy to travel with him to different places. All the Jews in that region knew that Timothy's father was a Gentile. So Paul circumcised Timothy, so that the Jews would accept him.^[a]

⁴ Paul, Silas and Timothy travelled through many towns. In each place, they told the believers the things that the apostles and the other leaders in Jerusalem had decided. They told the believers to obey those rules. ⁵ In this way, the groups of believers in those towns became stronger. They trusted Jesus more. More and more people joined the groups of believers every day.

Paul has a vision

⁶ Paul and his friends wanted to go to the region of Asia to speak God's message. But the Holy Spirit stopped them from doing this. So they travelled through the regions of Phrygia and Galatia. ⁷ Then they arrived at the edge of the region of Mysia. They wanted to go from there into the region of Bithynia. But the Holy Spirit of Jesus stopped them from going there too. ⁸ So they went quickly through Mysia and they arrived at the city of Troas, on the coast.