Acts 16

1 Paul ^{a16:1 Lit. He} also went to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish wife whose husband was a Greek.ISV — Acts 16:1

2 Timothy ^{b16:2 Lit. He} was highly regarded by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium.ISV — Acts 16:2

3 Paul wanted this man to go with him, so he took him and had him circumcised because of the Jews who lived in that region, since everyone knew that Timothy’s ^{c16:3 Lit. that his} father was a Greek.ISV — Acts 16:3

4 As they went from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for them to obey.ISV — Acts 16:4

5 So the churches continued to be strengthened in the faith and to increase in numbers every day.ISV — Acts 16:5

6 Because they had been prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the word in Asia, Paul and Timothy ^{d16:6 Lit. Then they} went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia.ISV — Acts 16:6

7 They went as far as Mysia and tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them,ISV — Acts 16:7

8 so they bypassed Mysia and went down to Troas.ISV — Acts 16:8

9 During the night Paul had a vision. A man from Macedonia was standing there and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!”ISV — Acts 16:9

10 As soon as he had seen the vision, we immediately looked for a way to go to Macedonia, because we were convinced that God had called us to tell the people there ^{e16:10 Lit. tell them} the good news.ISV — Acts 16:10

11 Sailing from Troas, we went straight to Samothrace, the next day to Neapolis,ISV — Acts 16:11

12 and from there to Philippi, an important city of the district ^{f16:12 Other mss. read a city of the first district} of Macedonia and a Roman ^{g16:12 The Gk. lacks Roman} colony. We were in this city for several days.ISV — Acts 16:12

13 On the Sabbath day, we went out the city gate and walked ^{h16:13 the Gk. lacks walked} along the river, where we thought there was a place of prayer. We sat down and began talking to the women who had gathered there.ISV — Acts 16:13

14 A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a dealer in purple goods, was listening to us. She was a worshiper of God, and the Lord opened her heart to listen carefully to what was being said by Paul.ISV — Acts 16:14

15 When she and her family were baptized, she urged us, “If you are convinced that I am a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home.” And she continued to insist that we do so.ISV — Acts 16:15

16 Once, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit of fortune-telling and who had brought her owners a great deal of money by predicting the future.ISV — Acts 16:16

17 She would follow Paul and us and shout, “These men are servants of the Most High God and are proclaiming to you ^{i16:17 Other mss. read us} a way of salvation!”ISV — Acts 16:17

18 She kept doing this for many days until Paul became annoyed, turned to her ^{j16:18 The Gk. lacks to her} and told the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus the Messiah ^{k16:18 Or Christ} to come out of her!” And it came out that very moment. ^{l16:18 Lit. that hour}ISV — Acts 16:18

19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities who met together in the public square. ^{m16:19 Or in the marketplace}ISV — Acts 16:19

20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are stirring up a lot of trouble in our city. They are JewsISV — Acts 16:20

21 and are advocating customs that we’re not allowed to accept or practice as Romans.”ISV — Acts 16:21

22 The crowd joined in the attack against them. Then the magistrates had Paul and Silas ^{n16:22 Lit. had them} stripped of their clothes and ordered them beaten with rods.ISV — Acts 16:22

23 After giving them a severe beating, they threw them in jail and ordered the jailer to keep them under tight security.ISV — Acts 16:23

24 Having received these orders, he put them into the inner cell and fastened their feet in leg irons.ISV — Acts 16:24

25 Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.ISV — Acts 16:25

26 Suddenly, there was an earthquake so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken. All the doors immediately flew open, and everyone’s chains were unfastened.ISV — Acts 16:26

27 When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped.ISV — Acts 16:27

28 But Paul shouted in a loud voice, “Don’t hurt yourself, because we are all here!”ISV — Acts 16:28

29 The jailer ^{o16:29 Lit. He} asked for torches and rushed inside. Trembling as he knelt in front of Paul and Silas,ISV — Acts 16:29

30 he took them outside and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”ISV — Acts 16:30

31 They answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you and your family will be saved.”ISV — Acts 16:31

32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord ^{p16:32 Other mss. read of God} to him and everyone in his home.ISV — Acts 16:32

33 At that hour of the night, he took them and washed their wounds. Then he and his entire family were baptized immediately.ISV — Acts 16:33

34 He brought Paul and Silas ^{q16:34 Lit. brought them} upstairs into his house and set food before them. He was thrilled, as was his household, to believe in God.ISV — Acts 16:34

35 When day came, the magistrates sent guards, who commanded, “Release those men.”ISV — Acts 16:35

36 The jailer reported these words to Paul, and added, “The magistrates have sent word to release you. So come out now and go in peace.”ISV — Acts 16:36

37 But Paul told the guards, ^{r16:37 Lit. told them} “The magistrates ^{s16:37 Lit. They} have had us beaten publicly without a trial and have thrown us into jail, even though we are Roman citizens. Now are they going to throw us out secretly? Certainly not! Have them come and escort us out.”ISV — Acts 16:37

38 The guards reported these words to the magistrates, and they became afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas ^{t16:38 Lit. that they} were Roman citizens.ISV — Acts 16:38

39 So the magistrates ^{u16:39 Lit. So they} came, apologized to them, and escorted them out. Then they asked them to leave the city.ISV — Acts 16:39

40 Leaving the jail, Paul and Silas ^{v16:40 Lit. jail, they} went to Lydia’s house. They saw the brothers, encouraged them, and then left.ISV — Acts 16:40