Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there,
named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but
his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at
Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he
took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those
places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went
on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for
observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and
elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in
the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having
been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And
when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia,
but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia,
they went down to Troas. 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.” And when Paul had
seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia,
concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to
Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to
Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and
a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. And on the
Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we
supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to
the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named
Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was
a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to
what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, 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
prevailed upon us.
As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave
girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much
gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out,
“These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you
the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul,
having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I
command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it
came out that very hour.
But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they
seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before
the rulers. And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they
said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. They
advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or
practice.” The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates
tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.
And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them
into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having
received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened
their feet in the stocks.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to
God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there
was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were
shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's
bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison
doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself,
supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a
loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the
jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he
fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said,
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the
Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And
they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his
house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their
wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he
brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he
rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in
God.
But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying,
“Let those men go.” 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.” But Paul said to them, “They have beaten
us publicly, 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.” The police reported
these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they
heard that they were Roman citizens. So they came and apologized to
them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. So
they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had
seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.
