[1] And he 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. [2] He was well spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Ico'nium.
[3] Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him; and he took him and circumcised
him because of the Jews that 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 the decisions which had been reached
by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem. [5] So the churches were
strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. [6] And
they went through the region of Phry'gia and Galatia, having been forbidden
by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. [7] And when they had come
opposite My'sia, they attempted to go into Bithyn'ia, but the Spirit of
Jesus did not allow them; [8] so, passing by My'sia, they went down to
Tro'as. [9] And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedo'nia
was standing beseeching him and saying, "Come over to Macedo'nia and help
us." [10] And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on
into Macedo'nia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to
them. [11] Setting sail therefore from Tro'as, we made a direct voyage to
Sam'othrace, and the following day to Ne-ap'olis, [12] and from there to
Philip'pi, which is the leading city of the district of Macedo'nia, and a
Roman colony. We remained in this city some days; [13] 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. [14] One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of
Thyati'ra, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord
opened her heart to give heed to what was said by Paul. [15] And when she
was baptized, with her household, she besought us, saying, "If you have
judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." And she
prevailed upon us. [16] 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 soothsaying. [17] She followed Paul and us, crying, "These men
are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of
salvation." [18] And this she did for many days. But Paul was annoyed, and
turned and said to the spirit, "I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to
come out of her." And it came out that very hour. [19] But when her owners
saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and
dragged them into the market place 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 advocate customs which it is not lawful
for us Romans to accept or practice." [22] The crowd joined in attacking
them; and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to
beat them with rods. [23] And when they had inflicted many blows upon them,
they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. [24]
Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened
their feet in the stocks. [25] But about midnight Paul and Silas were
praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to 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 fetters were unfastened. [27] 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. [28] But Paul cried with a loud
voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." [29] And he called for
lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and
Silas, [30] and brought them out and said, "Men, what must I do to be
saved?" [31] And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be
saved, you and your household." [32] And they spoke the word of the Lord to
him and to all that were in his house. [33] And he took them the same hour
of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with
all his family. [34] Then he brought them up into his house, and set food
before them; and he rejoiced with all his 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 the words to Paul, saying,
"The magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore come out and go in
peace." [37] 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 cast us out secretly? No! let them come themselves and take
us out." [38] The police reported these words to the magistrates, and 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 asked them to leave
the city. [40] So they went out of the prison, and visited Lydia; and when
they had seen the brethren, they exhorted them and departed.
