Act 16:12-21 | EE | STEP | We then travelled across the land to Philippi. This city is the most important city in the region called Macedonia. The Romans ruled Philippi and many Roman people lived there. We stayed there for a few days.

Acts 16:12-21

12 We then travelled across the land to Philippi. This city is the most important city in the region called Macedonia. The Romans ruled Philippi and many Roman people lived there. We stayed there for a few days. ^{▼▼16:12 Macedonia was in 4 parts. Philippi was in one of these parts.}

13 On the Jewish rest day, we went out of the city gate. We went down to the edge of the river. We thought that the Jews might have a special meeting place there. We thought that they would meet there to pray. We found a group of women who were meeting there. So we sat down and we talked to them. ^{▼▼16:13 Not many Jews were living in Philippi, so they did not have a synagogue. Instead, they met at the side of the river to pray together.}

14 One of the women who listened to us was called Lydia. She was from the city called Thyatira. She bought and sold expensive dark red cloth. She was a Gentile woman who now worshipped God. The Lord helped her to understand Paul’s message. So she believed the things that he said.

15 Then Paul and Silas baptised Lydia and the other people who lived in her house. After this, Lydia asked us to go to her house. She said to us, ‘If you think that I really believe in the Lord Jesus, then please stay in my house.’ We agreed to go and to stay there.

The Roman rulers put Paul and Silas in prison

16 One day, we were going to the place where people prayed to God. On the way there, we met a slave girl. A bad spirit was living inside her. This spirit told her what would happen soon. People gave her masters a lot of money when she told them about these future things. 17 She followed Paul and all of us. She was shouting, ‘These men are servants of the powerful God who is over all! They are telling you how God can save you!’

18 The slave girl continued to do this for many days. After some time, Paul became angry. So he turned round and he said to the bad spirit, ‘I am using the authority of Jesus Christ! I order you to leave this woman!’ When Paul said that, the spirit left her immediately.

19 Her masters now knew that the girl could not get money for them any more. So they took hold of Paul and Silas and they pulled them to the market place of the city. They took them to stand in front of the leaders of the city. 20 They asked the important officers to judge them. They said, ‘These men are Jews. They are causing much trouble in our city. 21 They are teaching people to obey strange ideas. We are Roman people. We cannot agree with these laws. They are not right for us to do.’