Act 16 | ESV | STEP | 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 .

Acts 16

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

1 Paul ^{▼▼Greek He} came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named ^bTimothy, ^cthe son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by ^dthe brothers ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters; also verse 40} at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he ^ftook him and circumcised him because of the Jews who 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 ^gthe decisions ^hthat had been reached by ⁱthe apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 ^jSo the churches were strengthened in ^kthe faith, and they increased in numbers ^ldaily.

The Macedonian Call

6 And ^mthey went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but ⁿthe Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down ^oto Troas. 9 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.” 10 And when Paul ^{▼▼Greek he} had seen the vision, immediately ^qwe sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

The Conversion of Lydia

11 So, setting sail from Troas, we ^rmade a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to ^sPhilippi, which is a leading city of the ^{▼▼Or that} district of Macedonia and ^ua Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And ^von the Sabbath day we went outside the gate ^wto the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we ^xsat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, ^ywho was a worshiper of God. The Lord ^zopened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, ^aaand 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 ^abprevailed upon us.

Paul and Silas in Prison

16 As we were going to ^acthe place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had ^ada spirit of ^aedivination and ^afbrought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, ^agcrying out, “These men are ^ahservants ^{▼▼Greek bondservants} of ^ajthe Most High God, who proclaim to you ^akthe way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ^al“I command you ^amin the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And ^anit came out that very hour.

19 But ^aowhen her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and ^apdragged them into the marketplace 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 ^aqadvocate customs that are not lawful for us ^aras Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders ^asto beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner ^atprison and fastened their feet in ^authe stocks.

The Philippian Jailer Converted

25 ^avAbout midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly ^awthere was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately ^axall the doors were opened, and ^ayeveryone’s bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and ^azwas 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 the jailer ^{▼▼Greek he} called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he ^bbfell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, ^bcwhat must I do to be ^bdsaved?” 31 And they said, ^be“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you ^bfand your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them ^bgthe same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he ^bhwas baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he ^birejoiced along with his entire 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 these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, ^bjuncondemned, 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.” 38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and ^bkthey were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and ^blasked them to leave the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and visited ^bmLydia. And when they had seen ^bnthe brothers, they encouraged them and departed.