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Acts 16 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

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Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:1 - Paul[fn] 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:2 - He was well spoken of by the brothers[fn] at Lystra and Iconium.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:3 - 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:4 - 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:5 - So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.

The Macedonian Call

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:6 - And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:7 - And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:8 - So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:9 - 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.”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:10 - And when Paul[fn] had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

The Conversion of Lydia

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:11 - So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis,
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:12 - and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the[fn] district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:13 - 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:14 - 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:15 - 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.

Paul and Silas in Prison

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:16 - 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 fortune-telling.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:17 - She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:18 - 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:19 - 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:20 - And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:21 - They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:22 - The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:23 - And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:24 - Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

The Philippian Jailer Converted

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:25 - About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:26 - and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:27 - 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:28 - But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:29 - And the jailer[fn] called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:30 - Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:31 - And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:32 - And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:33 - 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:34 - 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:35 - But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:36 - 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.”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:37 - 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 throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:38 - The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:39 - So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:40 - So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.
ESV Footnotes
Greek He
Or brothers and sisters; also verse 40
Greek he
Or that
Greek he
ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

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