Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Acts 16
Timothy Joins Paul and Silas
Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra. Look—a disciple named Timothy was there, the son of a Jewish woman who trusted in Jesus and a Greek father. The brothers and sisters in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Paul wanted Timothy to travel with him, so he circumcised him because of the Jewish people in those places, since they all knew his father was Greek. As they traveled through the cities, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the churches to observe. So the churches were being strengthened in the faith and increasing in number every day.
The Spirit Redirects the Mission
They traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from speaking the word in Asia. When they came near Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul saw a vision: a Macedonian man was standing and urging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul saw the vision, we immediately tried to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to announce the good news to them.
Lydia’s Heart Is Opened
We sailed from Troas and went straight to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis. From there we went to Philippi, a leading city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We stayed in this city for several days. On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we thought there was a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke with the women who had gathered there. A woman named Lydia was listening. She was a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira and a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying. After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
A Slave Girl Is Freed and Paul and Silas Are Beaten
One day as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave girl who had a spirit of divination met us. She brought her owners a great deal of profit through fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God! They are proclaiming to you a way of salvation.” She kept doing this for many days. Paul became deeply troubled, 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. When her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jewish and are seriously disturbing our city. They are promoting customs that we Romans are not permitted to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in the attack against them. The magistrates tore off Paul and Silas’ clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After striking them many times, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely. After receiving this order, he put them in the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
The Philippian Jailer
Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a severe earthquake, so that the prison’s foundations were shaken. Immediately all the doors opened, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open. He drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he assumed the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted loudly, “Do not harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He brought them outside and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They said, “Trust in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the Lord’s word to him and to everyone in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds. Immediately he and his whole household were baptized. He brought them into his house, set food before them, and rejoiced with his whole household because he had trusted in God.
Paul Asserts His Roman Citizenship
When morning came, the magistrates sent officers with the message, “Release those men.” The jailer reported this to Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders to release you. So come out now and go in peace.” But Paul said to the officers, “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. Now do they want to send us away secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves and escort us out.” The officers reported these words to the magistrates, who became afraid when they heard Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. They came and appealed to them, escorted them out, and asked them to leave the city. Paul and Silas left the prison and went to Lydia’s house. After seeing and encouraging the brothers and sisters, they departed.