Acts 16:4-40

English Standard Version

⁴ As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance ^(A)the decisions ^(B)that had been reached by ^(C)the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. ^5 (D)So the churches were strengthened in ^(E)the faith, and they increased in numbers ^(F)daily.

The Macedonian Call

⁶ And ^(G)they 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 ^(H)the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. ⁸ So, passing by Mysia, they went down ^(I)to 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^[a] had seen the vision, immediately ^(J)we 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 ^(K)made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, ¹² and from there to ^(L)Philippi, which is a leading city of the^[b] district of Macedonia and ^(M)a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. ¹³ And ^(N)on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate ^(O)to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we ^(P)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 Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, ^(Q)who was a worshiper of God. The Lord ^(R)opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. ¹⁵ And after she was baptized, ^(S)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 ^(T)prevailed upon us.

Paul and Silas in Prison

¹⁶ As we were going to ^(U)the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had ^(V)a spirit of ^(W)divination and ^(X)brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. ¹⁷ She followed Paul and us, ^(Y)crying out, “These men are ^(Z)servants of ^(AA)the Most High God, who proclaim to you ^(AB)the way of salvation.” ¹⁸ And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ^(AC)“I command you ^(AD)in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And ^(AE)it came out that very hour.

¹⁹ But ^(AF)when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and ^(AG)dragged 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 ^(AH)advocate customs that are not lawful for us ^(AI)as Romans to accept or practice.” ²² The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders ^(AJ)to 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 ^(AK)prison and fastened their feet in ^(AL)the stocks.

The Philippian Jailer Converted

^25 (AM)About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, ²⁶ and suddenly ^(AN)there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately ^(AO)all the doors were opened, and ^(AP)everyone's bonds were unfastened. ²⁷ When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and ^(AQ)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 the jailer^[c] called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he ^(AR)fell down before Paul and Silas. ³⁰ Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, ^(AS)what must I do to be ^(AT)saved?” ³¹ And they said, ^(AU)“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you ^(AV)and 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 ^(AW)the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he ^(AX)was baptized at once, he and all his family. ³⁴ Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he ^(AY)rejoiced 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, ^(AZ)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.” ³⁸ The police reported these words to the magistrates, and ^(BA)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 ^(BB)asked them to leave the city. ⁴⁰ So they went out of the prison and visited ^(BC)Lydia. And when they had seen ^(BD)the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.