THEN he came to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold! a certain disciple was
there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman, who believed;
but his father was a Greek: (2)who was highly spoken of by the brethren
at Lystra and Iconium. (3)Him Paul resolved to take out with him; and
took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places:
for they all knew his father, that he was a Greek. (4)So as they passed
through the cities, they delivered to them for their observance the
ordinances decreed by the apostles and presbyters that were at
Jerusalem.
(5)Then were the churches established truly in the faith, and increased
in number daily. (6)So passing through Phrygia and the region of
Galatia, being forbidden by the Holy Ghost to speak the word in Asia,
(7)coming as far as Mysia, they made an effort to go unto Bythinia: but
the Spirit permitted them not. (8)Whereupon passing by Mysia they went
down to Troas. (9)And a vision by night appeared to Paul; a certain
man, a Macedonian, stood by him, entreating him, and saying, Pass over
into Macedonia, and help us. (10)But when he saw the vision,
immediately we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that the
Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. (11)Therefore sailing
from Troas, we came in a direct course to Samothrace, and the next day
to Neapolis; (12)and from thence to Philippi, which is the first city
in that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we abode in that city some
days.
(13)And on the sabbath-day we went forth out of the city to the river
side, where an oratory was by custom established; and sitting down, we
spoke to the women who there assembled. (14)And a certain woman, Lydia
by name, a seller of purple, from the city of Thyatira, a worshipper of
God, hearkened: whose heart the Lord thoroughly opened, to attend to
the words spoken by Paul. (15)So when she was baptised, and her house,
she entreated, saying, Since ye have judged that I am faithful to the
Lord, come and abide at my house. And she constrained us.
(16)Now it happened as we were going to the oratory, a certain damsel
having a pythonic spirit met us, who produced for her masters much gain
as a fortuneteller: (17)she following Paul and us, cried out, saying,
These men are the servants of the most high God, who preach to you the
way of salvation. (18)And this she did for several days. Then Paul was
wearied out, and turning, said to the spirit, I command thee in the
name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out that very
hour. (19)But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was
gone, they laid hold on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the forum
before the chief rulers, (20)and presenting them to the magistrates,
they said, These are the men that exceedingly disturb the peace of our
city, being Jews, (21)and enjoin customs which it is not lawful for us
to receive, or to practise, being Romans. (22)And the populace stood up
together against them: and the magistrates, after having had their
garments torn from their backs, commanded them to be beaten with rods.
(23)And laying on them many stripes, cast them into prison, commanding
the jailor to keep them in safe custody: (24)who, receiving such an
injunction, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast
in the stocks. (25)But about midnight Paul and Silas, after joining in
prayer, sang hymns to God: and the prisoners heard them. (26)And
suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of
the prison were shaken: and instantly all the doors flew open, and
every man's chains were loosed. (27)Then the jailor being roused from
sleep, and seeing the doors of the prison open, drew his sword, going
to destroy himself, supposing the prisoners had escaped. (28)But Paul
called out with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no injury: for we are
all here. (29)Thereupon calling for a light, he rushed in, and fell
down trembling before Paul and Silas; (30)and having first brought them
out, said, Sirs! what must I do to be saved? (31)And they said, Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, thou, and thy house.
(32)And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all who were
in his house. (33)And taking them that same hour of the night, he
washed their stripes; and was baptised, himself and all who belonged to
him immediately. (34)And when he had brought them into his house, he
spread the table, and greatly rejoiced with all his household,
believing in God.
(35)But when it was day, the magistrates sent the lictors, saying, Set
those men at large. (36)Then the jailor told these words to Paul, That
the magistrates had sent to set them at liberty: now therefore, _said
he,_ get ye out, and pursue your journey in peace. (37)But Paul said to
them, They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Roman
citizens, and have cast us into prison; and would they now
clandestinely send us away? no, verily; but let them come themselves
and fetch us out. (38)Then the lictors reported all these words to the
magistrates: and they were terrified, when they heard they were Roman
citizens. (39)So they came and spoke kindly to them, and fetching them
out, besought them to depart from the city. (40)Then leaving the
prison, they went unto Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they
comforted them, and went their way.