Acts 16Acts16

King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

1. Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

2. 1KJVThen came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:BSBBSB: Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father.
3. 2KJVWhich was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.BSBBSB: The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.
4. 3KJVHim would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.BSBBSB: Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, so he took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
5. 4KJVAnd as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.BSBBSB: As they went from town to town, they delivered the decisions handed down by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.
6. 5KJVAnd so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.BSBBSB: So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

7. Paul’s Vision of the Macedonian

8. 6KJVNow when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,BSBBSB: After the Holy Spirit had prevented them from speaking the word in the province of Asia, they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia.
9. 7KJVAfter they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.BSBBSB: And when they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them.
10. 8KJVAnd they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.BSBBSB: So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.
11. 9KJVAnd a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.BSBBSB: During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
12. 10KJVAnd after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.BSBBSB: As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

13. Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi

    (Revelation 2:18–29)

14. 11KJVTherefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;BSBBSB: We sailed from Troas straight to Samothrace, and the following day on to Neapolis.
15. 12KJVAnd from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.BSBBSB: From there we went to the Roman colony of Philippi, the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
16. 13KJVAnd on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.BSBBSB: On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river, where it was customary to find a place of prayer. After sitting down, we spoke to the women who had gathered there.
17. 14KJVAnd a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.BSBBSB: Among those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.
18. 15KJVAnd when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.BSBBSB: And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

19. Paul and Silas Imprisoned

20. 16KJVAnd it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:BSBBSB: One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling.
21. 17KJVThe same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.BSBBSB: This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!”
22. 18KJVAnd this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.BSBBSB: She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment.
23. 19KJVAnd when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,BSBBSB: When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace.
24. 20KJVAnd brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,BSBBSB: They brought them to the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews and are throwing our city into turmoil
25. 21KJVAnd teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.BSBBSB: by promoting customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.”
26. 22KJVAnd the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.BSBBSB: The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered that they be stripped and beaten with rods.
27. 23KJVAnd when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:BSBBSB: And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely.
28. 24KJVWho, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.BSBBSB: On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

29. The Conversion of the Jailer

30. 25KJVAnd at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.BSBBSB: About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
31. 26KJVAnd suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.BSBBSB: Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.
32. 27KJVAnd the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.BSBBSB: When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, presuming that the prisoners had escaped.
33. 28KJVBut Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.BSBBSB: But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself! We are all here!”
34. 29KJVThen he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,BSBBSB: Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.
35. 30KJVAnd brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?BSBBSB: Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
36. 31KJVAnd they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.BSBBSB: They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”
37. 32KJVAnd they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.BSBBSB: Then Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house.
38. 33KJVAnd he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.BSBBSB: At that hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed their wounds. And without delay, he and all his household were baptized.
39. 34KJVAnd when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.BSBBSB: Then he brought them into his home and set a meal before them. So he and all his household rejoiced that they had come to believe in God.

40. An Official Apology

41. 35KJVAnd when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.BSBBSB: When daylight came, the magistrates sent their officers with the order: “Release those men.”
42. 36KJVAnd the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.BSBBSB: The jailer informed Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders to release you. Now you may go on your way in peace.”
43. 37KJVBut Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.BSBBSB: But Paul said to the officers, “They beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison, even though we are Roman citizens. And now do they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! Let them come themselves and escort us out!”
44. 38KJVAnd the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.BSBBSB: So the officers relayed this message to the magistrates, who were alarmed to hear that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.
45. 39KJVAnd they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.BSBBSB: They came to appease them and led them out, requesting that they leave the city.
46. 40KJVAnd they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.BSBBSB: After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house to see the brothers and encourage them. Then they left the city.