Acts 16

Paul comes to Derbe and then Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lives, the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father, well-spoken of by the brothers. Paul wants Timothy to accompany him and has him circumcised because of the Jews in those places, who knew that his father was Greek. They travel through the cities, delivering the decisions of the Jerusalem council, and the churches are strengthened and increase in number daily. The Spirit forbids them to enter Asia and then Bithynia. Coming to Troas, Paul sees a vision in the night: a man of Macedonia stands there urging him, come over and help us. They immediately seek to go to Macedonia, concluding that God has called them to preach the gospel there. They sail to Samothrace and then to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, a Roman colony.

On the sabbath they go outside the city gate to the river, where they suppose there is a place of prayer. Sitting down, they speak to the women who have gathered. A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from Thyatira and a worshipper of God, is listening. The Lord opens her heart to respond to what Paul says. She is baptized along with her household and urges them to stay at her house: if you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay. A slave girl with a spirit of divination follows them for many days, crying out: these men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turns and says to the spirit: I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. It comes out that very hour. Her owners, seeing their hope of profit gone, drag Paul and Silas before the magistrates, who have them beaten with rods and thrown in prison with feet fastened in stocks. At midnight Paul and Silas are praying and singing hymns; the other prisoners are listening. A great earthquake shakes the prison; every door opens and every chain falls off. The jailer wakes, draws his sword to kill himself, thinking the prisoners have escaped. Paul shouts: do not harm yourself, we are all here. The jailer brings them out: sirs, what must I do to be saved? Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household. He takes them and washes their wounds; he and his whole household are baptized at once. In the morning the magistrates send word to release them; Paul declares his Roman citizenship and refuses to leave until the magistrates come themselves and apologize.