Holy Bible
(King James Version)
Acts: Chapter 16
1. THEN came he to Der-be and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there,
named Ti-moth-e-us, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and
believed; but his father was a Greek.
2. Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and
I-co-ni-um.
3. Him 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.
4. And 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.
5. And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in
number daily.
6. Now when they had gone throughout Phryg-i-a and the region of Galatia,
and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
7. After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bi-thyn-ia: but
the Spirit suffered them not.
8. And they passing by Mysia came down to Tro-as.
9. And 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.
10. And 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.
11. Therefore loosing from Tro-as, we came with a straight course to
Sam-o-thra-ci-a, and the next day to Ne-a-po-lis;
12. And from thence to Phi-lip-pi, which is the chief city of that part of
Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.
13. And 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.
14. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of
Thy-a-ti-ra, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened,
that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
15. And 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.
16. And 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:
17. The 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.
18. And 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.
19. And 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,
20. And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews,
do exceedingly trouble our city,
21. And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither
to observe, being Romans.
22. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates
rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into
prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely:
24. Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner
prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God:
and the prisoners heard them.
26. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundation of
the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and
every one's bands were loosed.
27. And 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.
28. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we
are all here.
29. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and
fell down before Paul and Silas,
30. And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be
saved, and thy house.
32. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were
in his house.
33. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their
stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before
them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
35. And when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, Let
those men go.
36. And 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.
37. But 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.
38. And the sergeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they
feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
39. And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired
them to depart out of the city.
40. And 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.
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