Acts 16

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

1 Paul rolled up to Derbe and Lystra and met a young disciple named Timothy. His mom was a Jewish believer, and his dad was Greek.

2 Timothy had a solid rep with the believers in Lystra and Iconium.

3 Paul wanted Timothy to roll with him, but since the Jews in the area knew Timothy’s dad was Greek, Paul had him circumcised to avoid drama.

4 As they traveled, they delivered the decisions from the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the churches to follow.

5 The churches were growing stronger in faith and adding new folks every day.

6 The Holy Spirit stopped them from preaching in Asia, so they passed through Phrygia and Galatia.

7 When they tried to go to Bithynia, the Spirit of Jesus blocked them again.

8 So they went down to Troas.

9 That night, Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia begging him, “Come help us out!”

10 Paul knew it was a sign from God, so they immediately set out for Macedonia to spread the good news.

Lydia Believes

11 They sailed from Troas to Samothrace and then to Neapolis.

12 From there, they went to Philippi, a major city in Macedonia and a Roman colony. They stayed there for a while.

13 On the Sabbath, they went outside the city gate to a riverside spot where people prayed. They sat down and chopped it up with some women who were gathered there.

14 One of the women, Lydia, a businesswoman dealing in purple cloth, was already a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to Paul’s message.

15 After she and her household got baptized, she said, “If you all think I am legit, come stay at my house.” She would not take any for an answer.

Paul and Silas Imprisoned

16 One day, on their way to prayer, they met a girl with a demon that let her predict the future. Her owners made bank off her fortune-telling.

17 She started following Paul and his crew, shouting, “These guys are servants of the Most High God, telling you all how to be saved!”

18 She kept it up for days until Paul got annoyed and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ, get out of her!” And it left her immediately.

19 When her owners realized their cash flow was gone, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them to the authorities in the marketplace.

20 They told the magistrates, “These Jews are causing chaos in our city!

21 They are teaching stuff that is against Roman law.”

22 The crowd turned up against Paul and Silas, so the magistrates had them stripped and beaten with rods.

23 After taking a serious beating, they were thrown in jail, and the jailer was told to keep a close eye on them.

24 So he put them in the inner cell and chained their feet to the stocks.

The Jailer Saved

25 Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns, and the other prisoners were listening.

26 Suddenly, an earthquake hit so hard the jail shook, the doors flew open, and everyone’s chains fell off.

27 The jailer woke up and saw the doors open. Thinking the prisoners escaped, he pulled out his sword to end it all.

28 But Paul shouted, “Do not do it! We are all still here!”

29 The jailer called for lights, ran in shaking, and fell at Paul and Silas’ feet.

30 He asked, “Sirs, what do I need to do to be saved?”

31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

32 Then they shared the word of the Lord with him and everyone in his house.

33 That same hour, the jailer washed their wounds and got baptized with his whole family.

34 He brought them into his house, fed them, and celebrated because he and his family had come to believe in God.

Paul and Silas Released

35 The next morning, the magistrates sent officers with orders to release Paul and Silas.

36 The jailer told Paul, “Good news! The magistrates said you all are free to go. Peace out!”

37 But Paul said, “Nah, they beat us in public without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and then threw us in jail. Now they want us to sneak out quietly, Nah, tell them to come themselves and let us out.”

38 The officers told the magistrates, and they got scared when they heard Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.

39 They came and apologized, brought them out, and politely asked them to leave the city.

40 After leaving the jail, Paul and Silas went to Lydia’s house, where they encouraged the believers before heading out.