The Holy Bible – Knox Translation
The Acts of the Apostles
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Chapter 16
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So he reached Derbe, and Lystra. Here he met a disciple, named Timothy, son of a believer who was a Jewess and a Gentile father.
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He was well spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium,
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and Paul resolved to take him as a companion on his journey. But he was careful to circumcise him; he was thinking of the Jews living in those parts, who all knew that Timothy’s father was a Gentile.
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As they passed from city to city, they recommended to their observance the decree laid down by the apostles and presbyters at Jerusalem.
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They found the churches firmly established in the faith, and their numbers daily increasing.
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Thus they passed through Phrygia and the Galatian country; the Holy Spirit prevented them from preaching the word in Asia.
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Then, when they had come as far as Mysia on their journey, they planned to enter Bithynia; but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow it.
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So they crossed Mysia, and went down to the sea at Troas.

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Here Paul saw a vision in the night; a certain Macedonian stood by him in entreaty, and said, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
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That vision once seen, we were eager to sail for Macedonia; we concluded that God had called us there to preach to them.
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So we put out from Troas, made a straight course to Samothrace, and next day to Neapolis.
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Thence we reached Philippi, which is a Roman colony and the chief city in that part of Macedonia; in this city we remained for some days, conferring together.
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On the sabbath day we went out beyond the city gates, by the river side, a meeting-place, we were told, for prayer; and we sat down and preached to the women who had assembled there.
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One of those who were listening was a woman called Lydia, a purple-seller from the city of Thyatira, and a worshipper of the true God; and the Lord opened her heart, so that she was attentive to Paul’s preaching.
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She was baptized, with all her household; and she was urgent with us; Now you have decided that I have faith in the Lord, she said, come to my house and lodge there; and she would take no denial.
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And now, as we were on our way to the place of prayer, we chanced to meet a girl who was possessed by a divining spirit; her predictions brought in large profits to her masters.
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This girl used to follow behind Paul and the rest of us, crying out, These men are the servants of the most high God; they are proclaiming to us the way of salvation.
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And when she had done this for a number of days, Paul was distressed by it; he turned round and said to the spirit, I command thee to come out of her, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; and there and then it came out of her.

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Her masters, who saw that all their hopes of profit had vanished, took hold of Paul and Silas and dragged them off to justice in the market-place.
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When they brought them before the magistrates, they said, These men, Jews by origin, are disturbing the peace of our city;
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they are recommending customs which it is impossible for us, as Roman citizens, to admit or to observe.
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The crowd gathered round, to join in the accusation; and the magistrates, tearing their clothes off them, gave orders that they should be beaten;
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then, when they had inflicted many lashes on them, put them in prison, and bade the gaoler keep them in safe custody.
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Thus instructed, he put them in the inner ward, and secured their feet in the stocks.
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At midnight, Paul and Silas were at their prayers, praising God, while the prisoners listened to them.
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And all at once there was a violent earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison rocked; whereupon every door opened, and every man’s chains were undone.
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The gaoler, who had been awakened, saw the prison doors open, and drew his sword as if to kill himself, thinking the prisoners had escaped;
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but Paul cried with a loud voice, Do no hurt to thyself; we are all here.
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And so, when he had called for a light, he came running in and fell at the feet of Paul and Silas, all trembling;
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Sirs, he asked, as he led them out, what am I to do, to save myself?
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Have faith, they said to him, in the Lord Jesus; there lies salvation for thee, and for thy household.
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Then they preached the word of the Lord to him, and to all that were in his house;
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and he, there and then, at dead of night, took them away to wash their wounds, and without delay he and all his were baptized.
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So he led them to his home, where he put food before them, and he and all his household made rejoicing at having found faith in God.

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When day came, the magistrates sent their officers to say, Those men are to be discharged.
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And the gaoler reported the message to Paul; The magistrates have sent ordering your discharge; it is time you should come out, and go on your way in peace.
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But Paul said to them, What, have they beaten us in public, without trial, Roman citizens as we are, and sent us to prison, and now would they let us out secretly? That will not serve; they must come here themselves,
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and fetch us out in person. When the officers gave this message to the magistrates, they were alarmed by this talk of Roman citizenship;
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so they came and pleaded with them, urging them, as they brought them out, to leave the city.
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On leaving the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they saw the brethren and gave them encouragement; then they set out on their travels.