Knox Bible

1

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.