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Acts 16

1He also came to Derbe and Lystra. And look, a disciple named Timothy was there, the son of a believing Jewish woman, but his father was Greek. 2The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3Paul wanted him to go with him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews in those places, for they all knew that his father was Greek. 4As they passed through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. 5So the assemblies were strengthened in the faith and increased in number daily.

6They traveled through Phrygia and the Galatian region, having been prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the word in Asia. 7When they came near Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9During the night a vision appeared to Paul: a Macedonian man stood there, appealing to him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10When he saw the vision, we immediately sought to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.

11So we sailed from Troas and made a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis, 12and from there to Philippi, a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a colony. We stayed in that city for several days. 13On the Sabbath day we went outside the gate beside a river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered. 14A woman named Lydia, a seller of purple goods from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying. 15When she and her household were baptized, she appealed to us, saying, “If you have judged me faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

16As we were going to the place of prayer, a slave girl who had a spirit of divination met us. She brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These people are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18She kept doing this for many days. Paul became greatly troubled, turned, and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus the Messiah to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.

19When her masters saw that their hope of profit had gone out, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20Bringing them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are throwing our city into turmoil. 21They proclaim customs that we, being Romans, are not permitted to accept or practice.” 22The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison and commanded the jailer to keep them securely. 24Having received this command, he threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. Immediately all the doors opened and everyone's bonds were loosened. 27The jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open. He drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Do yourself no harm! We are all here.” 29He called for lights, rushed in, and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30Bringing them outside, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32They spoke the word of the Lord to him, together with everyone in his house. 33That very hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds, and immediately he and all his people were baptized. 34He brought them up into his house, set food before them, and rejoiced with his whole household that he had come to believe in God.

35When day came, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, “Release those men.” 36The jailer reported these words to Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders for you to be released. So now come out and go in peace.” 37But Paul said to them, “They beat us publicly without a trial, though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now they are sending us away secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves and bring us out.” 38The officers reported these words to the magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. 39They came and appealed to them, and after bringing them out, asked them to leave the city. 40After leaving the prison, they went to Lydia's house. They saw the brothers, encouraged them, and departed.

Translation notes 6

16:1–4 — Timothy's circumcision. The narrative gives the reason as the Jews in those places knowing that his father was Greek. It does not present this action as a new requirement for Gentile salvation or conceal the contrast with chapter 15.

16:6–12 — Regions, Spirit, and “we.” Asia is the Roman province, not the modern continent. “The Spirit of Jesus” follows the base; some texts omit “of Jesus.” The narrator changes to “we” at verse 10 without identifying himself here. At verse 12, “a leading city of the district of Macedonia” follows the base. A different editorial reading describes Philippi as a city of Macedonia's first district. The colony was Roman.

16:14–15 — Heart and household. The Lord “opened” Lydia's heart, recalling the opening of understanding in Luke 24:45. “Faithful” may also mean a believer. Her household's composition and ages are not stated.

16:16–19 — Spirit, slaves, and profit. The Greek calls the spirit a “Python” spirit, associated with divination. “The way of salvation” could also be rendered “a way of salvation”; the absence of the Greek article alone does not settle it. “Greatly troubled” can include exasperation. The repetition of “went out” for the spirit and the owners' hope of profit is preserved.

16:30–34 — Saved and believing. The crisis leads to an answer about faith in the Lord Jesus. The word is then spoken to the whole household. Verse 34's verb of believing is singular, describing the jailer; “with his whole household” is attached here to his rejoicing. The Greek can be construed differently, but the household's ages are not supplied.

16:37–39 — Romans and appeal. “Without a trial” renders being uncondemned, and “citizens” clarifies the status meant by “Romans.” The magistrates' appeal may include an apology, but the Greek does not specify its words.