Acts of the Apostles 16

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 He reached (also) Derbe and Lystra where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.	1 Then he arrived at Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple named Timothy was there, the son of a faithful Jewish woman, his father a Gentile.
2 The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him,	2 The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium rendered good testimony to him.
3 and Paul wanted him to come along with him. On account of the Jews of that region, Paul had him circumcised, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.	3 Paul wanted this man to travel with him, and taking him, he circumcised him, because of the Jews who were in those places. For they all knew that his father was a Gentile.
4 As they traveled from city to city, they handed on to the people for observance the decisions reached by the apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem.	4 And as they were traveling through the cities, they delivered to them the dogmas to be kept, which were decreed by the Apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.
5 Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number.	5 And certainly, the Churches were being strengthened in faith and were increasing in number every day.
6 They traveled through the Phrygian and Galatian territory because they had been prevented by the holy Spirit from preaching the message in the province of Asia.	6 Then, while crossing through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the Word in Asia.
7 When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them,	7 But when they had arrived in Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them.
8 so they crossed through Mysia and came down to Troas.	8 Then, when they had crossed through Mysia, they descended to Troas.
9 During (the) night Paul had a vision. A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."	9 And a vision in the night was revealed to Paul of a certain man of Macedonia, standing and pleading with him, and saying: “Cross into Macedonia and help us!”
10 When he had seen the vision, we sought passage to Macedonia at once, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.	10 Then, after he saw the vision, immediately we sought to set out for Macedonia, having been assured that God had called us to evangelize to them.
11 We set sail from Troas, making a straight run for Samothrace, and on the next day to Neapolis,	11 And sailing from Troas, taking a direct path, we arrived at Samothrace, and on the following day, at Neapolis,
12 and from there to Philippi, a leading city in that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We spent some time in that city.	12 and from there to Philippi, which is the preeminent city in the area of Macedonia, a colony. Now we were in this city some days, conferring together.
13 On the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river where we thought there would be a place of prayer. We sat and spoke with the women who had gathered there.	13 Then, on the Sabbath day, we were walking outside the gate, beside a river, where there seemed to be a prayer gathering. And sitting down, we were speaking with the women who had assembled.
14 One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying.	14 And a certain woman, named Lydia, a seller of purple in the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened. And the Lord opened her heart to be receptive to what Paul was saying.
15 After she and her household had been baptized, she offered us an invitation, "If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home," and she prevailed on us.	15 And when she had been baptized, with her household, she pleaded with us, saying: “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, enter into my house and lodge there.” And she convinced us.
16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl with an oracular spirit, who used to bring a large profit to her owners through her fortune-telling.	16 Then it happened that, as we were going out to prayer, a certain girl, having a spirit of divination, met with us. She was a source of great profit to her masters, through her divining.
17 She began to follow Paul and us, shouting, "These people are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation."	17 This girl, following Paul and us, was crying out, saying: “These men are servants of the Most High God! They are announcing to you the way of salvation!”
18 She did this for many days. Paul became annoyed, turned, and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." Then it came out at that moment.	18 Now she behaved in this way for many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you, in the name of Jesus Christ, to go out from her.” And it went away in that same hour.
19 When her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the public square before the local authorities.	19 But her masters, seeing that the hope of their profit went away, apprehended Paul and Silas, and they brought them to the rulers at the courthouse.
20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, "These people are Jews and are disturbing our city	20 And presenting them to the magistrates, they said: “These men are disturbing our city, since they are Jews.
21 and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us Romans to adopt or practice."	21 And they are announcing a way which is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, since we are Romans.”
22 The crowd joined in the attack on them, and the magistrates had them stripped and ordered them to be beaten with rods.	22 And the people rushed together against them. And the magistrates, tearing their tunics, ordered them to be beaten with staffs.
23 After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison and instructed the jailer to guard them securely.	23 And when they had inflicted many scourges on them, they cast them into prison, instructing the guard to watch them diligently.
24 When he received these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and secured their feet to a stake.	24 And since he had received this kind of order, he cast them into the interior prison cell, and he restricted their feet with stocks.
25 About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened,	25 Then, in the middle of the night, Paul and Silas were praying and praising God. And those who were also in custody were listening to them.
26 there was suddenly such a severe earthquake that the foundations of the jail shook; all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose.	26 Yet truly, there was a sudden earthquake, so great that the foundations of the prison were moved. And immediately all the doors were opened, and the bindings of everyone were released.
27 When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew (his) sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped.	27 Then the prison guard, having been jarred awake, and seeing the doors of the prison open, drew his sword and intended to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had fled.
28 But Paul shouted out in a loud voice, "Do no harm to yourself; we are all here."	28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying: “Do no harm to yourself, for we are all here!”
29 He asked for a light and rushed in and, trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas.	29 Then calling for a light, he entered. And trembling, he fell before the feet of Paul and Silas.
30 Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"	30 And bringing them outside, he said, “Sirs, what must I do, so that I may be saved?”
31 And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved."	31 So they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and then you will be saved, with your household.”
32 So they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house.	32 And they spoke the Word of the Lord to him, along with all those who were in his house.
33 He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized at once.	33 And he, taking them in the same hour of the night, washed their scourges. And he was baptized, and next his entire household.
34 He brought them up into his house and provided a meal and with his household rejoiced at having come to faith in God.	34 And when he had brought them into his own house, he set a table for them. And he was joyous, with his entire household, believing in God.
35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the lictors with the order, "Release those men."	35 And when daylight had arrived, the magistrates sent the attendants, saying, “Release those men.”
36 The jailer reported the (se) words to Paul, "The magistrates have sent orders that you be released. Now, then, come out and go in peace."	36 But the prison guard reported these words to Paul: “The magistrates have sent to have you released. Now therefore, depart. Go in peace.”
37 But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly, even though we are Roman citizens and have not been tried, and have thrown us into prison. And now, are they going to release us secretly? By no means. Let them come themselves and lead us out."	37 But Paul said to them: “They have beaten us publicly, though we were not condemned. They have cast men who are Romans into prison. And now they would drive us away secretly? Not so. Instead, let them come forward,
38 The lictors reported these words to the magistrates, and they became alarmed when they heard that they were Roman citizens.	38 and let us drive them away.” Then the attendants reported these words to the magistrates. And upon hearing that they were Romans, they were afraid.
39 So they came and placated them, and led them out and asked that they leave the city.	39 And arriving, they pleaded with them, and leading them out, they begged them to depart from the city.
40 When they had come out of the prison, they went to Lydia's house where they saw and encouraged the brothers, and then they left.	40 And they went away from the prison and entered into the house of Lydia. And having seen the brothers, they consoled them, and then they set out.