1 A nd went down to Derbe and also to Lystra. A disciple named Timothy was there, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer '> convinced that Jesus is the Messiah and the Author of eternal salvation, and yielded obedience to Him]; but father was a Greek.

Paul went down to the cities of Derbe and Lystra. There was a follower there named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish Christian and his father was a Greek.

2 H e had a good reputation among the brethren at Lystra and Iconium.

The Christians in the city of Lystra and Iconium respected Timothy.

3 P aul desired Timothy to go with him '> as a missionary]; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those places, all of whom knew that his father was a Greek.

Paul wanted Timothy to go with him as a missionary. He took him and had Timothy go through the religious act of becoming a Jew because of the Jews who were in those places. Everyone knew his father was a Greek.

4 A s they went on their way from town to town, they delivered over for their observance the regulations decided upon by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.

They went from city to city and told the Christians what the missionaries and the church leaders in Jerusalem had written for the Christians to do.

5 S o the churches were strengthened and made firm in the faith, and they increased in number day after day.

The churches were made stronger in the faith. More people were added each day. Paul Is Called to Macedonia in a Dream

6 A nd Paul and Silas passed through the territory of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Word in Asia.

They went through the countries of Phrygia and Galatia. The Holy Spirit kept them from preaching the Word of God in the countries of Asia.

7 A nd when they had come opposite Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.

When they came to the city of Mysia, they tried to go on to the city of Bithynia but the Holy Spirit would not let them go.

8 S o passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.

From Mysia they went down to the city of Troas.

9 a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man from Macedonia stood pleading with him and saying, Come over to Macedonia and help us!

That night Paul had a dream. A man was standing in front of him crying out, “Come over to the country of Macedonia and help us!”

10 A nd when he had seen the vision, we at once endeavored to go on into Macedonia, confidently inferring that God had called us to proclaim the glad tidings (Gospel) to them.

After he had seen this, we agreed that God told us to go to Macedonia to tell them the Good News. Lydia, the First Christian in Europe

11 T herefore, setting sail from Troas, we came in a direct course to Samothrace, and the next day went on to Neapolis.

We took a ship from the city of Troas to the city of Samothracia. The next day we went to the city of Neapolis.

12 A nd from there to Philippi, which is the chief city of the district of Macedonia and a colony. We stayed on in this place some days;

From there we went to the city of Philippi. This was an important city in Macedonia. It was ruled by the leaders of the country of Rome. We stayed here for some days.

13 A nd on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the bank of the river where we supposed there was an place of prayer, and we sat down and addressed the women who had assembled there.

On the Day of Rest we went outside the city to a place down by the river. We thought people would be gathering there for prayer. Some women came and we sat down and talked to them.

14 O ne of those who listened to us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a dealer in fabrics dyed in purple. She was a worshiper of God, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

One of the women who listened sold purple cloth. She was from the city of Thyatira. Her name was Lydia and she was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to hear what Paul said.

15 A nd when she was baptized along with her household, she earnestly entreated us, saying, If in your opinion I am one really convinced and that I will be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay. And she induced us.

When she and her family had been baptized, she said to us, “If you think I am faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my house.” She kept on asking. Then we went with her. Paul Heals a Girl with a Demon

16 A s we were on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who was possessed by a spirit of divination, and she brought her owners much gain by her fortunetelling.

One day as we were going to the place to pray, we met a servant-girl who could tell what was going to happen in the future by a demon she had. Her owner made much money from her power.

17 S he kept following Paul and us, shouting loudly, These men are the servants of the Most High God! They announce to you the way of salvation!

She followed Paul and us crying out, “These are servants of the Highest God. They are telling you how to be saved from the punishment of sin.”

18 A nd she did this for many days. Then Paul, being sorely annoyed and worn out, turned and said to the spirit within her, I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! And it came out that very moment.

She did this many days. Paul was troubled. Then he turned and said to the demon in her, “In the name of Jesus Christ, I speak to you. Come out of her!” At once it left her. Paul and Silas in Jail

19 B ut when her owners discovered that their hope of profit was gone, they caught hold of Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the forum (marketplace),.

The girl’s owners saw that they could not make money with her anymore. Then they took hold of Paul and Silas and dragged them to the leaders. This happened in the center of town where people gather.

20 A nd when they had brought them before the magistrates, they declared, These fellows are Jews and they are throwing our city into great confusion.

After they brought them in front of the leaders, they said, “These men are Jews and are making a lot of trouble in our city.

21 T hey encourage the practice of customs which it is unlawful for us Romans to accept or observe!

They are teaching a religion that we Romans are not allowed to follow.”

22 T he crowd joined in the attack upon them, and the rulers tore the clothes off of them and commanded that they be beaten with rods.

Many people had gathered around Paul and Silas. They were calling out things against them. The leaders had the clothes of Paul and Silas taken off and had them beaten with sticks.

23 A nd when they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely.

After they had hit them many times, they put Paul and Silas in prison. The soldiers told the man who watched the prison to be sure to keep them from getting away.

24 H e, having received charge, put them into the inner prison (the dungeon) and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Because of this, they were put in the inside room of the prison and their feet were put in pieces of wood that held them.

25 B ut about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing songs of thanks to God. The other men in prison were listening to them.

26 S uddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and at once all the doors were opened and everyone’s shackles were unfastened.

All at once the earth started to shake. The stones under the prison shook and the doors opened. The chains fell off from everyone.

27 W hen the jailer, startled out of his sleep, saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, because he supposed that the prisoners had escaped.

The man who watched the prison woke up. He saw the prison doors wide open and thought the men in prison had gotten away. At once he pulled out his sword to kill himself.

28 B ut Paul shouted, Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!

But Paul called to him, “Do not hurt yourself. We are all here!”

29 T hen called for lights and rushed in, and trembling and terrified he fell down before Paul and Silas.

The man who watched the prison called for a light. Then he ran in and got down in front of Paul and Silas. He was shaking with fear.

30 A nd he brought them out and said, Men, what is it necessary for me to do that I may be saved?

As he took them outside, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 A nd they answered, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ '> give yourself up to Him, take yourself out of your own keeping and entrust yourself into His keeping] and you will be saved, you and your household as well.

They said, “Put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and you and your family will be saved from the punishment of sin.”

32 A nd they declared the Word of the Lord '> attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] to him and to all who were in his house.

Then Paul spoke the Word of God to him and his family.

33 A nd he took them the same hour of the night and bathed wounds, and he was baptized immediately and all his.

It was late at night, but the man who watched the prison took Paul and Silas in and washed the places on their bodies where they were hurt. Right then he and his family were baptized.

34 T hen he took them up into his house and set food before them; and he leaped much for joy and exulted with all his family that he believed in God.

He took Paul and Silas to his house and gave them food. He and all his family were full of joy for having put their trust in God. Paul and Silas Are Allowed to Go Free

35 B ut when it was day, the magistrates sent policemen, saying, Release those fellows and let them go.

When it was day, the leaders sent a soldier to say, “Let these men go free.”

36 A nd the jailer repeated the words to Paul, saying, The magistrates have sent to release you and let you go; now therefore come out and go in peace.

The man who watched the prison told this to Paul. He said, “The leaders have sent word to let you go free. Come out now and go without any trouble.”

37 B ut Paul answered them, They have beaten us openly and publicly, without a trial and uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now thrust us out secretly? No, indeed! Let them come here themselves and conduct us out!

Paul said, “No! They have beaten us in front of many people without a trial. We are Roman citizens and they have put us in prison. Now do they think they can send us away without anyone knowing? No! They must come themselves and take us out.”

38 T he police reported this message to the magistrates, and they were frightened when they heard that the prisoners were Roman citizens;

The soldiers told this to the leaders. Then the leaders were afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.

39 S o they came themselves and apologized to them. And they brought them out and asked them to leave the city.

They went themselves and told Paul and Silas they were sorry. Then they took them out and asked them to leave their city.

40 S o left the prison and went to Lydia’s house; and when they had seen the brethren, they warned and urged and consoled and encouraged them and departed.

Paul and Silas went to Lydia’s house after they left the prison. They met with the Christians and gave them comfort. Then they went away from the city.