Murdock - Acts - 16

16:1  And he came to the city Derbe, and to Lystra. And there was a certain disciple there, whose name was Timothy, the son of a believing Jewess, but his father was a Gentile.

16:2  And all the disciples of Lystra and Iconium gave good testimony of him.

16:3  Him Paul was disposed to take with him: and he took him, and circumcised him, because of the Jews that were in that region; for they all knew that his father was a Gentile.

16:4  And as they went among the cities, they preached and taught them, that they should observe those injunctions which the legates and Elders at Jerusalem had written.

16:5  And so were the churches established in the faith, and were increased in number daily.

16:6  And they travelled through the regions of Phrygia and Galatia; and the Holy Spirit forbid them to speak the word of God in Asia.

16:7  And when they came into the region of Mysia, they were disposed to go from there into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus permitted them not.

16:8  And when they departed from Mysia, they came down to the region of Troas.

16:9  And in a vision of the night, there appeared unto Paul, a man of Macedonia, who stood and besought him, saying: Come to Macedonia and help us.

16:10  And when Paul had seen this vision, immediately we were desirous to depart for Macedonia; because we inferred, that our Lord called us to preach to them.

16:11  And we sailed from Troas, and came direct to Samothrace; and from there, on the following day, we came to the city Neapolis.

16:12  And from there to Philippi, which is the chief city of Macedonia, and is a colony. And we remained in that city certain days.

16:13  And on the sabbath day, we went without the gate of the city to the side of a river, because a house of prayer was seen there. And when we were seated, we conversed with the women who there assembled.

16:14  And a certain woman who feared God, a seller of purple, whose name was Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, was there. Her heart our Lord opened, and she hearkened to what Paul spake.

16:15  And she was baptized, and her household. And she entreated us, saying: If ye are really persuaded that I have believed in our Lord, come and take lodging in my house. And she urged us much.

16:16  And it occurred that, as we were going to the house of prayer, a certain maid met us, who had a spirit of divination, and who procured for her lords great gain by the divination which she performed.

16:17  And she followed after Paul and us, and cried, saying: These men are the servants of the Most High God, and they announce to you the way of life.

16:18  And this she did many days. And Paul was indignant; and he said to that spirit, I command thee, in the name of Jesus Messiah, that thou come out of her. And it came out the same hour.

16:19  And when her lords saw that the prospect of their gain from her was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragging them along brought them to the market-place,

16:20  and set them before the prefects and chiefs of the city, and said: These men disturb our city; for they are Jews,

16:21  and they preach to us customs, which it is not lawful for us to receive and to practise, because we are Romans.

16:22  And a great company was collected against them. Then the prefects rent their garments, and commanded to scourge them.

16:23  And when they had scourged them much, they cast them into the prison, and commanded the keeper of the prison to keep them with care.

16:24  And he, having received this command, carried and immured them in the inner part of the prison, and confined their feet in the stocks.

16:25  And at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and glorifying God: and the prisoners heard them.

16:26  And suddenly there was a great shaking, and the foundations of the prison were moved; and at once all the doors opened, and the bands of all were loosed.

16:27  And when the keeper of the prison awoke, and saw that the doors of the prison were open, he took a sword and sought to kill himself; because he supposed the prisoners had escaped.

16:28  But Paul called to him, in a loud voice, and said: Do thyself no harm, for we are all here.

16:29  And he lighted for himself a lamp, and sprang and came in, trembling, and fell at the feet of Paul and Silas.

16:30  And he brought them out, and said to them: My lords, what must I do, that I may have life?

16:31  And they said to him: Believe on the name of our Lord Jesus Messiah, and thou wilt have life, thou and thy house.

16:32  And they spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all the members of his house.

16:33  And the same hour of the night, he took and washed them from their stripes; and he was baptized immediately, he and all the members of his house.

16:34  And he took them and brought them into his house, and set a table for them; and he rejoiced in the faith of God, he and all the members of his house.

16:35  And when it was morning, the prefects sent rod-bearers to say to the superior of the prison: Let those men loose.

16:36  And when the superior of the prison heard it, he went in, and said the same thing to Paul; namely, that the prefects have sent word that ye be set free. And now, said he, Go ye out, and depart in peace.

16:37  But Paul said to him: They have scourged us, unoffending men, and Romans, before all the world, and have cast us into prison; and now, do they secretly let us out? No, surely: but let them come themselves and bring us out.

16:38  And the rod-bearers went and told to the prefects the words which were told to them: and when they heard that they were Romans, they were afraid,

16:39  and came to them, and entreated of them that they would come out, and that they would leave the city.

16:40  And when they came out from the prison, they entered the house of Lydia; and there they saw the brethren, and comforted them, and departed.