Acts 16:1-21 ▼

1 THEN he came to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold! a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman, who believed; but his father was a Greek:

2 who was highly spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium.

3 Him Paul resolved to take out with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places: for they all knew his father, that he was a Greek.

4 So as they passed through the cities, they delivered to them for their observance the ordinances decreed by the apostles and presbyters that were at Jerusalem.

5 Then were the churches established truly in the faith, and increased in number daily.

6 So passing through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, being forbidden by the Holy Ghost to speak the word in Asia,

7 coming as far as Mysia, they made an effort to go unto Bythinia: but the Spirit permitted them not.

8 Whereupon passing by Mysia they went down to Troas.

9 And a vision by night appeared to Paul; a certain man, a Macedonian, stood by him, entreating him, and saying, Pass over into Macedonia, and help us.

10 But when he saw the vision, immediately we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

11 Therefore sailing from Troas, we came in a direct course to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis;

12 and from thence to Philippi, which is the first city in that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we abode in that city some days.

13 And on the sabbath-day we went forth out of the city to the river side, where an oratory was by custom established; and sitting down, we spoke to the women who there assembled.

14 And a certain woman, Lydia by name, a seller of purple, from the city of Thyatira, a worshipper of God, hearkened: whose heart the Lord thoroughly opened, to attend to the words spoken by Paul.

15 So when she was baptised, and her house, she entreated, saying, Since ye have judged that I am faithful to the Lord, come and abide at my house. And she constrained us.

16 Now it happened as we were going to the oratory, a certain damsel having a pythonic spirit met us, who produced for her masters much gain as a fortuneteller:

17 she following Paul and us, cried out, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, who preach to you the way of salvation.

18 And this she did for several days. Then Paul was wearied out, and turning, said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out that very hour.

19 But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the forum before the chief rulers,

20 and presenting them to the magistrates, they said, These are the men that exceedingly disturb the peace of our city, being Jews,

21 and enjoin customs which it is not lawful for us to receive, or to practise, being Romans.