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.

²² And the populace stood up together against them: and the magistrates, after having had their garments torn from their backs, commanded them to be beaten with rods.

²³ And laying on them many stripes, cast them into prison, commanding the jailor to keep them in safe custody:

²⁴ who, receiving such an injunction, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

²⁵ But about midnight Paul and Silas, after joining in prayer, sang hymns to God: and the prisoners heard them.

²⁶ And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken: and instantly all the doors flew open, and every man’s chains were loosed.

²⁷ Then the jailor being roused from sleep, and seeing the doors of the prison open, drew his sword, going to destroy himself, supposing the prisoners had escaped.

²⁸ But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no injury: for we are all here.

²⁹ Thereupon calling for a light, he rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas;

³⁰ and having first brought them out, said, Sirs! what must I do to be saved?

³¹ And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, thou, and thy house.

³² And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all who were in his house.

³³ And taking them that same hour of the night, he washed their stripes; and was baptised, himself and all who belonged to him immediately.

³⁴ And when he had brought them into his house, he spread the table, and greatly rejoiced with all his household, believing in God.

³⁵ But when it was day, the magistrates sent the lictors, saying, Set those men at large.

³⁶ Then the jailor told these words to Paul, That the magistrates had sent to set them at liberty: now therefore, said he, get ye out, and pursue your journey in peace.

³⁷ But Paul said to them, They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Roman citizens, and have cast us into prison; and would they now clandestinely send us away? no, verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.

³⁸ Then the lictors reported all these words to the magistrates: and they were terrified, when they heard they were Roman citizens.

³⁹ So they came and spoke kindly to them, and fetching them out, besought them to depart from the city.

⁴⁰ Then leaving the prison, they went unto Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and went their way.