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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>Acts 16 ISV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/acts/16.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/acts/16-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">ISV</a> > Acts 16</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../acts/15.htm" title="Acts 15">◄</a> Acts 16 <a href="../acts/17.htm" title="Acts 17">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">International Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/isv/esv/acts/16.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="heading">Timothy Joins Paul in Lystra</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Paul<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="16:1 Lit. He">a</a></span> also went to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish wife whose husband was a Greek. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>Timothy<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="16:2 Lit. He">b</a></span> was highly regarded by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>Paul wanted this man to go with him, so he took him and had him circumcised because of the Jews who lived in that region, since everyone knew that Timothy’s<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="16:3 Lit. that his">c</a></span> father was a Greek. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>As they went from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for them to obey. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>So the churches continued to be strengthened in the faith and to increase in numbers every day.</p> <p class="heading">Paul Has a Vision</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Because they had been prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the word in Asia, Paul and Timothy<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="16:6 Lit. Then they">d</a></span> went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>They went as far as Mysia and tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>so they bypassed Mysia and went down to Troas. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>During the night Paul had a vision. A man from Macedonia was standing there and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>As soon as he had seen the vision, we immediately looked for a way to go to Macedonia, because we were convinced that God had called us to tell the people there<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="16:10 Lit. tell them">e</a></span> the good news.</p> <p class="heading">Paul and Silas in Philippi</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>Sailing from Troas, we went straight to Samothrace, the next day to Neapolis, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>and from there to Philippi, an important city of the district<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="16:12 Other mss. read a city of the first district">f</a></span> of Macedonia and a Roman<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="16:12 The Gk. lacks Roman">g</a></span> colony. We were in this city for several days. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>On the Sabbath day, we went out the city gate and walked<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="16:13 the Gk. lacks walked">h</a></span> along the river, where we thought there was a place of prayer. We sat down and began talking to the women who had gathered there. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a dealer in purple goods, was listening to us. She was a worshiper of God, and the Lord opened her heart to listen carefully to what was being said by Paul. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>When she and her family were baptized, she urged us, “If you are convinced that I am a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home.” And she continued to insist that we do so.</p> <p class="heading">The Fortune Teller</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>Once, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit of fortune-telling and who had brought her owners a great deal of money by predicting the future. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>She would follow Paul and us and shout, “These men are servants of the Most High God and are proclaiming to you<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="16:17 Other mss. read us">i</a></span> a way of salvation!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>She kept doing this for many days until Paul became annoyed, turned to her<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="16:18 The Gk. lacks to her">j</a></span> and told the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus the Messiah<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="16:18 Or Christ">k</a></span> to come out of her!” And it came out that very moment.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="16:18 Lit. that hour">l</a></span> </p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities who met together in the public square.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="16:19 Or in the marketplace">m</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are stirring up a lot of trouble in our city. They are Jews <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>and are advocating customs that we’re not allowed to accept or practice as Romans.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>The crowd joined in the attack against them. Then the magistrates had Paul and Silas<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="16:22 Lit. had them">n</a></span> stripped of their clothes and ordered them beaten with rods. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>After giving them a severe beating, they threw them in jail and ordered the jailer to keep them under tight security. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Having received these orders, he put them into the inner cell and fastened their feet in leg irons.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>Suddenly, there was an earthquake so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken. All the doors immediately flew open, and everyone’s chains were unfastened.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>But Paul shouted in a loud voice, “Don’t hurt yourself, because we are all here!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>The jailer<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="16:29 Lit. He">o</a></span> asked for torches and rushed inside. Trembling as he knelt in front of Paul and Silas, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>he took them outside and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>They answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you and your family will be saved.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>Then they spoke the word of the Lord<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="16:32 Other mss. read of God">p</a></span> to him and everyone in his home.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>At that hour of the night, he took them and washed their wounds. Then he and his entire family were baptized immediately. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>He brought Paul and Silas<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="16:34 Lit. brought them">q</a></span> upstairs into his house and set food before them. He was thrilled, as was his household, to believe in God.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>When day came, the magistrates sent guards, who commanded, “Release those men.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>The jailer reported these words to Paul, and added, “The magistrates have sent word to release you. So come out now and go in peace.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-37.htm"><b>37</b></a></span>But Paul told the guards,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="16:37 Lit. told them">r</a></span> “The magistrates<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="16:37 Lit. They">s</a></span> have had us beaten publicly without a trial and have thrown us into jail, even though we are Roman citizens. Now are they going to throw us out secretly? Certainly not! Have them come and escort us out.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-38.htm"><b>38</b></a></span>The guards reported these words to the magistrates, and they became afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="16:38 Lit. that they">t</a></span> were Roman citizens. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-39.htm"><b>39</b></a></span>So the magistrates<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="16:39 Lit. So they">u</a></span> came, apologized to them, and escorted them out. Then they asked them to leave the city. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/16-40.htm"><b>40</b></a></span>Leaving the jail, Paul and Silas<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="16:40 Lit. jail, they">v</a></span> went to Lydia’s house. They saw the brothers, encouraged them, and then left.</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="ftn"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn1"><span class="fnb">a</span> 16:1 Lit. <i>He</i><br /><span class="fnb">b</span> 16:2 Lit. <i>He</i><br /><span class="fnb">c</span> 16:3 Lit. <i>that his</i><br /><span class="fnb">d</span> 16:6 Lit. <i>Then they</i><br /><span class="fnb">e</span> 16:10 Lit. <i>tell them</i><br /><span class="fnb">f</span> 16:12 Other mss. read <i>a city of the first district</i><br /><span class="fnb">g</span> 16:12 The Gk. lacks <i>Roman</i><br /><span class="fnb">h</span> 16:13 the Gk. lacks <i>walked</i><br /><span class="fnb">i</span> 16:17 Other mss. read <i>us</i><br /><span class="fnb">j</span> 16:18 The Gk. lacks <i>to her</i><br /><span class="fnb">k</span> 16:18 Or <i>Christ</i><br /><span class="fnb">l</span> 16:18 Lit. <i>that hour</i><br /><span class="fnb">m</span> 16:19 Or <i>in the marketplace</i><br /><span class="fnb">n</span> 16:22 Lit. <i>had them</i><br /><span class="fnb">o</span> 16:29 Lit. <i>He</i><br /><span class="fnb">p</span> 16:32 Other mss. read <i>of God</i><br /><span class="fnb">q</span> 16:34 Lit. <i>brought them</i><br /><span class="fnb">r</span> 16:37 Lit. <i>told them</i><br /><span class="fnb">s</span> 16:37 Lit. <i>They</i><br /><span class="fnb">t</span> 16:38 Lit. <i>that they</i><br /><span class="fnb">u</span> 16:39 Lit. <i>So they</i><br /><span class="fnb">v</span> 16:40 Lit. <i>jail, they</i><br /></span><br><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><div align="center"><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1<br />Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation<br />ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../acts/15.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Acts 15"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Acts 15" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../acts/17.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Acts 17"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Acts 17" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/acts/16-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><div align="center" style="background-color:#F2FAFF"><br /><br /><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></td></tr></table><br /><br /><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /> </div><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/botmenubhnm2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe><div align="center"><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span></div></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>