Acts 16

Paul chose Timothy as a companion, and the Spirit directed them to Macedonia where Lydia believed and was baptized at Philippi. Paul cast a spirit of divination out of a slave girl, was beaten and imprisoned with Silas, and at midnight an earthquake opened the prison doors. The jailer and his household believed and were baptized that night.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:	Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra. A disciple was there named Timotheus, the son of a Jewish woman who believed, but his father was a Greek.
2	Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.	He was spoken well of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.
3	Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.	Paul wanted Timothy to travel with him. He took him and circumcised him because of the Jews in that region, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
4	And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.	As they traveled through the cities, they delivered to the believers the decisions that had been handed down by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.
5	And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.	So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew in number every day.
6	Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,	They traveled through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Ghost from preaching the word in Asia.
7	After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.	When they came to Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit did not allow them.
8	And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.	Passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.
9	And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.	A vision appeared to Paul during the night — a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
10	And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.	After Paul had seen the vision, we immediately sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
11	Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;	Setting sail from Troas, we went straight to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis.
12	And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.	From there we went to Philippi, which is a leading city of that part of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We stayed in that city for some days.
13	And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.	On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to a riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there.
14	And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.	A woman named Lydia, a seller of purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying.
15	And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.	When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay." She persuaded us to come.
16	And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:	As we were going to the place of prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit of divination. She brought her masters great profit by fortune-telling.
17	The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.	She followed Paul and the rest of us and cried out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, Who are telling You the way of salvation."
18	And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.	She kept doing this for many days. Paul became greatly troubled. He turned and said to the spirit, "I command You in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." It came out that very hour.
19	And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,	When her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities.
20	And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,	They brought them before the magistrates, saying, "These men are Jews and are greatly disturbing our city.
21	And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.	They are teaching customs that are not lawful for us to accept or practice, since we are Romans."
22	And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.	The crowd joined in the attack against them. The magistrates tore the clothes off Paul and Silas and ordered them to be beaten with rods.
23	And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:	After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them securely.
24	Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.	Receiving this order, he put them in the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25	And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.	Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
26	And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.	Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. All the doors immediately flew open, and everyone's chains were loosened.
27	And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.	The jailer woke up and saw the prison doors standing open. He drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking the prisoners had escaped.
28	But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.	But Paul called out loudly, "Do not harm yourself — we are all here!"
29	Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,	The jailer called for lights and rushed in. Trembling, he fell down before Paul and Silas.
30	And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?	He brought them outside and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31	And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.	They said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and You will be saved — you and Your household."
32	And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.	They spoke the word of the Lord to Him and to all who were in His house.
33	And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.	He took them that same hour of the night and washed their wounds. He and His entire household were baptized right away.
34	And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.	He brought them into His house and set food before them. He rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with His entire household.
35	And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.	When day came, the magistrates sent officers with the order, "Release those men."
36	And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.	The jailer reported these words to Paul: "The magistrates have sent word to release you. Go now and leave in peace."
37	But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.	But Paul said to the officers, "They beat us publicly without a trial — and we are Roman citizens! They threw us into prison, and now they want to send us away secretly? No. Let them come themselves and lead us out."
38	And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.	The officers reported this to the magistrates. When they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed.
39	And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.	They came and apologized to them. They led them out and asked them to leave the city.
40	And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.	Paul and Silas left the prison and went to Lydia's house. They saw the brothers, encouraged them, and then departed.