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:
2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were 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.
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.
5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
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,
7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
8 And they passing by Mysia came 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.
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.
11 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course 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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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,
20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard 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.
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.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, 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.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that 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.
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
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.
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.
38 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
39 And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of 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.

1Then came he to Derbe, and Lystra: and behold, a certaine disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certaine woman which was a Iewesse, and beleeued: but his father was a Greeke:

2Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

3Him would Paul haue to go forth with him, and tooke, and circumcised him, because of the Iewes which were in those quarters: for they knew all, that his father was a Greeke.

4And as they went through the cities, they deliuered them the decrees for to keepe, that were ordeined of the Apostles and Elders, which were at Hierusalem.

5And so were the Churches established in the faith, and increased in number dayly.

6Now when they had gone thorowout Phrygia, and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

7After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to goe into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

8And they passing by Mysia, came downe to Troas.

9And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come ouer into Macedonia, and helpe vs.

10And after he had seene the vision, immediatly we endeuoured to goe into Macedonia, assuredly gathering, that the Lord had called vs for to preach the Gospel vnto them.

11Therfore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis:

12And from thence to Philippi, which is the chiefe citie of that part of Macedonia, and a Colonie: and we were in that citie abiding certaine dayes.

13And on the Sabboth we went out of the citie by a riuer side, where prayer was wont to be made, & we sate downe, and spake vnto the women which resorted thither.

14 And a certaine woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the citie of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard vs: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended vnto the things which were spoken of Paul.

15And when she was baptized, and her houshold, she besought vs, saying, If ye haue iudged me to bee faithfull to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained vs.

16 And it came to passe, as we went to prayer, a certaine Damosell possessed with a spirit of diuination, met vs: which brought her masters much gaine by soothsaying.

17The same followed Paul and vs, and cried, saying, These men are the seruants of the most hie God, which shew vnto vs the way of saluation.

18And this did she many dayes: but Paul being grieued, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the Name of Iesus Christ, to come out of her. And he came out the same houre.

19 And when her Masters saw that the hope of their gaines was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the market place, vnto the rulers,

20And brought them to the Magistrates, saying, These men being Iewes, do exceedingly trouble our city,

21And teach customes which are not lawfull for vs to receiue, neither to obserue, being Romanes.

22And the multitude rose vp together against them, and the Magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beate them.

23And when they had layed many stripes vpon them, they cast them into prison, charging the Iaylour to keepe them safely.

24Who hauing receiued such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, & made their feet fast in the stockes.

25 And at midnight, Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises vnto God: and the prisoners heard them.

26And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doores were opened, and euery ones bands were loosed.

27And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleepe, and seeing the prison doores open, he drew out his sword, and would haue killed himselfe, supposing that the prisoners had beene fled.

28But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Doe thy selfe no harme, for we are all heere.

29Then hee called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell downe before Paul and Silas,

30And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I doe to be saued?

31And they saide, Beleeue on the Lord Iesus Christ, and thou shalt be saued, and thy house.

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

33And hee tooke them the same houre of the night, and washed their stripes, and was baptized, hee and all his, straightway.

34And when he had brought them into his house, hee set meat before them, and reioyced, beleeuing in God with all his house.

35And when it was day, the Magistrates sent the Sergeants, saying, Let those men goe.

36And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The Magistrates haue sent to let you goe: Now therefore depart, and goe in peace.

37But Paul said vnto them, They haue beaten vs openly vncondemned, being Romanes, and haue cast vs into prison, and now doe they thrust vs out priuily? Nay verily, but let them come themselues, and fetch vs out.

38And the Sergeants tolde these words vnto the Magistrates: and they feared when they heard that they were Romanes.

39And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the citie.

40And they went out of the prison, and entred into the house of Lydia, and when they had seene the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

 

1 He reached (also) Derbe and Lystra where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him, 3 and Paul wanted him to come along with him. On account of the Jews of that region, Paul had him circumcised, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled from city to city, they handed on to the people for observance the decisions reached by the apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem. 5 Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number. 6 They traveled through the Phrygian and Galatian territory because they had been prevented by the holy Spirit from preaching the message in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them, 8 so they crossed through Mysia and came down to Troas. 9 During (the) night Paul had a vision. A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10 When he had seen the vision, we sought passage to Macedonia at once, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them. 11 We set sail from Troas, making a straight run for Samothrace, and on the next day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, a leading city in that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We spent some time in that city. 13 On the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river where we thought there would be a place of prayer. We sat and spoke with the women who had gathered there. 14 One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying. 15 After she and her household had been baptized, she offered us an invitation, "If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home," and she prevailed on us. 16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl with an oracular spirit, who used to bring a large profit to her owners through her fortune-telling. 17 She began to follow Paul and us, shouting, "These people are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation." 18 She did this for many days. Paul became annoyed, turned, and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." Then it came out at that moment. 19 When her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the public square before the local authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, "These people are Jews and are disturbing our city 21 and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us Romans to adopt or practice." 22 The crowd joined in the attack on them, and the magistrates had them stripped and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23 After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison and instructed the jailer to guard them securely. 24 When he received these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and secured their feet to a stake. 25 About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened, 26 there was suddenly such a severe earthquake that the foundations of the jail shook; all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew (his) sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted out in a loud voice, "Do no harm to yourself; we are all here." 29 He asked for a light and rushed in and, trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved." 32 So they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house. 33 He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized at once. 34 He brought them up into his house and provided a meal and with his household rejoiced at having come to faith in God. 35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the lictors with the order, "Release those men." 36 The jailer reported the (se) words to Paul, "The magistrates have sent orders that you be released. Now, then, come out and go in peace." 37 But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly, even though we are Roman citizens and have not been tried, and have thrown us into prison. And now, are they going to release us secretly? By no means. Let them come themselves and lead us out." 38 The lictors reported these words to the magistrates, and they became alarmed when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and placated them, and led them out and asked that they leave the city. 40 When they had come out of the prison, they went to Lydia's house where they saw and encouraged the brothers, and then they left.  

v1. Probably a brief stop at Paul’s home town, Tarsus, then back tracking through the churches previously started. Paul may have led Timothy to the Lord on his first journey.
v2. Timothy had grown in the Lord as reported in both towns.
v3. After all the hassle over circumcision not being necessary, Paul requires it of Timothy. But it was not a question of circumcision for salvation. As they were taking the gospel to Jewish synagogues first, it just avoided unnecessary criticism and futile explanation why a Jewish mother’s son was not circumcised. (Jews would have considered both unclean and had nothing to do with them.) Paul’s policy, 1 Cor. 9:20- 22, And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews etc.
v.4 To those already believers, he reported the Jerusalem decision.
v5. Simply grounded and growing.
v6-8. After they had worked their way northwest through Galatia and Phrygia it was logical to continue on west into the province of Asia, probably heading toward Ephesus. Forbidden in that they would have turned north into Bithynia, again by what method we don’t know, the Holy Spirit refused. Hastening past Mysia, they came to the seaport at Troas.
v9. This was a clear cut vision of direction, wouldn’t that be nice?  Our own strong inclinations may not be the leading of the Spirit. Consider four things: 1 The Word, 2 Circumstances, 3 Completely yield to Holy Spirit, 4 After all these, use the best judgment. (Wise counsel here.)
v10. Knowing God’s will demands prompt obedience. “We” indicates Luke had joined the other three by now, probably at Troas.
v11,12. Neapolis was the seaport town of Philippi, ten miles inland. Philippi was a Roman colony on the main road from Rome to Asia, so an ideal location to start the first church in Europe. The Lord even gave them a favorable wind to make the trip in one day, whereas returning it took five days, 20:6.
v13. This may be one of the Roman towns that was very unfavorable to the Jews. More likely they didn’t have the required ten Jewish males to have a synagogue, so on the Sabbath at least several women gathered a little over a mile west of town at the Gangites River to worship. Paul was happy to preach to these women, although as a Pharisee in the past he would have prayed “O God, I thank thee that I am neither Gentile, nor slave, nor woman”. For other instances of Jews gathered by rivers for spiritual purpose see Ps. 137:1; Ezekiel 1:1; Daniel 8:2 and 10:4.
v14. Thyatira was famous for it’s purple dye which comes from a vein in the neck of murex shellfish, and Lydia apparently brought her business with her to Philippi. Like Cornelius, she was devout Gentile and feared God, probably a proselyte Jew, but had to be shown how to be saved. Her interest was the result of the Holy Spirit working in her heart.
v15. She appears to be a well to do widow with a large enough house to house four guests. Her children and servants too were saved and all were baptized. She right away exercised Christian hospitality in taking in the missionaries.
v16-18. This demon possessed slave girl had been profitable to her masters by her power to divine, and she could tell these men were servants of God. It seems the demon was trying to hinder Paul with this daily harassment. While the words she shouted were true, association with demons would eventually hurt the ministry, so Paul finally cast the demon out in the name of Christ.
v19-21. They couldn’t have Paul condemned for their loss of profits, so they accused them of being troublesome lawbreakers. Rome allowed other religions so long as they didn’t proselyte Romans, so the leaders probably felt this was a Jewish sect and they were disobeying the law.
22-23. Those words and the action of the magistrates incited the crowd to willingly have Paul and Silas beaten with a rod and imprisoned. Luke a Gentile and Timothy, half Gentile were not beaten.
v23,24. This inner prison, a dungeon, has been discovered. It had only a door, was hot and had a miserable stench.  Also stocks, which varied in design, [two, four or five hole] were extremely uncomfortable, yet they sang and praised God in the night.
v25. Earthquake was tearing the prison apart, but added miracle released all the bands.
v27-29. The jailer assumed he would be tortured or executed in shame for letting the prisoners escape, and preferred death at his own hand. When Paul reassured him all were there, he felt that some supernatural power was connected with them. He had probably heard the message of the slave girl and maybe heard the night singing.
v30,31. The jailer already knew the prisoners were secure so he was not asking to be saved from the Roman government, but spiritually. That question and answer are the same today.
v32-34. The whole household individually believed and were baptized, not in a Baptist church, not in any church, just on their profession of faith. The only delay was to treat the prisoners wounds. Immediate show of hospitality then. A changed life for believers.
v35-39. Had the magistrates given them a fair trial they would have found out they were Romans and treated them more respectfully. Romans were to have fair trials and not be beaten or bound in stocks. How humiliated they must have been to bow to Paul’s demand that since he, a Roman, had been beaten publicly without a trial, they must come and personally escort him out of jail. They could not expel a Roman. Now their only recourse was to humbly ask them to leave. Paul surely wasn’t seeking personal vindication, but was attempting to make it less likely that new believers would be singled out for persecution.
v40. The apostles returned to Lydia’s house to report and comfort them, but public opinion being what it was, it was advisable to move on. From the use of “they”, Luke probably left the group at this point, possibly staying at Philippi.