we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to
preach the gospel to them.
11 So putting out to sea from Troas, we ran a straight course to
Samothrace, and on the day following to Neapolis; 12 and from there to
Philippi, which is the leading city of the district of Macedonia, and a
Roman colony. We stayed in this city some days; 13 and on the Sabbath
day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there
was a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women
who had come together. 14 A woman named Lydia, from the city of
Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, who was a worshiper of God, was
listening. The Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by
Paul. 15 When she and her household had been baptized, she urged us,
saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my
house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.
16 It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, we
were met by a slave-girl who had a spirit of divination. She brought her
owners much profit by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest
of us, crying, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are
telling you the way of salvation." 18 She continued doing this for many
days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, "I
command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" And it
came out at that very moment. 19 But when her owners saw that their
hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into
the marketplace before the authorities, 20 and when they had brought
them to the magistrates they said, "These men are Jews and they are
throwing our city into an uproar. 21 They advocate customs which it is
not lawful for us Romans to accept or practice." 22 The crowd joined
against them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and ordered
them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows
upon them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to guard them
securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner
prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing
hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly
there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were
shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains
were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors
were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing
that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do
not harm yourself, for we are all here!" 29 And he called for lights and
rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30
He brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31
They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and
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