Acts 16 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

Timothy – and New Developments

16 Paul went on further, to Derbe and then Lystra. There was a disciple there by the name of Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman, but with a Greek father. 2 The Christians in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to go with them, so he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews in those regions, since they all knew that his father was Greek. 4 When they went through the cities, they handed on to them the decisions which had been taken by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem, so that they could observe them. 5 The churches were strengthened in faith, and grew in number every day.

6 They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, since the holy spirit had forbidden them to speak the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the spirit of Jesus didn’t allow them to do so. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 Then a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man from Macedonia was standing there, pleading with him, and saying, ‘Come across to Macedonia and help us!’ 10 When he saw the vision, at once we set about finding a way to get across to Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the good news to them.

Preaching and Prison in Philippi

11 So we sailed away from Troas and made a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis. 12 From there we went on to Philippi, a Roman colony which is the chief city of the district of Macedonia. We stayed in this city for some days.

13 On the sabbath day we went outside the gate to a place by a river where we reckoned there was a place of prayer, and there we sat down. Some women had gathered, and we spoke to them. 14 There was a woman called Lydia, a godfearer, who was a seller of purple from Thyatira. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying. 15 She was baptized, with all her household.

‘If you have judged me faithful to the Lord,’ she begged us, ‘please come and stay at my home.’

So she persuaded us.

16 As we were going to the place of prayer we were met by a girl who had a spirit of divination. She and her oracles made a good living for her owners. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us.

‘These men are servants of God Most High!’ she would shout out. ‘They are declaring to you the way of salvation!’

18 She did this for many days. Eventually, Paul got fed up with it. He turned round and addressed the spirit.

‘I command you in the name of Jesus the Messiah,’ he said, ‘come out of her!’

And it came out then and there.

19 When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of profit had vanished, they seized Paul and Silas, dragged them into the public square before the authorities, 20 and presented them to the magistrates.

‘These men’, they said, ‘are throwing our city into an uproar! They are Jews, 21 and they are teaching customs which it’s illegal for us Romans to accept or practise!’

22 The crowd joined in the attack on them, and the magistrates had their clothes torn off them and gave orders for them to be beaten with rods. 23 When they had thoroughly beaten them, they threw them into prison, and gave orders to the jailer to guard them securely. 24 With that instruction, he put them into the innermost part of the prison, and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Earthquake and Salvation

25 Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a huge earthquake, which shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open, and everyone’s chains became loose. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted at the top of his voice, ‘Don’t harm yourself! We’re all still here!’

29 The jailer called for lights and rushed in. Trembling all over, he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them outside.

‘Gentlemen,’ he said, ‘will you please tell me how I can get out of this mess?’

31 ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus,’ they replied, ‘and you will be rescued – you and your household.’

32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him, with everyone who was in his house. 33 He took them, at that very hour of the night, and washed their wounds. Then at once he was baptized, and all his household with him. 34 Then he took them into his house, put food on the table, and rejoiced with his whole house that he had believed in God.

Publicly Vindicated

35 When day broke, the magistrates sent their officers with the message, ‘Let those men go.’ 36 The jailer passed on what they said to Paul.

‘The magistrates have sent word that you should be released,’ he said. ‘So now you can leave and go in peace.’

37 But Paul objected.

‘We are Roman citizens!’ he said. ‘They didn’t put us on trial, they beat us in public, they threw us into prison, and now they are sending us away secretly? No way! Let them come themselves and take us out.’

38 The officers reported these words to the magistrates. When they heard that they were Roman citizens, they were afraid. 39 They went and apologized, brought them out of the prison, and requested that they leave the city. 40 So when they had left the prison they went to Lydia’s house. There they saw and encouraged the brothers and sisters, and then they went on their way.

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Acts 16 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

16 And he came to Derbe and Lystra, and lo, a certain disciple was there, by name Timotheus son of a certain woman, a believing Jewess, but of a father, a Greek, 2 who was well testified to by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium; 3 this one did Paul wish to go forth with him, and having taken [him], ...
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Acts 16 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

16 And he came into Derbe and Lystra. And lo! a disciple was there, by name Timothy, the son of a Jewess christian[a], and of the father heathen. 2 And brethren that were in Lystra and Iconium [The brethren that were in Lystra and Iconium], yielded good witnessing to him. 3 And Paul would that thi...
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Acts 16 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

16 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. A disciple named Timothy was there. His mother was a Jew, a believer, and his father was a Greek. 2 The Christian brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke very well of Timothy. 3 Paul wanted him to go with him. He circumcised him because all the Jews in those places ...
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Acts 16 - World English Bible (WEB)

16 He came to Derbe and Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess who believed; but his father was a Greek. 2 The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium gave a good testimony about him. 3 Paul wanted to have him go out with him, and he took and circumcis...
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Acts 16 - The Voice (VOICE)

16 1-3 When Paul reached Derbe and Lystra, he invited a disciple named Timothy to join him and Silas. Timothy had a good reputation among the believers in Lystra and Iconium, but there was a problem: although Timothy’s mother was a believing Jew, his father was Greek, which meant Timothy was uncircu...
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Acts 16 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

16 Now Paul came to Derbe and Lystra. There was a disciple there named Timothy, son of a woman who was a Jewish believer and a Greek father, 2 who was well-spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted this man to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him for the sake of ...
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Acts 16 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas16 And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer; but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Ico′nium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him; and he took...
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Acts 16 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas16 And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer; but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Ico′nium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him; and he took...
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Acts 16 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

16 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there named Timothy - the son of a believing Jewish woman, but whose father was Greek 2 of whom the brothers at Lystra and Iconium reported well. 3 Paul wanted him to go forth with him. So, he took and circumcised him, because o...
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Acts 16 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

Timothy – and New Developments16 Paul went on further, to Derbe and then Lystra. There was a disciple there by the name of Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman, but with a Greek father. 2 The Christians in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to go with them, so he t...
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Acts 16 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas16 Paul[a] went on also to Derbe and to 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 He was well spoken of by the believers[b] in Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him;...
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Acts 16 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas16 Paul[a] went on also to Derbe and to 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 He was well spoken of by the believers[b] in Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him;...
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Acts 16 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas16 Paul[a] went on also to Derbe and to Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.(A)2 He was well spoken of by the brothers and sisters in Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accomp...
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Acts 16 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

Timothy is circumcised. Paul preaches at Phillipi, and there he is put in prison. 16 Then Paul went to Derbe and to Lystra. And a certain disciple was there named Timothy, the son of a woman who was a Jewess and believed, but his father was a Greek. 2 The brethren of Lystra and of Iconium spoke wel...
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Acts 16 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey16 Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 Timothy was well thought of by the believers[a] in Lystra and Iconium, 3 so Paul wanted him to join them on ...
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Acts 16 - New Life Version (NLV)

Timothy Starts to Work with Paul16 Paul went down to the cities of Derbe and Lystra. There was a follower there named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish Christian and his father was a Greek. 2 The Christians in the city of Lystra and Iconium respected Timothy. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to go with him as...
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Acts 16 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas16 Then he came to (A)Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, (B)named Timothy, (C)the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted to have...
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