Timothy Joins Paul and Silas
Study note
Paul arrives at Derbe and Lystra where he finds Timothy, a disciple with a Jewish mother and Greek father who is well respected by the local believers. Paul circumcises Timothy as a practical measure for their ministry among Jews, not as a requirement for salvation. As they travel through the cities, they deliver the decisions from the Jerusalem Council, and the churches grow stronger in faith and number.
1 Paul arrived in Derbe and then went to Lystra. A young believer named Timotheus lived there. His mother was a Jewish woman who believed in Jesus, though his father was Greek. 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 The believers in Lystra and Iconium had nothing but good things to say about Timotheus. Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
3 Paul wanted to take Timotheus with him on the journey. But first, he had him circumcised because all the Jewish people in that area knew his father was Greek, and Paul did not want that to be an obstacle. 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 As they traveled from city to city, they shared the decisions the apostles and elders in Jerusalem had made. That way the churches would know what to follow. 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 The churches grew stronger in their faith, and more people joined them every day. And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
The Macedonian Call
Study note
The Holy Spirit twice prevents the missionary team from preaching in Asia and Bithynia, guiding them instead to Troas. There Paul receives a nighttime vision of a Macedonian man pleading for help. The team immediately concludes that God is calling them to preach the gospel in Macedonia, marking the momentous entry of the gospel into Europe. Luke joins the narrative here, using 'we' for the first time.
6 They traveled through the regions of Phrygia and Galatia. The Holy Spirit had blocked them from preaching in the province of Asia. 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 When they reached the border of Mysia, they planned to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit would not let them go there either. After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
8 So they passed through Mysia and went down to the port city of Troas. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
9 That night, Paul had a vision. A man from Macedonia was standing there, pleading with him: "Come over to Macedonia and help us!" 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 As soon as Paul saw this vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia right away. We were convinced that God was calling us to share the good news with the people there. 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.
Lydia's Conversion in Philippi
Study note
They sail to Philippi, the leading city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. On the Sabbath they go to a riverside prayer gathering where they speak to the women assembled. Lydia, a seller of purple cloth from Thyatira and a worshipper of God, listens as the Lord opens her heart to respond to Paul's message. She and her household are baptized, and she insists the missionaries stay at her home.
11 We set sail from Troas, sailed straight to Samothracia, and the next day landed at Neapolis. Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;
12 From there we traveled to Philippi, which was the most important city in that part of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We spent several days there. 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 On the Sabbath, we walked outside the city to a riverbank where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and talked with the women who had gathered. 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 One of the women listening was named Lydia. She was from Thyatira and made a living selling expensive purple fabric. She already worshiped God. As she listened to Paul, the Lord opened up her heart to fully embrace his message. 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 After Lydia and everyone in her household were baptized, she urged us, "Since you believe I am a true follower of the Lord, please come stay at my house." She would not take no for an answer. 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.
The Slave Girl and the Imprisonment
Study note
A slave girl with a spirit of divination follows Paul and Silas for many days, crying out that they are servants of the Most High God. Paul, deeply troubled, commands the spirit to leave her in Jesus' name. When her owners realize their source of income is gone, they drag Paul and Silas before the magistrates, accusing them of disturbing the city with unlawful Jewish customs. The crowd joins the attack, and the magistrates have them severely beaten and thrown into the inner prison with their feet in stocks.
16 One day on our way to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit that let her predict the future. Her owners made a fortune off her fortune-telling. 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 She trailed behind Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men serve the Most High God! They are telling you how to be saved!" 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 She did this day after day until Paul had had enough. He turned around and spoke directly to the spirit: "In the name of Jesus Christ, I order you to come out of her!" The spirit left her instantly. 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 When her owners saw that their way of making money was gone, they grabbed Paul and Silas. They dragged them to the marketplace to face the city officials. 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 "These men are Jews," they told the judges, "and they are stirring up all kinds of trouble in our city." And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21 "They are promoting customs that we Romans are not allowed to follow." And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
22 The crowd jumped in and attacked Paul and Silas too. The judges had their clothes ripped off and ordered them beaten with rods. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23 After a severe beating, Paul and Silas were thrown into prison. The jailer received strict orders to make sure they did not escape. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24 So the jailer put them in the deepest part of the prison and locked their feet between heavy blocks of wood. Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
The Philippian Jailer's Conversion
Study note
At midnight, Paul and Silas pray and sing hymns to God while the other prisoners listen. A violent earthquake shakes the prison, opening all doors and loosening all chains. The jailer, thinking the prisoners have escaped, is about to kill himself when Paul calls out that they are all still there. The trembling jailer asks the defining question, 'What must I do to be saved?' Paul and Silas respond with the foundational gospel declaration: 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.' That very night, the jailer washes their wounds, and he and his entire family are baptized and filled with joy.
25 Around midnight, something remarkable happened. Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners could hear every word. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 Without warning, a massive earthquake rocked the prison's foundations. Every door flew open, and every prisoner's chains came loose. 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 The jailer woke up with a start and saw all the prison doors standing wide open. He pulled out his sword, ready to kill himself -- he was sure all the prisoners had escaped. 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 shouted across the darkness, "Stop! Do not hurt yourself! Every one of us is still here!" But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29 The jailer called for torches, rushed in, and fell on the ground trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 He brought them outside and asked the most important question of his life: "What do I need to do to be saved?" And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ," they answered, "and you will be saved -- you and your whole family." And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 Then they told him and everyone in his household about the Lord's message. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 Even though it was the middle of the night, the jailer washed their wounds right away. Then he and his whole family were baptized on the spot. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34 He brought Paul and Silas into his home and put food on the table for them. The entire household was filled with joy -- they all believed in God now. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Paul and Silas Released
Study note
The next morning the magistrates send word to release Paul and Silas. But Paul reveals that they are Roman citizens who were beaten and imprisoned without a trial, demanding that the magistrates come in person to release them. The officials are alarmed at having violated the rights of Roman citizens, come to apologize, and escort them out, requesting that they leave the city. Paul and Silas visit Lydia's house, encourage the brothers, and depart.
35 The next morning, the city judges sent officers with a message: "Release those men." And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
36 The jailer passed the news along to Paul: "The judges say you are free to go. You can leave now in peace." 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 refused. "They beat us in public without any trial, even though we are Roman citizens," he told the officers. "Then they threw us in prison. And now they want us to sneak out quietly? Certainly not. They need to come here in person and escort us out." 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 The officers told the judges what Paul and Silas said. The judges panicked when they found out they were Roman citizens. And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
39 The judges came in person and said they were sorry. They walked Paul and Silas out of the prison. Then they asked them politely to leave the city. And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
40 After leaving the prison, Paul and Silas went to Lydia's house. They spent time with the believers there, encouraged them, and then moved on. 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.