1Paul[1] 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. (Ac 17:14; Ac 18:5; Ac 19:22; Ac 20:4; Ro 16:21; 1Co 4:17; Php 2:19; Col 1:1; 1Th 3:2; 2Th 1:1; 1Ti 1:2; 1Ti 1:18; 2Ti 1:2; 2Ti 1:5; 2Ti 3:15)2He was well spoken of by the brothers[2] at Lystra and Iconium. (Joh 21:23)3Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. (Ga 2:3)4As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. (Ac 15:2; Ac 15:28; Ac 17:7)5So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. (Ac 2:47; Ac 6:7; Ac 9:31)
The Macedonian Call
6And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. (Ac 18:23; Ga 4:13)7And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. (Ac 8:29; Ac 16:6; Ro 8:9; Ga 4:6; Php 1:19; 1Pe 1:11)8So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. (Ac 20:5; 2Co 2:12; 2Ti 4:13)9And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”10And when Paul[3] had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (Ac 16:11; Ac 20:5; Ac 20:13; Ac 21:1; Ac 27:1)
The Conversion of Lydia
11So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, (Ac 21:1)12and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the[4] district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. (Ac 16:21; Php 1:1; 1Th 2:2)13And 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 spoke to the women who had come together. (Ezr 8:15; Ezr 8:21; Ps 137:1; Mt 5:1; Ac 13:14)14One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. (Lu 24:45; Ac 18:7)15And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. (Ge 19:3; Lu 24:29; Ac 11:14)
Paul and Silas in Prison
16As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. (Le 19:31; Lu 13:11; Ac 16:13; Ac 16:19)17She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” (Da 3:26; Mt 7:14; Mr 5:7; Ac 9:2; Jas 2:19)18And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. (Mt 17:18; Mr 1:25; Mr 1:34; Mr 9:38)19But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. (Mt 10:18; Ac 8:3; Ac 16:16; Ac 17:6; Ac 18:12; Ac 19:25; Ac 21:30; Jas 2:6)20And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city.21They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” (Es 3:8; Ac 16:12)22The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. (2Co 6:5; 2Co 11:23; 1Th 2:2)23And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.24Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. (Job 13:27; Job 33:11; Jer 20:2; Jer 29:26; Lu 21:12)
The Philippian Jailer Converted
25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, (Job 35:10; Ps 42:8; Ps 77:6; Ps 119:62)26and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. (Ac 4:31; Ac 5:19; Ac 12:7; Ac 12:10)27When 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. (1Ki 20:39; Ac 12:19; Ac 27:42)28But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”29And the jailer[5] called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. (Ac 10:25)30Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Lu 3:10; Lu 3:12; Lu 3:14; Joh 6:28; Ac 2:37; Ac 16:17; Ac 22:10)31And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Mr 16:16; Ac 11:14)32And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.33And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. (Ac 8:12; Ac 16:25)34Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. (Ps 9:14; Ps 13:5; Isa 25:9; Lu 1:47; Ac 2:46; 1Pe 1:6; 1Pe 1:8)35But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.”36And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.”37But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” (Ac 22:25; Ac 22:29)38The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. (Ac 16:37)39So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. (Mt 8:34)40So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed. (Joh 21:23; Ac 16:14)
1Bajó también a Derbe y a Listra, y he aquí, había allí cierto discípulo de nombre Timoteo (hijo de una mujer judía creyente, y de padre griego),2del cual hablaban favorablemente los hermanos en Listra e Iconio.3Quiso Pablo que éste saliera con él; y tomándolo, lo circuncidó por causa de los judíos que estaban en aquellos lugares; porque todos sabían que su padre era griego.4Y cuando pasaban por las ciudades, les entregaban los acuerdos determinados por los apóstoles y los ancianos de Jerusalem para que los observaran.5Así pues las iglesias eran fortalecidas en la fe, y crecían en número cada día.6Y viajaron a través de la región de Frigia y Galacia, pues el Espíritu Santo les impidió hablar la palabra en Asia.7Y yendo a Misia, intentaban ir a Bitinia, pero el Espíritu de Jesús no se lo permitió.8Entonces, atravesando Misia, bajaron a Troas.
La visión en Troas
9Y se mostró a Pablo una visión de noche: Cierto varón macedonio estaba en pie y le rogaba, diciendo: ¡Pasa a Macedonia y ayúdanos!10Tan pronto como tuvo la visión, enseguida procuramos partir para Macedonia, persuadidos de que Dios nos había llamado para proclamarles el evangelio.
El evangelio en Europa
11Dándonos a la vela desde Troas, navegamos directamente a Samotracia, y al día siguiente llegamos a Neápolis;12y de allí a Filipos, primera ciudad de la provincia de Macedonia y una colonia. Y en esta ciudad pasamos algunos días.13Y en el día del sábado salimos fuera de la puerta, junto al río, donde suponíamos que había un lugar de oración; y sentándonos, hablábamos a las mujeres que se habían reunido.14Y estaba escuchando cierta mujer de nombre Lidia, de la ciudad de Tiatira, negociante en telas de púrpura, temerosa de Dios. Y el Señor le abrió el corazón para que estuviera atenta a lo que decía Pablo.15Y cuando fue bautizada con su familia, nos rogó, diciendo: Si consideráis que soy fiel al Señor, entrad a posar en mi casa. Y nos constriñó.
Pablo y Silas encarcelados
16Aconteció que yendo nosotros al lugar de oración, nos salió al encuentro una muchacha que tenía espíritu de adivinación, la cual daba gran ganancia a sus amos adivinando.17Ésta seguía a Pablo y a nosotros, gritando: Estos hombres son siervos del Dios Altísimo, quienes os anuncian un camino de salvación.18Y esto hacía por muchos días, hasta que Pablo se disgustó, y volviéndose dijo al espíritu: ¡En nombre de Jesucristo te ordeno que salgas de ella! Y al momento salió de ella.19Pero sus amos, al ver que había salido la esperanza de su ganancia, prendieron a Pablo y a Silas, y los arrastraron hasta la plaza pública ante las autoridades,20y presentándolos a los magistrados, dijeron: Estos hombres, siendo judíos, alborotan nuestra ciudad,21y proclaman costumbres que a nosotros no nos es lícito aceptar ni practicar, siendo romanos.22Y el pueblo se agolpó contra ellos, y los magistrados, rasgándoles los mantos, mandaron que los azotaran con varas.
El carcelero de Filipos
23Después de propinarles muchos azotes, los echaron en la cárcel, ordenando al carcelero que los custodiara con seguridad.24Al recibir esta orden, él los echó en el calabozo interior y les aseguró los pies en el cepo.25Pero hacia la medianoche, Pablo y Silas estaban orando y cantando himnos a Dios, y los presos escuchaban.26Repentinamente hubo un gran terremoto, hasta tal punto que fueron sacudidos los cimientos de la cárcel, y al instante todas las puertas fueron abiertas, y las cadenas de todos fueron soltadas.27Despertando entonces el carcelero, al ver abiertas las puertas de la cárcel, y suponiendo que los presos se habían escapado, sacó la espada y estaba a punto de suicidarse.28Pero Pablo le dijo a gran voz: ¡No te hagas ningún mal, que todos estamos aquí!29Pidió entonces una luz y corrió adentro, y lleno de temor, se postró ante Pablo y Silas,30y conduciéndolos afuera, les dijo: Señores, ¿qué tengo que hacer para ser salvo?31Contestaron ellos: Cree en el Señor Jesús, y serás salvo, tú y tu casa.32Y le hablaron la palabra del Señor, con todos los que estaban en su casa.33Y tomándolos en aquella hora de la noche, les lavó las heridas, y al instante fue bautizado él y todos los suyos;34y los hizo subir a la casa, les puso la mesa, y se regocijó grandemente con toda su casa de haber creído a Dios.35Cuando se hizo de día, los magistrados enviaron a los alguaciles, diciendo: Suelta a aquellos hombres.36Y el carcelero le comunicó a Pablo el mensaje: Los magistrados han enviado para que seáis soltados. Así que salid ahora y marchaos en paz.37Pero Pablo les dijo: Luego de azotarnos públicamente sin sentencia previa, a pesar de ser ciudadanos romanos, y echarnos en prisión, ¿ahora quieren sacarnos encubiertamente? ¡Pues no! ¡Que vengan ellos mismos a sacarnos!38Así que los alguaciles refirieron a los magistrados estas palabras; y al oír que eran romanos, tuvieron temor.39Entonces fueron y les suplicaron; y sacándolos, les solicitaban que se fueran de la ciudad.40Ellos entonces, saliendo de la cárcel, entraron en casa de Lidia; y cuando vieron a los hermanos, los consolaron y salieron.