1Pablo y Silas fueron primero a Derbe y luego a Listra, donde conocieron a un creyente llamado Timoteo, hijo de una judía creyente, pero de padre griego.2Como Timoteo tenía buen testimonio de los hermanos de Listra e Iconio,3Pablo le pidió que fuera con él. Y como todos los judíos de esa región sabían que no estaba circuncidado, porque su padre era griego, Pablo lo circuncidó.4Y de ciudad en ciudad fueron comunicando la decisión que habían tomado los apóstoles y los ancianos en Jerusalén.5De esta forma, las iglesias se afianzaban en la fe y crecían en número todos los días.
La visión de Pablo del hombre macedonio
6Luego atravesaron Frigia y Galacia, porque el Espíritu Santo les prohibió predicar en la provincia de Asia.7Luego llegaron a Misia y quisieron ir hasta la provincia de Bitinia; pero el Espíritu les ordenó que no lo hicieran.8En vista de esto, atravesaron la provincia de Misia y llegaron a Troas.9Aquella noche, Pablo tuvo una visión. En el sueño vio a un varón de Macedonia que le suplicaba: «Ven y ayúdanos».10Inmediatamente nos fuimos a Macedonia, seguros de que Dios nos estaba llamando allá a predicar las buenas noticias.
Conversión de Lidia en Filipos
11En Troas tomamos un barco y navegamos hacia Samotracia, y de allí, el siguiente día, a Neápolis.12Por último, llegamos a Filipos, colonia romana situada en Macedonia, y nos quedamos allí varios días.13El día de reposo fuimos a la orilla del río que está fuera de la puerta, donde se reunían para orar. Nos sentamos y hablamos con las mujeres que habían llegado.14Una de ellas, que se llamaba Lidia, era vendedora de púrpura en Tiatira, y ya desde antes adoraba a Dios. Mientras Lidia escuchaba, el Señor le abrió el corazón para que estuviera atenta a lo que Pablo decía.15Entonces la bautizamos junto con los demás miembros de su familia. ―Si ustedes creen que soy fiel al Señor —nos dijo ella—, vengan a hospedarse a mi casa. Su insistencia fue tal que aceptamos.
Pablo y Silas en la cárcel
16Un día en que nos dirigíamos a orar, nos salió al encuentro una joven esclava endemoniada que tenía la facultad de adivinar. Con sus adivinaciones, les proporcionaba jugosas ganancias a sus amos.17La joven empezó a seguirnos. ―¡Estos hombres son siervos de Dios que han venido a enseñarles el camino de salvación! —gritaba a nuestras espaldas.18Esto lo hizo por varios días hasta que Pablo, muy molesto, se volvió y le dijo al demonio que estaba en la joven: ―Te ordeno en el nombre de Jesucristo que salgas de esta joven. E instantáneamente el demonio obedeció.19A causa de esto, se desvanecieron las esperanzas de riqueza de los dueños de la esclava, por lo que tomaron a Pablo y lo llevaron ante los magistrados de la plaza pública.20-21―Estos judíos están corrompiendo nuestra ciudad —dijeron—. Están enseñándole al pueblo costumbres contrarias a las romanas.22El pueblo se alzó entonces contra Pablo y Silas, y los jueces ordenaron que los desvistieran y azotaran con varas.23Así se hizo, y los azotaron repetidas veces. Al terminar, los arrojaron en una prisión y le advirtieron al carcelero que los cuidara con suma seguridad.24El carcelero, entonces, además de encerrarlos en el calabozo de más adentro, les aprisionó los pies en el cepo.25Era ya media noche. Pablo y Silas todavía estaban orando y cantando himnos al Señor. Los demás prisioneros escuchaban.26De pronto, un gran terremoto sacudió los cimientos de la cárcel y las puertas se abrieron y las cadenas de todos los presos se soltaron.27El carcelero, al despertar y al ver las puertas abiertas, creyó que los prisioneros habían escapado y sacó la espada para matarse.28―¡No te hagas ningún daño! —le gritó Pablo—. ¡Todos estamos aquí!29Temblando de miedo, el carcelero ordenó que trajeran luz, corrió al calabozo y se puso de rodillas ante Pablo y Silas.30―Señores, ¿qué tengo que hacer para salvarme? —les preguntó suplicante, después de sacarlos de allí.31―Cree en el Señor Jesucristo y serán salvos tú y tu familia —le respondieron.32Entonces le contaron delante de sus familiares las buenas noticias del Señor.33Y en aquella misma hora, el carcelero les lavó las heridas y se bautizó junto con los demás miembros de su familia.34Después prepararon un banquete y el carcelero rebosaba de gozo, al igual que sus familiares, porque ya todos creían en Dios.35A la siguiente mañana se presentaron ante el carcelero varios alguaciles: ―Dicen los magistrados que sueltes a esos hombres —le ordenaron.36El carcelero corrió a notificarle a Pablo que estaba en libertad.37Pero este le respondió: ―¡Ah, no! ¡Así que a pesar de que somos ciudadanos romanos nos azotan públicamente sin someternos a juicio, nos encarcelan y ahora quieren ponernos en libertad secretamente! ¡No, señor! ¡Qué vengan ellos mismos a sacarnos!38Los alguaciles transmitieron a los magistrados estas palabras y estos, muertos de miedo al enterarse de que Pablo y Silas eran ciudadanos romanos,39corrieron a la cárcel a suplicarles que salieran y abandonaran la ciudad.40Pablo y Silas entonces regresaron a casa de Lidia y allí volvieron a reunirse con los creyentes para consolarlos una vez más antes de partir.
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. (Hch 17:14; Hch 18:5; Hch 19:22; Hch 20:4; Ro 16:21; 1 Co 4:17; Flp 2:19; Col 1:1; 1 Ts 3:2; 2 Ts 1:1; 1 Ti 1:2; 1 Ti 1:18; 2 Ti 1:2; 2 Ti 1:5; 2 Ti 3:15)2He was well spoken of by the brothers[2] at Lystra and Iconium. (Jn 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. (Gl 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. (Hch 15:2; Hch 15:28; Hch 17:7)5So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. (Hch 2:47; Hch 6:7; Hch 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. (Hch 18:23; Gl 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. (Hch 8:29; Hch 16:6; Ro 8:9; Gl 4:6; Flp 1:19; 1 P 1:11)8So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. (Hch 20:5; 2 Co 2:12; 2 Ti 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. (Hch 16:11; Hch 20:5; Hch 20:13; Hch 21:1; Hch 27:1)
The Conversion of Lydia
11So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, (Hch 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. (Hch 16:21; Flp 1:1; 1 Ts 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. (Esd 8:15; Esd 8:21; Sal 137:1; Mt 5:1; Hch 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. (Lc 24:45; Hch 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. (Gn 19:3; Lc 24:29; Hch 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. (Lv 19:31; Lc 13:11; Hch 16:13; Hch 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.” (Dn 3:26; Mt 7:14; Mr 5:7; Hch 9:2; Stg 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; Hch 8:3; Hch 16:16; Hch 17:6; Hch 18:12; Hch 19:25; Hch 21:30; Stg 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.” (Est 3:8; Hch 16:12)22The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. (2 Co 6:5; 2 Co 11:23; 1 Ts 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; Lc 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; Sal 42:8; Sal 77:6; Sal 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. (Hch 4:31; Hch 5:19; Hch 12:7; Hch 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. (1 R 20:39; Hch 12:19; Hch 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. (Hch 10:25)30Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Lc 3:10; Lc 3:12; Lc 3:14; Jn 6:28; Hch 2:37; Hch 16:17; Hch 22:10)31And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Mr 16:16; Hch 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. (Hch 8:12; Hch 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. (Sal 9:14; Sal 13:5; Is 25:9; Lc 1:47; Hch 2:46; 1 P 1:6; 1 P 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.” (Hch 22:25; Hch 22:29)38The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. (Hch 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. (Jn 21:23; Hch 16:14)