1Paulo e Silas foram primeiro a Derbe e depois a Listra, onde encontraram Timóteo, um discípulo que era filho de mãe judaica cristã e de pai grego.2Timóteo era muito considerado pelos irmãos em Listra e Icónio;3pelo que Paulo lhe pediu que se juntasse a eles na viagem. Atendendo aos judeus daquela região, circuncidou Timóteo antes da partida, pois toda a gente sabia que o pai dele era grego.4Depois, indo de cidade em cidade, tornaram conhecida a decisão relativa aos gentios dada pelos apóstolos e anciãos em Jerusalém.5E assim as igrejas cresciam diariamente em fé e em número.
A visão de Paulo do homem da Macedónia
6Seguidamente Paulo e Silas percorreram a Frígia e a Galácia, pois o Espírito Santo impedira-os de ir à província da Ásia naquela altura.7Chegando à fronteira da Mísia, encaminharam-se para a província da Bitínia, mas uma vez mais o Espírito de Jesus os impediu.8Em alternativa, prosseguiram viagem através da província da Mísia até à cidade de Tróade.9Naquela noite Paulo teve uma visão. Viu um homem da Macedónia, que lhe pedia: “Vem à Macedónia, vem ajudar-nos!”10Depois de ter esta visão, logo procurámos seguir para a Macedónia, concluindo que era Deus quem nos enviara a pregar ali o evangelho.11Embarcámos em Tróade, atravessámos para a Samotrácia e, no dia seguinte, para Neápolis.12Chegámos finalmente a Filipos, colónia romana e capital do distrito da Macedónia. Ficámos ali vários dias.
A conversão de Lídia em Filipos
13No sábado, saímos da cidade para a beira do rio, onde julgávamos que algumas pessoas se reuniriam para oração. Encontrámos ali algumas mulheres e fomos falar-lhes.14Uma delas era Lídia, vendedora de púrpura, natural de Tiatira. Ela já adorava a Deus e, enquanto nos ouvia, o Senhor abriu-lhe o coração e aceitou tudo o que Paulo dizia.15Foi batizada com todos os seus familiares e pediu-nos que fôssemos seus hóspedes: “Se acham que sou fiel ao Senhor, venham e fiquem na minha casa!” E tanto teimou que acabámos por aceitar.
Paulo e Silas na prisão
16Certo dia, indo nós a caminho do local de oração junto ao rio, encontrámos uma rapariga escrava, possuída por demónios, e que ganhava muito dinheiro para os seus senhores prevendo o futuro.17Pôs-se então a seguir-nos e a gritar: “Estes homens são servos do Deus altíssimo e vieram ensinar-nos o caminho da salvação!”18Isto repetiu-se dia após dia, até que Paulo, bastante perturbado com o caso, se voltou e falou ao demónio que estava dentro dela: “Ordeno-te, em nome de Jesus Cristo, que saias do seu corpo!” E imediatamente assim foi.19Destruídas as suas esperanças de fazer fortuna, os senhores desta escrava agarraram em Paulo e Silas e levaram-nos à praça pública, à presença dos líderes.20“Estes judeus andam a corromper a cidade!”, gritavam.21“Andam a ensinar ao povo a fazer coisas contrárias às leis romanas.”22Depressa se formou uma multidão ameaçadora contra Paulo e Silas. E os juízes mandaram que os despissem e açoitassem. Repetidas vezes as varas caíram sobre as suas costas nuas;23depois meteram-nos na cadeia e o carcereiro recebeu ordem para os guardar com toda a segurança.24Por isso, meteu-os numa cela interior e prendeu-lhes os pés ao tronco de madeira.25Cerca da meia-noite, quando Paulo e Silas oravam e cantavam hinos ao Senhor, escutados pelos outros presos,26deu-se de súbito um grande terramoto; a prisão foi abalada até aos alicerces, as portas abriram-se e as cadeias de todos os presos cairam!27O carcereiro acordou, viu as portas da prisão abertas e, julgando que os presos tinham escapado, puxou da espada para pôr fim à vida.28Mas Paulo gritou-lhe: “Não faças isso! Estamos todos aqui!”29Tremendo de terror, o carcereiro mandou vir luzes e, correndo à cela, prostrou-se no chão diante de Paulo e Silas.30Trazendo-os para fora, perguntou-lhes: “Meus senhores, que devo fazer para ser salvo?”31Eles responderam: “Crê no Senhor Jesus e serás salvo, tu e a tua casa.”32Anunciaram-lhe então, a ele e a todos os seus familiares, as boas novas do Senhor.33Naquela mesma hora, o carcereiro lavou-lhes os ferimentos e, com toda a sua família, foi batizado.34Depois, levando-os à casa onde morava, serviu-lhes uma refeição. Tanto ele como os seus estavam cheios de alegria por serem agora todos crentes em Deus!35Na manhã seguinte, os juízes mandaram guardas dizer ao carcereiro: “Ponham esses homens em liberdade!”36O carcereiro disse a Paulo: “Podem sair quando quiserem! Vão em paz!”37Mas Paulo respondeu: “Não! Castigaram-nos publicamente, sem julgamento, encarceraram-nos, a nós que somos cidadãos romanos, e agora querem que saiamos em segredo? Que venham eles mesmos soltar-nos!”38Os guardas levaram a resposta aos juízes que ficaram receosos ao saberem que Paulo e Silas eram cidadãos romanos.39Dirigiram-se então à prisão e pediram-lhes desculpas. Puseram-nos fora, rogando-lhes que abandonassem a cidade.40Paulo e Silas voltaram a casa de Lídia, onde se encontraram com os crentes e os encorajaram uma vez mais antes de deixarem a cidade.
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. (At 17:14; At 18:5; At 19:22; At 20:4; Rm 16:21; 1 Co 4:17; Fp 2:19; Cl 1:1; 1 Ts 3:2; 2 Ts 1:1; 1 Tm 1:2; 1 Tm 1:18; 2 Tm 1:2; 2 Tm 1:5; 2 Tm 3:15)2He was well spoken of by the brothers[2] at Lystra and Iconium. (Jo 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. (At 15:2; At 15:28; At 17:7)5So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. (At 2:47; At 6:7; At 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. (At 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. (At 8:29; At 16:6; Rm 8:9; Gl 4:6; Fp 1:19; 1 Pe 1:11)8So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. (At 20:5; 2 Co 2:12; 2 Tm 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. (At 16:11; At 20:5; At 20:13; At 21:1; At 27:1)
The Conversion of Lydia
11So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, (At 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. (At 16:21; Fp 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. (Ed 8:15; Ed 8:21; Sl 137:1; Mt 5:1; At 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; At 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; At 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; At 16:13; At 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; Mc 5:7; At 9:2; Tg 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; Mc 1:25; Mc 1:34; Mc 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; At 8:3; At 16:16; At 17:6; At 18:12; At 19:25; At 21:30; Tg 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.” (Et 3:8; At 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. (Jó 13:27; Jó 33:11; Jr 20:2; Jr 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, (Jó 35:10; Sl 42:8; Sl 77:6; Sl 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. (At 4:31; At 5:19; At 12:7; At 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 Rs 20:39; At 12:19; At 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. (At 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; Jo 6:28; At 2:37; At 16:17; At 22:10)31And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Mc 16:16; At 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. (At 8:12; At 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. (Sl 9:14; Sl 13:5; Is 25:9; Lc 1:47; At 2:46; 1 Pe 1:6; 1 Pe 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.” (At 22:25; At 22:29)38The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. (At 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. (Jo 21:23; At 16:14)