Apostelgeschichte 16 | Nueva Biblia Viva

Timoteo se une a Pablo y a Silas

1 Pablo 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. 2 Como Timoteo tenía buen testimonio de los hermanos de Listra e Iconio, 3 Pablo 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. 4 Y de ciudad en ciudad fueron comunicando la decisión que habían tomado los apóstoles y los ancianos en Jerusalén. 5 De esta forma, las iglesias se afianzaban en la fe y crecían en número todos los días.

La visión de Pablo del hombre macedonio

6 Luego atravesaron Frigia y Galacia, porque el Espíritu Santo les prohibió predicar en la provincia de Asia. 7 Luego llegaron a Misia y quisieron ir hasta la provincia de Bitinia; pero el Espíritu les ordenó que no lo hicieran. 8 En vista de esto, atravesaron la provincia de Misia y llegaron a Troas. 9 Aquella noche, Pablo tuvo una visión. En el sueño vio a un varón de Macedonia que le suplicaba: «Ven y ayúdanos». 10 Inmediatamente nos fuimos a Macedonia, seguros de que Dios nos estaba llamando allá a predicar las buenas noticias.

Conversión de Lidia en Filipos

11 En Troas tomamos un barco y navegamos hacia Samotracia, y de allí, el siguiente día, a Neápolis. 12 Por último, llegamos a Filipos, colonia romana situada en Macedonia, y nos quedamos allí varios días. 13 El 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. 14 Una 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. 15 Entonces 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

16 Un 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. 17 La joven empezó a seguirnos. ―¡Estos hombres son siervos de Dios que han venido a enseñarles el camino de salvación! —gritaba a nuestras espaldas. 18 Esto 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. 19 A 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 ―Estos judíos están corrompiendo nuestra ciudad —dijeron—. Están enseñándole al pueblo costumbres contrarias a las romanas. 22 El pueblo se alzó entonces contra Pablo y Silas, y los jueces ordenaron que los desvistieran y azotaran con varas. 23 Así 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. 24 El carcelero, entonces, además de encerrarlos en el calabozo de más adentro, les aprisionó los pies en el cepo. 25 Era ya media noche. Pablo y Silas todavía estaban orando y cantando himnos al Señor. Los demás prisioneros escuchaban. 26 De pronto, un gran terremoto sacudió los cimientos de la cárcel y las puertas se abrieron y las cadenas de todos los presos se soltaron. 27 El 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! 29 Temblando 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. 32 Entonces le contaron delante de sus familiares las buenas noticias del Señor. 33 Y en aquella misma hora, el carcelero les lavó las heridas y se bautizó junto con los demás miembros de su familia. 34 Después prepararon un banquete y el carcelero rebosaba de gozo, al igual que sus familiares, porque ya todos creían en Dios. 35 A la siguiente mañana se presentaron ante el carcelero varios alguaciles: ―Dicen los magistrados que sueltes a esos hombres —le ordenaron. 36 El carcelero corrió a notificarle a Pablo que estaba en libertad. 37 Pero 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! 38 Los alguaciles transmitieron a los magistrados estas palabras y estos, muertos de miedo al enterarse de que Pablo y Silas eran ciudadanos romanos, 39 corrieron a la cárcel a suplicarles que salieran y abandonaran la ciudad. 40 Pablo y Silas entonces regresaron a casa de Lidia y allí volvieron a reunirse con los creyentes para consolarlos una vez más antes de partir.

English Standard Version

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

1 Paul* 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 brothers* at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul 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. 4 As 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. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.

The Macedonian Call

6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And 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.” 10 And when Paul* had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

The Conversion of Lydia

11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the* district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And 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. 14 One 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. 15 And 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.

Paul and Silas in Prison

16 As 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. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 And 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. 19 But 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. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

The Philippian Jailer Converted

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and 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. 27 When 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. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer* called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then 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. 35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37 But 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.” 38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

Apostelgeschichte 16 | Nueva Biblia Viva English Standard Version