1
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. There was a disciple there named Timothy; his mother was a Jewess and had become a believer, while his father was a Greek.

2
This Timothy was well spoken of by the brothers in Lystra and in Iconium,

3
and Paul wanted him to accompany him on the journey. Paul had him circumcised because of the Jews in that region, for everyone knew that his father was a Greek.

4
As they went from city to city, Paul and Silas delivered the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem, with the message that the churches should observe them.

5
So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in number more and more.

6
They passed through the region of Phrygia and the region of Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the gospel in Asia.

7
And when they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.

8
After passing through Mysia, they came to Troas.

9
During the night Paul saw a vision: a man of Macedonia was standing there and calling to him, saying, “Cross over here and help us!”

10
After Paul had seen the vision, we immediately sought an opportunity to set out for Macedonia, because from the vision we concluded that God had called us to preach the gospel to the people there.

11
So we set sail from Troas and went straight to Samothrace, and the next day we came to Neapolis;

12
from there to Philippi, the leading city of that part of Macedonia, a Roman colony. In that city we stayed several days.

13
On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate. We followed the riverbank and found a place of prayer, as we had supposed there would be; after sitting down, we spoke to the women who had gathered there.

14
One of the women named Lydia listened to us. She was a seller of purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart, so that she paid attention to what Paul said.

15
After she was baptized, together with her household, she invited us, saying, “If you judge me to be truly a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she urged us until we agreed.

16
Once, as we were going to that place of prayer, we met a servant girl who had a spirit of divination; by her fortune-telling her masters made a great profit.

17
She followed Paul and us, crying out, saying, “These men are servants of the Most High God. They proclaim to you the way of salvation.”

18
She did this for many days. But when Paul could bear it no longer, he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her.” And at that very moment the spirit came out.

19
When her masters saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities.

20
When they had brought them before the magistrates of the city, they said, “These men are disturbing our city, since they are Jews,

21
and they are teaching customs that we, as Romans, are not permitted to accept or practice.”

22
The crowd also rose up against them. Then the magistrates ordered that their clothes be torn off and that they be beaten.

23
After they had been beaten many times, they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to guard them carefully.

24
In accordance with that order, the jailer put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in strong stocks.

25
But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

26
Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and at once all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were loosed.

27
When the jailer woke from sleep and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, because he thought the prisoners had escaped.

28
But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here!”

29
Then the jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.

30
He brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31
They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

32
Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.

33
At that very hour the jailer took them and washed their wounds. And at once he and his family were baptized.

34
Then he brought them into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced greatly, that he and all his household had believed in God.

35
When day had come, the city officials sent the city officers to the jailer with the message: “Release those two men!”

36
The jailer passed the message on to Paul, saying: “The city officials have sent word to release you; therefore come out now and go in peace!”

37
But Paul said to the men: “Without a trial they have beaten us publicly, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison. And now they want to send us out secretly? Not so! Let them come themselves and bring us out.”

38
The officers reported these words to the city officials. When they heard that Paul and Silas were Romans, they were afraid.

39
They came and apologized, and brought the two apostles out, and begged them to leave the city.

40
Then they left the prison and went to Lydia’s house; and after meeting with the brothers there and encouraging them, the two apostles departed.

📖 Acts 16 – The Gospel Reaches Europe and Power in Suffering

🧾 Summary of Acts 16

This account presents an important part of Paul’s second missionary journey. He met Timothy, received a vision to go to Macedonia (Europe), and planted the first church in Philippi. Paul and Silas were imprisoned after freeing a woman from an evil spirit, yet God used that event to save the jailer and his household.

✨ Explanation of the Content

1. Paul Calls Timothy (verses 1–5)

Paul visited Lystra and Derbe and met Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father.
Timothy was circumcised so that he could serve together with Paul, in order to honor the local Jews.
They continued on their journey and strengthened the churches that had already been established.

2. The Macedonian Call (verses 6–10)

The Holy Spirit prevented them from preaching the word in Asia and Bithynia.
In Troas, Paul received a vision of a Macedonian man pleading for help.
They immediately set out for Macedonia, believing that the Lord had called them to proclaim the Gospel there.

3. Lydia’s Conversion (verses 11–15)

In Philippi, they met Lydia, a woman who sold purple cloth from Thyatira.
The Lord opened her heart to receive the message of the Gospel.
Lydia and her household were baptized, and she invited Paul and Silas to stay at her house.

4. The Fortune-Telling Girl Is Freed, Paul Is Imprisoned (verses 16–24)

Paul and Silas met a female servant who was possessed by a spirit of divination and brought much money to her masters.
Paul finally drove out the spirit, causing her masters to become angry and bring charges against them before the authorities.
Paul and Silas were whipped and imprisoned, and their feet were fastened in stocks.

5. The Earthquake and the Jailer’s Conversion (verses 25–34)

About midnight, Paul and Silas prayed and praised God, and there was a great earthquake that opened the prison doors.
The jailer was about to kill himself because he thought all the prisoners had escaped, but Paul stopped him.
Paul said:

“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (verse 31)

The jailer brought them to his house, cared for their wounds, and his whole household was baptized.

6. Paul Demands Justice (verses 35–40)

When the officials ordered them to be released quietly, Paul refused because they were Roman citizens who had been punished without due process.
The officials became afraid and begged them to leave peacefully.
Before leaving, Paul and Silas strengthened the church at Lydia’s house.

📘 Main Teachings of Acts 16

The Holy Spirit guides ministry specifically, including by preventing certain directions.
The gospel crosses cultural, social, and geographic boundaries—from a wealthy merchant, to a slave girl who foretold fortunes, to a prison warden.
Suffering does not stop praise—Paul and Silas sang in prison!
The Lord uses crisis to save others (such as the prison warden).
Justice and truth need to be upheld, including in social and legal contexts.

✨ Spiritual Meaning of Acts 16

This account teaches that evangelism is not only about strategy, but also about obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
God can use anyone—a businesswoman, a slave girl, or a prison warden—to build the church.
Praise in suffering is the highest form of faith, and it can open the door to miracles.
Salvation is for the whole household, not only for the individual.
In all things, the Lord remains in control over our ministry and our suffering.