Timothy Joins Paul and Silas
Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father. 2Ti 1:51Co 4:171Th 3:21Ti 1:22Ti 1:2Act 17:14Act 18:52Th 1:1 The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 1Ti 5:102Ti 3:151Ti 3:72Ti 3:11Act 13:51Act 14:21Act 16:40Act 6:3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, so he took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. Gal 2:31Co 9:20Gal 5:6Gal 5:1-31Co 7:19Act 15:20Act 15:40Gal 2:8
As they went from town to town, they delivered the decisions handed down by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. Act 15:28-29Act 15:2Act 11:30Act 15:6 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers. Act 9:31Act 2:47Act 6:71Pe 5:10Act 15:41Eph 4:13-161Co 15:58Act 12:24
Paul’s Vision of the Macedonian
After the Holy Spirit had prevented them from speaking the word in the province of Asia, 1 they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia. Act 18:23Act 16:7Act 11:12Act 13:2-4Gal 1:21Pe 1:12Ti 4:10Act 19:10 And when they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them. Gal 4:6Php 1:19Act 8:29Rom 8:91Pe 1:11Pe 1:11 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 2Co 2:122Ti 4:13Act 16:11Act 20:5
During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Act 18:5Act 19:21Act 9:10-12Act 18:9-10Act 20:1Rom 10:14-15Rom 15:261Th 1:7-8 As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. 2Co 2:12-13Act 14:7Act 10:29Act 16:10-17Act 20:13-15Act 20:5-8Act 21:1-18Act 26:13
Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi
(Revelation 2:18–29)
We sailed from Troas straight to Samothrace, and the following day on to Neapolis. Act 21:1Act 16:8 From there we went to the Roman colony of Philippi, the leading city of that district of Macedonia. 2 And we stayed there several days. 1Th 2:2Php 1:1Act 20:6Act 16:21Act 16:9
On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river, where it was customary to find a place of prayer. After sitting down, we spoke to the women who had gathered there. Act 13:14Act 18:4Act 21:5Col 1:23Act 13:42Act 16:6Act 17:2Act 20:7
Among those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. Luk 24:45Eph 1:17-18Isa 50:5Jhn 6:44-45Rev 3:202Co 3:14-162Co 4:4-6Rom 9:16 And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us. Act 11:14Heb 13:2Act 16:33Gen 19:3Luk 24:291Co 1:13-161Pe 5:123Jn 1:5
Paul and Silas Imprisoned
One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, 3 who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. Lev 19:31Deu 18:9-11Isa 8:191Ch 10:131Sa 28:71Ti 6:10Gal 5:20Act 16:18 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!” Jhn 14:61Pe 2:16Mrk 5:7Dan 6:20Dan 3:26Dan 3:28Jon 1:9Luk 1:79
She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment. Mrk 16:17Luk 10:17-19Act 19:12-17Act 3:6Act 9:34Mrk 1:34Mrk 9:25-26Col 2:15
When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace. Act 17:6Act 21:302Co 6:5Act 16:16Act 18:12-13Act 8:3Act 14:19Act 14:5 They brought them to the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews and are throwing our city into turmoil Jas 4:4Act 28:22Jhn 15:18-20Rom 12:21Ki 18:17-18Act 17:6-8Act 18:2Act 19:34 by promoting customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.” Est 3:8Act 16:12Act 26:3Jer 10:3
The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered that they be stripped and beaten with rods. 1Th 2:22Co 6:52Co 11:23-25Act 22:22-26Heb 11:361Pe 2:24Act 16:37Act 17:5 And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely. Rev 2:102Ti 2:91Sa 23:22-23Mat 27:63-66Act 12:18Act 12:4Act 16:27Act 16:36 On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. Job 13:27Job 33:11Jer 29:26Jer 38:261Ki 22:272Ch 16:10Jer 20:2-3Jer 37:15-16
The Conversion of the Jailer
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 1Th 5:16-18Psa 119:62Jas 1:2Rom 5:31Pe 1:6-8Php 4:4-7Psa 77:6Heb 5:7 Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose. Act 4:31Act 5:19Act 12:10Act 12:7Psa 146:7Mat 28:2Isa 42:7Psa 102:20
When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, presuming that the prisoners had escaped. Act 12:191Ki 16:181Sa 31:4-52Sa 17:23Jdg 9:54Mat 27:5Act 16:23-24 But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself! We are all here!” 1Th 5:15Luk 23:34Luk 6:27-28Ecc 7:17Exo 20:13Luk 10:32-37Mat 5:44Lev 19:18
Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. Rev 3:9Dan 6:26Jer 10:10Act 24:25Act 9:5-6Isa 60:14Isa 66:2Isa 66:5 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Act 2:37Jhn 6:27-29Act 22:10Luk 3:10Act 14:15Isa 58:9Jas 2:13Mat 3:8
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.” Jhn 1:12Jhn 3:36Act 2:38-39Rom 10:9-10Act 11:13-14Mrk 16:16Gal 3:26Isa 45:22 Then Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house. Col 1:27-28Rom 1:161Th 2:81Ti 1:13-16Act 10:33-43Eph 3:8Mrk 16:15Rom 1:14 At that hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed their wounds. And without delay, he and all his household were baptized. 1Co 1:16Act 16:15Act 16:25Luk 10:33-34Act 16:23Gal 5:13Gal 5:6Isa 11:6-9 Then he brought them into his home and set a meal before them. So he and all his household rejoiced that they had come to believe in God. Rom 15:13Act 2:46Act 11:14Act 8:39Isa 12:1-3Isa 55:12Isa 58:7-11Isa 61:10
An Official Apology
When daylight came, the magistrates sent their officers with the order: “Release those men.” Act 5:40Act 4:21Jer 5:22Psa 76:10
The jailer informed Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders to release you. Now you may go on your way in peace.” Act 15:33Jhn 14:271Sa 1:171Sa 20:421Sa 25:351Sa 29:72Ki 5:19Act 16:27
But Paul said to the officers, “They beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison, even though we are Roman citizens. And now do they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! Let them come themselves and escort us out!” Act 22:25-29Act 16:20-24Dan 3:25-26Mat 10:16Pro 28:1Psa 58:1-2Psa 94:20Dan 6:18-19
So the officers relayed this message to the magistrates, who were alarmed to hear that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. Act 22:29Mat 14:5Mat 21:46 They came to appease them and led them out, requesting that they leave the city. Mat 8:34Dan 6:23Mrk 5:17Dan 6:16Exo 11:8Isa 45:14Isa 49:23Isa 60:14 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house to see the brothers and encourage them. Then they left the city. 1Th 3:2-3Act 14:22Act 16:142Co 1:3-72Co 4:16-182Co 4:8-12Act 12:12-17Act 4:23