MODERN LITERAL VERSION

16:1 And he arrived in Derbe and Lystra, and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewess who believed, but his father was a Greek.
16:2 He was being testified of by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium.
16:3 This one, Paul wished to go forth with him, and he took Timothy and circumcised him because of the Jews who were* in those places; for* they all knew that his father was Greek.
16:4 And as they traveled through the cities, they gave them the decrees, to keep what had been decided by the apostles and the elders who were in Jerusalem.
16:5 Therefore indeed, the congregations* were strengthened in the faith, and abounded in number daily.

16:6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;
16:7 and when they had come to Mysia, they attempted to go to Bithyna, and the Spirit did not permit them;
16:8 and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
16:9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a certain man, a Macedonian, standing, pleading with him and saying, Cross over into Macedonia and help us.
16:10 And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to proclaim the good-news to them.
{Examples of those who were saved in the New Testament: Acts 2:14-42; 8:5-13; 8:30-39; 9:17-18, 22:6-16, 26:12-18; 10:34-48; 16:13-15; 16:25-34; 18:8; 19:1-7.}

16:11 Therefore setting-sail from Troas, we made a straight route to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis;
16:12 and from there to Philippi, which is the first city of that part of Macedonia, a Roman colony. And we were staying in this city for some days.
16:13 And on the Sabbath day, we went forth outside the city by a river side, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.
16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia heard us, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, whose heart the Lord opened to take-heed to the things which were spoken by Paul.
16:15 And when she and her household were immersed*, she pleaded with us, saying, If you* have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide there. And she constrained us.
{52 AD. Philippi.}

16:16 And it happened, as we were going to the place of prayer, that a certain maidservant met us, having a spirit of divination, who provided her lords much business by fortune-telling.
16:17 This maidservant cried out, following after Paul and us, saying, These men are bondservants of the Highest God, who are proclaiming to us the way of salvation.
16:18 And she did this for many days. But Paul, being pained, 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 same hour.

16:19 But when her lords saw that the hope of their business was gone, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
16:20 When they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, These men, being* Jews, are disturbing our city,
16:21 and are proclaiming customs which it is not legal for us to accept, or to do, being Romans.
16:22 And the crowd stood up together against them, and the magistrates ripped their garments off of them, and commanded the sergeants to lash them with rods.
16:23 And when they had laid many lashes upon them, they cast them into prison, commanding the jailor to securely guard them.
16:24 Having received such a command, he cast them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the wood stocks.
{Examples of those who were saved in the New Testament: Acts 2:14-42; 8:5-13; 8:30-39; 9:17-18, 22:6-16, 26:12-18; 10:34-48; 16:13-15; 16:25-34; 18:8; 19:1-7.}

16:25 But toward midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the prisoners were the audience for them;
16:26 and suddenly there became a great earthquake, so-that the foundations of the prison were shaken and instantly all the doors were opened and everyone's bonds were lax.
16:27 And the jailor, having come* out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to assassinate himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
16:28 But Paul shouted with a loud voice, saying, Do nothing evil to yourself; for* we are all here.

16:29 And he asked for lights and dashed in and became trembling, fell down before Paul and Silas,
16:30 and brought them out and said, Lords, what is essential for me to do in order that I might be saved?

16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your house.
16:32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him, with all who were in his house.
16:33 And having taken them in that same hour of the night, he bathed their lashes, and was instantly immersed*, he and all his household.
16:34 And he brought them up into his house and laid a table for them and was glad, with all his household, having believed in God.

16:35 But when it became day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, Release those men.

16:36 And the jailor reported these words to Paul, saying, The magistrates have sent me that* you* should be released. Therefore come forth now and go in peace.

16:37 But Paul said to them, They have whipped us in public, uncondemned men who are* Romans and have cast us into prison, and are they now casting us out secretly? No, but let them come themselves and let them lead us out.

16:38 And the sergeants reported these words to the magistrates and they feared when they heard that they were Romans;
16:39 and they came and pleaded with them, and when they had led them out, they asked them to go away from the city.

16:40 And they came out of the prison and entered into the house of Lydia and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and went out.
{52 AD. Thessalonica, Berea. Preaching in Macedonia.}