Aramaic Peshitta Bible Repository
Lamsa Translation - Acts Chapter 16
1 ¶
THEN he arrived at the city of Derbe and Lystra; there was there a disciple whose name was Timotheus, the son of a Jewess convert, but whose father was an Aramean.2
And all the disciples of Lystra and Iconium gave good testimony concerning him.3
Paul wanted to take this man with him, so he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region; for they all knew that his father was an Aramean.4
And as they went through the cities, they preached and taught the people to obey the decrees which the apostles and elders had written at Jerusalem.5
And so the churches were established in the faith, and increased in number daily.6 ¶
Then they traveled through the countries of Phrygia and Galatia, and the Holy Spirit forbade them to speak the word of God in Asia Minor.7
And when they came to the country of Mysia, they wanted to go from thence to Bithynia; but the spirit of Jesus permitted them not.8
And when they had left Mysia, they came to the country of Troas.9
And, in a vision of the night, there appeared to Paul a man resembling a Macedonian, standing and begging him, saying, Come over to Macedonia and help us.10
And after Paul had seen this vision, we were desirous to leave for Macedonia at once, because we understood that our Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.11
When we sailed from Troas, we came in a direct course to Samothracia, and from thence on the following day, we came to the city Neapolis;12
And from thence to Philippi, which is the capital of Macedonia, and is a colony; and we were in that city on certain holidays.13
And on the sabbath day we went outside the city gate to the river side because a house of prayer was seen there, and when we were seated, we spoke to the women who had gathered there.14
And a certain woman, named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, feared God; her heart was so touched by our Lord that she listened to what Paul said.15
And she was baptized together with her household, and she begged us, saying, If you are sincerely convinced that I believe in our Lord, come and stay in my house; and she urged us strongly.16 ¶
And it came to pass, as we went to the house of prayer, we were met by a young girl who was possessed of a spirit, and who brought her masters great gain by fortunetelling.17
And she followed Paul and us, crying and saying, These men are the servants of the Mot High God, and they preach to you the way of salvation.18
And she did this for many days. So Paul was indignant and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it left her the same hour.19
And when her masters saw that the hope for their business was lost with her power, they seized Paul and Silas and beat them and brought them to the market place.20
And they brought them before the soldiers and the city magistrates and said, These men are Jews, and they create disturbances in our city,21
And they preach customs to us which are not lawful for us to accept and practice, because we are Romans.22
And a large crowd gathered against them. Then the soldiers stripped them of their clothes and gave command to scourge them.23
And when they had flogged them severely, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to watch them carefully.24
He, having received the charge, brought them in and put them into the inner chamber of the prison, and fastened their feet in the stocks.25 ¶
Now at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and glorified God; and the prisoners heard 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 the bands of all were loosed.27
When the keeper of the prison awoke and saw that the prison doors were open, he took a sword and would have killed himself, for he thought the prisoners had escaped.28
But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying to him, Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.29
Then he lighted a lamp and sprang in, trembling, and threw himself at the feet of Paul and Silas.30
And he brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?31
And they said to him, Believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, and both you and your household will be saved.32
And they spoke to him the word of the Lord and to all who were of his household.33
And he took them at that hour of the night and washed their wounds; and then was baptized in that very hour, he and all his household.34
And when he had brought them up into his house, he set food before them; and he and all the members of his household rejoiced, believing in God.35 ¶
In the morning, the soldiers sent the lictors to tell the prison warden to release those men.36
And when the keeper of the prison heard this, he went in and told Paul, saying, The soldiers have sent orders to release you; now therefore depart and go in peace.37
But Paul said to him, Not having committed any offense, they flogged us, Roman citizens, in the presence of the people, and they cast us into prison; and now do they let us out secretly? No verily; let them come themselves and take us out.38
And the lictors went and told the magistrates these words which were told to them; and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were afraid.39
And they came to them and urged them to get out and depart from the city.40
And they went out of the prison and entered into the house of Lydia where they saw the brethren and comforted them, and departed.