Acts 16:12-34 (New International Version)
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12
From there we traveled to Philippi,1 a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia.2 And we stayed there several days.
13
On the Sabbath3 we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.
14
One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira,4 who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart5 to respond to Paul's message.
15
When she and the members of her household6 were baptized,7 she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.
Paul and Silas in Prison
16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer,8 we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit9 by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God,10 who are telling you the way to be saved." 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.11 19 When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money12 was gone, they seized Paul and Silas13 and dragged14 them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, "These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar15 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans16 to accept or practice."17 22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten.18 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer19 was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.20 25 About midnight21 Paul and Silas22 were praying and singing hymns23 to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.24 At once all the prison doors flew open,25 and everybody's chains came loose.26 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.27 28 But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself ! We are all here!" 29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.28 30 He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"29 31 They replied, "Believe30 in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved31--you and your household."32 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night33 the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.34 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he35 was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he and his whole family.Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online)
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