Acts:16:11-40

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* So we set sail from Troas and ran a straight course to Samothrace . The next day we arrived in Neapolis , * and thence came to Philippi , a city of Macedonia , the fore most in its district , a Roman colony . There we stayed for some time . * On the Sabbath Day we went outside the city gate , to a riverside , where we supposed there was a place of prayer ; and we sat down and talked to the women who had gathered there . * Among them was a certain woman named Lydia , a seller of purple , who belonged to the town of Thyatira . She , since she was a worshiper of God , listened to us , and the Lord opened her heart to attend to what Paul said . * When she was baptized , and her household , she urged us , saying , "If in your judgment I am a believer in the Lord , come and stay at my house ." And she compelled us to come . * Now as we were going to the place of prayer , a certain slave girl met us , who had a spirit of divination , and who brought her masters great gain by fortune-telling . * She used to follow after Paul and us , crying out again and again , "These men are servants of the most high God , who proclaimed to you the way of salvation ." * She persisted in this for many days , until Paul , worn out , turned round and said to the spirit , "I charge you , in the name of Jesus Christ , to come out of her ." In that very hour it came out of her . * But when her owners saw that their hopes of gain were gone , they seized Paul and Silas , and dragged them before the magistrates , into the market-place . * Then they brought them before the praetors , saying . "These fellows are Jews , who are making a great disturbance in our city . * "They are teaching customs which it is not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or practise ." * The crowd , too , rose up together against them , and the praetors , after having them stripped , and after ordering them to be flogged , * had many lashes inflicted upon them , and put them in prison , with a charge to the jailer to keep them safe . * On receiving so strict an order he cast them into the inner prison , and made their feet fast in the stocks . * But at midnight , while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God , and the prisoners were listening to them , * suddenly there was a great earthquake , so that the very foundations of the prison-house were shaken ; and instantly all the doors were opened , and every ones chains fell off . * The jailer , roused from sleep , and seeing the doors wide open , drew his sword and was about to kill himself , because he thought that the prisoners had escaped . * But Paul shouted loudly to him . "Do yourself no harm ; for we are all here !" * So he called for lights , and sprang in , and , trembling for fear , fell down before Paul and Silas , * and brought them out , saying , "Sirs , what must I do to be saved ?" * "Believe on the Lord Jesus ," they answered , "and you will be saved , you and all your household ." * Then they spoke the message of the Lord to him , as well as to all who were in his house . * And he took them , the same hour of the night , and washed their wounds , and he was baptized at once , he and all his . * And after bringing them up into his house , he set food before them , overjoyed with all his household in having believed in God . * But in the morning the praetors sent their lictors with the order , "Let these men go ." * The jailer reported the words to Paul , saying . "The praetors have sent to release you ; so come out , and go in peace ." * But Paul said . "They have flogged us publicly , uncondemned , men that are Roman citizens ; and have thrown us into prison . Are they now going to get rid of us secretly ? No , indeed ! Let them come here , themselves and take us out ." * The lictors reported these words to the praetors , who were frightened when they heard that they were Romans . * So they came and conciliated them , and after taking them out of prison , begged them to leave the town . * So Paul and Silas came out of the prison , and went to Lydias house ; and after they had seen the brethren and encouraged them , they left Philippi .

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