Timotejs pievienojas Pāvilam un Sīlam
1 Tad viņš nonāca Derbē un Listrās. Un, redzi, tur bija kāds māceklis, vārdā Timotejs, ticīgas jūdu sievietes dēls, kura tēvs bija grieķis. 2 Brāļi, kas dzīvoja Listrās un Ikonijā, liecināja par viņu labu. 3 Pāvils, iedams prom, gribēja ņemt viņu sev līdzi. Bet, tā kā visi zināja, ka viņa tēvs bijis grieķis, Pāvils to apgraizīja jūdu dēļ, kuri dzīvoja tajā apvidū. 4 Apceļojot pilsētas, viņi mācekļiem uzdeva ievērot priekšrakstus, ko bija noteikuši apustuļi un presbiteri Jeruzālemē. 5 Draudzes stiprinājās ticībā un skaitliski pieauga dienu no dienas.
Pāvils parādībā redz kādu maķedonieti
6 Bet Frīģijas un Galatijas zemē viņi nepalika, jo Svētais Gars neļāva viņiem sludināt vārdu Āzijā. 7 Nonākuši pie Mīsijas, viņi lūkoja ieiet Bitīnijā, bet Jēzus Gars viņiem neļāva. 8 Pagājuši garām Mīsijai, viņi nonāca Troādā. 9 Naktī Pāvils redzēja parādību: kāds maķedoniešu vīrs stāv un viņu aicina: “Celies pāri uz Maķedoniju un palīdzi mums!” 10 Kad viņš bija šo parādību redzējis, mēs gribējām tūlīt doties uz Maķedoniju, būdami pārliecināti, ka Dievs aicina mūs pasludināt viņiem evaņģēliju.
Lidija pievēršas Kristum
11 Atstājuši Troādu, mēs taisnā ceļā aizkuģojām uz Samotrāki un nākamajā dienā devāmies uz Neapoli 12 un no turienes uz Filipiem, pilsētu, kas mūsu ceļā bija pirmā kolonija Maķedonijas apgabalā. Šajā pilsētā mēs pavadījām dažas dienas. 13 Sabatā mēs izgājām ārā pa pilsētas vārtiem un devāmies gar upi, kur, mēs domājām, jābūt lūgšanu vietai, un apsēdušies sākām runāt ar sievietēm, kas tur bija sanākušas. 14 Klausījās arī kāda dievbijīga sieviete, vārdā Lidija, viņa bija purpura pārdevēja no Tiatīras pilsētas. Viņai Kungs atvēra sirdi uzklausīt Pāvila vārdus. 15 Kad viņa un viņas nams bija kristīti, viņa aicināja: “Ja jūs uzskatāt, ka esmu Kungam uzticīga, tad nāciet manā namā un palieciet.” Un viņai izdevās mūs pierunāt.
Pāvils un Sīla cietumā Filipos
16 Reiz, kad gājām uz lūgšanu vietu, mums gadījās sastapt kādu verdzeni, kurā bija pareģotājas gars, un ar pareģošanu viņa nesa saviem saimniekiem lielu peļņu. 17 Viņa sekoja Pāvilam un mums, klaigādama: “Šie cilvēki ir visaugstā Dieva kalpi! Viņi sludina jums pestīšanas ceļu.” 18 Tā viņa darīja daudzas dienas. Nevarēdams to vairs paciest, Pāvils vērsās pie gara, sacīdams: “Jēzus Kristus vārdā es tev pavēlu: izej no viņas!” Un tajā pašā brīdī tas izgāja no viņas. 19 Bet viņas saimnieki, redzēdami, ka pagaisusi viņu cerība uz peļņu, sagrāba Pāvilu un Sīlu un aizvilka tos uz tirgus laukumu, lai nodotu varasvīriem. 20 Atveduši tos pilsētas pārvaldnieku priekšā, tie sacīja: “Šie cilvēki, būdami jūdi, rada nemieru mūsu pilsētā 21 un sludina paradumus, ko mums, romiešiem, nav iespējams nedz pieņemt, nedz darīt.” 22 Viņiem apkārt sastājās ļaužu pūlis. Pārvaldnieki, norāvuši tiem drēbes, lika tos nopērt. 23 Daudziem sitieniem šaustījuši, viņi tos iemeta cietumā un piekodināja cietumsargam stingri uzraudzīt. 24 Tādu pavēli saņēmis, cietumsargs iemeta tos cietuma dziļākajā kambarī un viņu kājas saslēdza koka siekstā. 25 Nakts vidū Pāvils un Sīla slavēja Dievu dziesmās, un pārējie cietumnieki viņos klausījās. 26 Pēkšņi notika liela zemestrīce un satricināja cietuma pamatus. Tūlīt atvērās visas durvis un visiem nokrita važas. 27 Uztrūcies no miega, cietumsargs ieraudzīja cietuma durvis atvērtas un, nospriedis, ka cietumnieki aizbēguši, izrāva zobenu un grasījās sevi nonāvēt. 28 Bet Pāvils skaļā balsī iesaucās: “Nedari sev nekā slikta, jo mēs visi esam tepat.” 29 Palūdzis gaismu, tas metās pie viņiem iekšā un drebēdams nokrita Pāvilam un Sīlam pie kājām. 30 Izvedis viņus ārā, tas lūdza: “Kungi, kas man jādara, lai es tiktu glābts?” 31 Viņi sacīja: “Tici Kungam Jēzum un tiksi glābts – gan tu, gan tavs nams.” 32 Un tie viņam un visiem, kas bija viņa namā, sludināja Kunga vārdu. 33 Tajā pašā naktī cietumsargs tos uzņēma pie sevis, apmazgāja viņu brūces, un tūlīt viņš tika kristīts un visi, kas bija ar viņu. 34 Ievedis tos savā namā, viņš klāja tiem galdu un priecājās kopā ar visu savu namu ticībā uz Dievu. 35 Nākamajā dienā pilsētas pārvaldnieki sūtīja pie sarga liktorus un lika teikt: “Laid ārā šos cilvēkus!” 36 Cietumsargs to paziņoja Pāvilam: “Pārvaldnieki teica, lai jūs atlaiž. Tad nu ejiet un dodieties prom ar mieru.” 37 Bet Pāvils atbildēja: “Viņi mūs, Romas pilsoņus, bez tiesas sprieduma tautas priekšā nopēruši, iemeta cietumā un tagad grib slepus mūs izmest? Tā vis nebūs – lai viņi nāk un paši izved mūs ārā.” 38 Liktori šos vārdus paziņoja pilsētas pārvaldniekiem, bet tie, izdzirdējuši, ka viņi ir romieši, nobijās. 39 Pilsētas pārvaldnieki atnāca un laipni aprunājās ar viņiem, un, izveduši ārā, lūdza viņus aiziet no pilsētas. 40 Iznākuši no cietuma, viņi aizgāja uz Lidijas māju un, satikuši brāļus, uzmundrināja tos un devās tālāk.
Timothy Works with Paul and Silas
1 Paul and Silas went back to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a follower named Timothy. His mother was also a follower. She was Jewish, and his father was Greek. 2 The Lord's followers in Lystra and Iconium said good things about Timothy, 3 and Paul wanted him to go with them. But Paul first had him circumcised, because all the Jewish people around there knew that Timothy's father was Greek.
4 As Paul and the others went from city to city, they told the followers what the apostles and leaders in Jerusalem had decided, and they urged them to follow these instructions. 5 The churches became stronger in their faith, and each day more people put their faith in the Lord.
Paul's Vision in Troas
6 Paul and his friends went through Phrygia and Galatia, but the Holy Spirit would not let them preach in Asia. 7 After they arrived in Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not let them. 8 So they went on through Mysia until they came to Troas.
9 During the night, Paul had a vision of someone from Macedonia who was standing there and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we began looking for a way to go to Macedonia. We were sure that God had called us to preach the good news there.
Lydia Becomes a Follower of the Lord
11 We sailed straight from Troas to Samothrace, and the next day we arrived in Neapolis. 12 From there we went to Philippi, which is a Roman colony in the first district of Macedonia.
We spent several days in Philippi. 13 Then on the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to a place by the river, where we thought there would be a Jewish meeting place for prayer. We sat down and talked with the women who came. 14 One of them was Lydia, who was from the city of Thyatira and sold expensive purple cloth. She was a worshiper of the Lord God, and he made her willing to accept what Paul was saying. 15 Then after she and her family were baptized, she kept on begging us, “If you think I really do have faith in the Lord, come stay in my home.” Finally, we accepted her invitation.
Paul and Silas Are Put in Jail
16 One day on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl. She had a spirit in her that gave her the power to tell the future. By doing this she made a lot of money for her owners. 17 The girl followed Paul and the rest of us, and she kept yelling, “These men are servants of the Most High God! They are telling you how to be saved.”
18 This went on for several days. Finally, Paul got so upset that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ, I order you to leave this girl alone!” At once the evil spirit left her.
19 When the girl's owners realized they had lost all chances for making more money, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them into court. 20 They told the officials, “These Jews are upsetting our city! 21 They are telling us to do things we Romans are not allowed to do.”
22 The crowd joined in the attack on Paul and Silas. Then the officials tore the clothes off the two men and ordered them to be beaten with a whip. 23 After they had been badly beaten, they were put in jail, and the jailer was told to guard them carefully. 24 The jailer did as he was told. He put them deep inside the jail and chained their feet to heavy blocks of wood.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, while the other prisoners listened. 26 Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the jail to its foundations. The doors opened, and the chains fell from all the prisoners.
27 When the jailer woke up and saw that the doors were open, he thought that the prisoners had escaped. He pulled out his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don't harm yourself! No one has escaped.”
29 The jailer asked for a torch and went into the jail. He was shaking all over as he knelt down in front of Paul and Silas. 30 After he had led them out of the jail, he asked, “What must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Have faith in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved! This is also true for everyone who lives in your home.”
32 Then Paul and Silas told him and everyone else in his house about the Lord. 33 While it was still night, the jailer took them to a place where he could wash their cuts and bruises. Then he and everyone in his home were baptized. 34 They were very glad they had put their faith in God. After this, the jailer took Paul and Silas to his home and gave them something to eat.
35 The next morning the officials sent some police with orders for the jailer to let Paul and Silas go. 36 The jailer told Paul, “The officials have ordered me to set you free. Now you can leave in peace.”
37 But Paul told the police, “We are Roman citizens, and the Roman officials had us beaten in public without giving us a trial. They threw us into jail. Now do they think they can secretly send us away? No, they cannot! They will have to come here themselves and let us out.”
38 When the police told the officials that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, the officials were afraid. 39 So they came and apologized. They led them out of the jail and asked them to please leave town. 40 But Paul and Silas went straight to the home of Lydia, where they saw the Lord's followers and encouraged them. Then they left.
