ACTS 16 1-19

 Luke wrote “of the things fulfilled among us” paraphrased [ ] ref { } thots

     Book of the Acts of the First Believers

1 - When Paul returned to Derbe and Lystra, there was a disciple there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany them, so he arranged to have him circumcised [a strong Hebrew custom and requirement] because of the Jews who were there, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

     4 As they went through the cities, they delivered to the believers the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem [Acts 15:1-20.] 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. {Gentile converts were not required to be circumcised, etc, but believers (both Jew/Hebrew and Gentile/non Hebrew) follow the “new and living way” Heb.10:20.}

     6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been stopped by the Holy Spirit from going into Asia. 7 And when they came to Mysia, they wanted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus said not to. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. {This is where Paul and company met Luke, the Greek doctor who wrote this account called “the Book of Acts”.}

     9 And while there, a vision appeared to Paul in the night, a man of [Greek] Macedonia was in the dream, urging him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we planned to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel there.

     11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made straight for Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis. 12 Then from there to Philippi, a leading city of Macedonia, and a Roman colony, where we remained for some days.

     13 On the Sabbath, we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there would be a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together there. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple cloths, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you judge me to be genuine to the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And so we did.

      16 On another day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a maiden who had a spirit of divination and brought her handlers much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us everywhere, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God! Who proclaim to you the way of salvation!”18 And this she did for many days. Finally Paul, having become annoyed, 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 very hour. 19 But when those who made a profit from her saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the public sqaure, accusing them before the rulers [archón - rulers, leaders, princes, magistrates].

Next - 16:20-40