Modern Literal Version
[Acts 16]


    {52 AD. Paul going toward Europe.}

     16:1 And he arrived in Derbe and Lystra and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewess who believed; but his father was a Greek. 16:2 He was welltestified of by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium. 16:3 This one, Paul wished to go forth with him, and he took Timothy and circumcised him because of the Jews who were* in those places; for*they all knew that his father was Greek. 16:4 And as they traveled through the cities, they gave them the decrees to keep what had been decided by the apostles and the elders who were in Jerusalem. 16:5 So, the congregations were strengthened in the faith and abounded in number daily.


     16:6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; 16:7 and when they had come toward Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithyna, and the Spirit did not permit them; 16:8 and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 16:9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a certain man, a Macedonian, standing, pleading with him and saying, Cross over into Macedonia and help us. 16:10 And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to proclaim the good-news to them.


     16:11 Therefore setting-sail from Troas, we made a straight route to Samothrace and the next dayto Neapolis; 16:12 and from there to Philippi, which is the first city of that part of Macedonia, aRoman colony. And we were in this city staying for some days. 16:13 And on the Sabbath day we went forth outside the city by a river side, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia heard us, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, whose heart the Lord opened to take-heed to the things which were spoken by Paul. 16:15 And when she and her household was immersed*, she pleaded with us, saying, If you* have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide there. And she constrained us.


    {52 AD. Philippi.}

     16:16 And it happened, as we were going to the place of prayer, that a certain maidservant having a spirit of divination met us, who provided her lords great business by fortune-telling. 16:17 Thismaidservant cried out following after Paul and us, saying, These men are bondservants of the Highest God, who are proclaiming to us the way of salvation. 16:18 And she did this for many days. But Paul, being pained, 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 same hour.


     16:19 But when her lords saw that the hope of their business was gone, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 16:20 When they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, These men, being* Jews, are disturbing our city, 16:21 and are proclaiming customs which it is not legal for us to accept or to do being Romans. 16:22 And the crowd stood up together against them and the magistrates ripped their garments off of them and commanded the sergeants to lash them with rods. 16:23 And when they had laid many lashes upon them, they cast them into prison, commanding the jailor to securely guard them. 16:24 Having received such a command, he cast them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the wood stocks.


    {Acts 2:14-42; 8:5-13; 8:30-39; 9:17-18, 22:6-14, 26:12-18; 10:34-38; 16:25-34; 16:13; 18:8-9; 19:1-7. Examples of those who were saved in the New Testament.}

     16:25 But toward midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the prisoners were the audience for them; 16:26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so-that the foundations of the prison were shaken and instantly all the doors were opened and everyone's bonds were lax. 16:27 And the jailor, being aroused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to assassinate himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.16:28 But Paul shouted with a loud voice, saying, Do nothing evil to yourself; for* we are all here.

     16:29 And he asked for lights and dashed in and trembling, fell down before Paul and Silas, 16:30and brought them out and said, Lords, what must I do in order that I might be saved?

     16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your house.16:32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him, with all who were in his house. 16:33 And having taken them in that same hour of the night, he bathed their lashes, and was instantly immersed*, he and all his household. 16:34 And he brought them up into his house and laid a table for them and was glad, with his household, having believed in God.


     16:35 But when it became day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, Release those men.

     16:36 And the jailor reported these words to Paul, saying, The magistrates have sent me that* you*should be released. Therefore come forth now and go in peace.

     16:37 But Paul said to them, They have whipped us in public, uncondemned men who are*Romans and have cast us into prison, and are they now casting us out secretly? No; but let them come themselves and let them lead us out.

     16:38 And the sergeants reported these words to the magistrates and they feared when they heard that they were Romans; 16:39 and they came and pleaded with them, and when they had led them out, they asked them to go away from the city.

     16:40 And they came out of the prison and entered into the house of Lydia and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and went out.



Modern Literal Version Preface & Appendix , copyright 1987, 1999, 2013 by G. Allen Walker for the MLV New Testament Committee.
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