hrace, and on the following day to
Neapolis; (12)and from thence to Philippi, which is a chief city of
that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we continued in that city
certain days.

(13)And on the sabbath, we went forth out of the gate by a river side,
where was wont to be a place of prayer; and we sat down, and spoke to
the women who came together.

(14)And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city
of Thyatira, who worshiped God, was listening; whose heart the Lord
opened to attend to the things spoken by Paul. (15)And when she was
immersed and her household, she besought us, saying: If ye have judged
me to be a believer in the Lord, come into my house, and abide. And
she constrained us.

(16)And it came to pass, as we were going to the place of prayer, a
certain bondmaid having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her
masters much gain by soothsaying. (17)She, having followed Paul and
us, cried, saying: These men are the servants of the most high God,
who announce to us the way of salvation.

(18)And this she did many days. But Paul, being indignant[16:18],
turned and said to the spirit: I command thee in the name of Jesus
Christ to come out from her. And he came out the same hour.

(19)And her masters, seeing that the hope of their gain departed, laid
hold of Paul and Silas, and drew them into the market-place before the
rulers. (20)And having brought them to the magistrates, they said:
These men, being Jews, greatly disturb our city; (21)and teach
customs, which it is not lawful for us to receive, or to observe,
being Romans.

(22)And the multitude rose up together against them; and the
magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them with
rods. (23)And having laid many stripes on them, they cast them into
prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely; (24)who, having
received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made
their feet fast in the stocks.

(25)And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises to God;
and the prisoners listened to them. (26)And suddenly there was a great
earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and
immediately all the doors were opened, and the chains of all were
loosed. (27)And the jailer, awaking out of sleep, and seeing the
prison doors open, drew his sword, and was about to kill himself,
supposing that the prisoners had fled. (28)But Paul cried with a loud
voice, saying: Do thyself no harm; f