Acts 16 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Paul went first to Derbe, and then on to Lystra, where he met a believer by the name of Timothy. He was the son of a Jewish Christian mother, and his father was Greek.
1 DESPUÉS llegó á Derbe, y á Listra: y he aquí, estaba allí un discípulo llamado Timoteo, hijo de una mujer Judía fiel, mas de padre Griego.
1 He came to Derbe and Lystra; and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess who believed, but his father was a Greek.
2 The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.
2 De éste daban buen testimonio los hermanos que estaban en Listra y en Iconio.
2 The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium gave a good testimony about him.
3 Paul wanted Timothy to travel with him, so he circumcised him because the Jews in the area all knew that Timothy's father was Greek.
3 Este quiso Pablo que fuese con él; y tomándole, le circuncidó por causa de los Judíos que estaban en aquellos lugares; porque todos sabían que su padre era Griego.
3 Paul wanted to have him go out with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
4 As they went through the different towns they gave them the requirements the apostles and elders in Jerusalem had said should be observed.
4 Y como pasaban por las ciudades, les daban que guardasen los decretos que habían sido determinados por los apóstoles y los ancianos que estaban en Jerusalem.
4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered the decrees to them to keep which had been ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.
5 The churches were strengthened in their trust in the Lord and every day their numbers increased.
5 Así que, las iglesias eran confirmadas en fe, y eran aumentadas en número cada día.
5 So the assemblies were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
6 They traveled through the districts of Phrygia and Galatia, since the Holy Spirit prevented them from going to the province of Asia to speak the word.
6 Y pasando á Phrygia y la provincia de Galacia, les fué prohibido por el Espíritu Santo hablar la palabra en Asia.
6 When they had gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
7 When they arrived at the border of Mysia they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to enter.
7 Y como vinieron á Misia, tentaron de ir á Bithynia; mas el Espíritu no les dejó.
7 When they had come opposite Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit didn’t allow them.
8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.
8 Y pasando á Misia, descendieron á Troas.
8 Passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
9 There Paul saw in vision during the night a man from Macedonia standing up, pleading with him, “Please come over to Macedonia and help us!”
9 Y fué mostrada á Pablo de noche una visión: Un varón Macedonio se puso delante, rogándole, y diciendo: Pasa á Macedonia, y ayúdanos.
9 A vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a man of Macedonia standing, begging him and saying, “Come over into Macedonia and help us.”
10 After Paul saw this vision, we immediately made arrangements to go to Macedonia, since we concluded that God had called us to share the good news with them.
10 Y como vió la visión, luego procuramos partir á Macedonia, dando por cierto que Dios nos llamaba para que les anunciásemos el evangelio.
10 When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go out to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the Good News to them.
11 We set sail from Troas and made straight for Samothrace. The next day we went on to Neapolis,
11 Partidos pues de Troas, vinimos camino derecho á Samotracia, y el día siguiente á Neápolis;
11 Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis;
12 and from there to Philippi, the most important city in Macedonia, and also a Roman colony. We stayed in this city for several days.
12 Y de allí á Filipos, que es la primera ciudad de la parte de Macedonia, [y] una colonia; y estuvimos en aquella ciudad algunos días.
12 and from there to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the foremost of the district, a Roman colony. We were staying some days in this city.
13 On the Sabbath day we went out of the citytown gates down to the riverside where we thought people would come to pray. We sat down and talked with the women who had gathered there.
13 Y un día de sábado salimos de la puerta junto al río, donde solía ser la oración; y sentándonos, hablamos á las mujeres que se habían juntado.
13 On the Sabbath day we went outside of the city by a riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.
14 One of them was called Lydia, who sold purple cloth from the town of Thyatira. She worshiped God, and she listened to us. The Lord opened her mind to what Paul was saying, and she accepted what he told her.
14 Entonces una mujer llamada Lidia, que vendía púrpura en la ciudad de Tiatira, temerosa de Dios, estaba oyendo; el corazón de la cual abrió el Señor para que estuviese atenta á lo que Pablo decía.
14 A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us. The Lord opened her heart to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul.
15 After she and all her household were baptized, she pleaded with us, “If you really think that I'm truly committed to the Lord, then come and stay at my house.” She kept on insisting until we agreed!
15 Y cuando fué bautizada, y su familia, nos rogó, diciendo: Si habéis juzgado que yo sea fiel al Señor, entrad en mi casa, y posad: y constriñónos.
15 When she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.
16 One day when we were going down to the place of prayer we met a slave girl possessed by an evil spirit. She earned her masters a great deal of money by fortune-telling.
16 Y aconteció, que yendo nosotros á la oración, una muchacha que tenía espíritu pitónico, nos salió al encuentro, la cual daba grande ganancia á sus amos adivinando.
16 As we were going to prayer, a certain girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune telling.
17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us around, shouting, “These men are the servants of Almighty God. They are telling you how to be saved!”
17 Esta, siguiendo á Pablo y á nosotros, daba voces, diciendo: Estos hombres son siervos del Dios Alto, los cuales os anuncian el camino de salud.
17 Following Paul and us, she cried out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of salvation!”
18 She went on doing this for several days. This bothered Paul so he turned around and told the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to leave her!” The spirit immediately left her.
18 Y esto hacía por muchos días; mas desagradando á Pablo, se volvió y dijo al espíritu: Te mando en el nombre de Jesucristo, que salgas de ella. Y salió en la misma hora.
18 She was doing this for many days. But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” It came out that very hour.
19 But when her masters saw they had lost their means of making money, they grabbed hold of Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace.
19 Y viendo sus amos que había salido la esperanza de su ganancia, prendieron á Pablo y á Silas, y los trajeron al foro, al magistrado;
19 But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
20 They brought them in front of the magistrates, and accused them: “These Jewish men are causing a great disturbance in our town,” they said.
20 Y presentándolos á los magistrados, dijeron: Estos hombres, siendo Judíos, alborotan nuestra ciudad,
20 When they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men, being Jews, are agitating our city
21 “They're advocating things that are illegal for us as Romans to accept or to practice.”
21 Y predican ritos, los cuales no nos es lícito recibir ni hacer, pues somos Romanos.
21 and advocate customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans.”
22 The crowd joined together in an attack on them. The magistrates tore off Paul and Silas' clothes, and ordered them beaten with rods.
22 Y agolpóse el pueblo contra ellos: y los magistrados rompiéndoles sus ropas, les mandaron azotar con varas.
22 The multitude rose up together against them and the magistrates tore their clothes from them, then commanded them to be beaten with rods.
23 After giving them a severe beating, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them locked up.
23 Y después que los hubieron herido de muchos azotes, los echaron en la cárcel, mandando al carcelero que los guardase con diligencia:
23 When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely.
24 The jailer followed his orders. He threw Paul and Silas into the inner cell and shackled their feet in the stocks.
24 El cual, recibido este mandamiento, los metió en la cárcel de más adentro; y les apretó los pies en el cepo.
24 Having received such a command, he threw them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.
25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
25 Mas á media noche, orando Pablo y Silas, cantaban himnos á Dios: y los que estaban presos los oían.
25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
26 Suddenly a tremendous earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. Immediately all the doors flew open and everyone's chains fell off.
26 Entonces fué hecho de repente un gran terremoto, de tal manera que los cimientos de la cárcel se movían; y luego todas las puertas se abrieron, y las prisiones de todos se soltaron.
26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were loosened.
27 The jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison wide open. He drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped.
27 Y despertado el carcelero, como vió abiertas las puertas de la cárcel, sacando la espada se quería matar, pensando que los presos se habían huído.
27 The jailer, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
28 But Paul shouted out, “Don't hurt yourself—we're all still here!”
28 Mas Pablo clamó á gran voz, diciendo: No te hagas ningún mal; que todos estamos aquí.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, “Don’t harm yourself, for we are all here!”
29 The jailer asked for lights to be brought and rushed in. Shaking with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.
29 El entonces pidiendo luz, entró dentro, y temblando, derribóse á los pies de Pablo y de Silas;
29 He called for lights, sprang in, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas,
30 He escorted them out and asked them, “Sirs, what do I have to do so I can be saved?”
30 Y sacándolos fuera, les dice: Señores, ¿qué es menester que yo haga para ser salvo?
30 brought them out, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 “Trust in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your whole household,” they replied.
31 Y ellos dijeron: Cree en el Señor Jesucristo, y serás salvo tú, y tu casa.
31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
32 Then they shared the word of the Lord with him and everyone who lived in his house.
32 Y le hablaron la palabra del Señor, y á todos los que estaban en su casa.
32 They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house.
33 Even though it was late at night he bathed their wounds, and he was baptized right away, along with all his family.
33 Y tomándolos en aquella misma hora de la noche, les lavó los azotes; y se bautizó luego él, y todos los suyos.
33 He took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household.
34 He took them home and had a meal prepared for them. The jailer and his whole family were full of joy because they trusted in God.
34 Y llevándolos á su casa, les puso la mesa: y se gozó de que con toda su casa había creído á Dios.
34 He brought them up into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly with all his household, having believed in God.
35 Early the next day the magistrate sent officials to the jailer, telling him, “Release those men.”
35 Y como fué de día, los magistrados enviaron los alguaciles, diciendo: Deja ir á aquellos hombres.
35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, “Let those men go.”
36 The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have sent word to release you. So you can leave, and go in peace.”
36 Y el carcelero hizo saber estas palabras á Pablo: Los magistrados han enviado [á decir] que seáis sueltos: así que ahora salid, é id en paz.
36 The jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore come out and go in peace.”
37 But Paul told them, “They publicly beat us without a trial—and yet we're Roman citizens! Then they threw us in prison. Now they want to quietly let us go? No, they should come themselves and release us!”
37 Entonces Pablo les dijo: Azotados públicamente sin ser condenados, siendo hombres Romanos, nos echaron en la cárcel; y ¿ahora nos echan encubiertamente? No, de cierto, sino vengan ellos y sáquennos.
37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly without a trial, men who are Romans, and have cast us into prison! Do they now release us secretly? No, most certainly, but let them come themselves and bring us out!”
38 The officials went back and reported this to the magistrates. When they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens they were really worried,
38 Y los alguaciles volvieron á decir á los magistrados estas palabras: y tuvieron miedo, oído que eran Romanos.
38 The sergeants reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans,
39 and went to apologize to them. They escorted them out and begged them to leave town.
39 Y viniendo, les rogaron; y sacándolos, les pidieron que se saliesen de la ciudad.
39 and they came and begged them. When they had brought them out, they asked them to depart from the city.
40 So Paul and Silas left the prison and went to Lydia's house. There they met with the believers, encouraged them, and then went on their way.
40 Entonces salidos de la cárcel, entraron en [casa de] Lidia; y habiendo visto á los hermanos, los consolaron, y se salieron.
40 They went out of the prison and entered into Lydia’s house. When they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them, then departed.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Lydia
A worshiper of God from Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth at Philippi whose heart the Lord opened to Paul's message; she and her household were baptized.
Cited in the guide: Acts 16:14; Acts 16:40
Silas
A leading man among the brothers in Jerusalem and a prophet, chosen to accompany Paul on his second journey; he was imprisoned with Paul at Philippi and is elsewhere called…
Cited in the guide: Acts 15:22; Acts 15:40; Acts 16:25
Timothy
A disciple from Lystra with a Greek father and a believing Jewish mother, whom Paul circumcised and took with him as a coworker; he received two letters from Paul.
Cited in the guide: Acts 16:1; 1 Corinthians 4:17; Philippians 2:19
Places
Philippi
A Roman colony on the Via Egnatia and the site of Paul's first European converts — a beloved church to which he later wrote from prison.
Cited in the guide: Acts 16:12; Acts 16:25; Philippians 1:1
Cross references (40)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 2 Timothy 1:5; 1 Thessalonians 3:2; 2 Timothy 1:2; Acts 18:5; 1 Timothy 1:2
- 2 1 Timothy 5:10; 2 Timothy 3:15; Acts 16:40; 1 Timothy 3:7; 2 Timothy 3:11
- 3 Galatians 2:3; 1 Corinthians 9:20; Galatians 5:6; Galatians 5:1–3; Acts 15:40
- 4 Acts 15:28–29; Acts 15:2; Acts 11:30; Acts 15:6
- 5 Acts 9:31; Acts 2:47; Acts 6:7; 1 Peter 5:10; Acts 15:41
- 6 Acts 18:23; Acts 16:7; Galatians 1:2; Acts 11:12; Acts 13:2–4
- 7 Philippians 1:19; Galatians 4:6; Romans 8:9; Acts 8:29; 1 Peter 1:1
- 8 2 Timothy 4:13; 2 Corinthians 2:12; Acts 16:11; Acts 20:5
- 9 Acts 19:21; Acts 18:5; Acts 9:10–12; Romans 15:26; Acts 18:9–10
- 10 2 Corinthians 2:12–13; Acts 14:7; Psalm 119:60; Acts 21:1–18; Acts 27:1–28:16
- 11 Acts 21:1; Acts 16:8
- 12 1 Thessalonians 2:2; Philippians 1:1; Acts 20:6; Acts 16:9; Acts 16:21
- 13 Acts 13:14; Acts 21:5; Colossians 1:23; Acts 18:4; Acts 20:7
- 14 Luke 24:45; Ephesians 1:17–18; Isaiah 50:5; John 6:44–45; Revelation 3:20
- 15 Acts 11:14; Hebrews 13:2; Acts 16:33; Luke 24:29; Genesis 19:3
- 16 Leviticus 19:31; Deuteronomy 18:9–11; Isaiah 8:19; 1 Chronicles 10:13; 1 Samuel 28:7
- 17 John 14:6; 1 Peter 2:16; Mark 5:7; Daniel 6:20; Daniel 3:28
- 18 Mark 16:17; Luke 10:17–19; Acts 3:6; Acts 19:12–17; Acts 9:34
- 19 Acts 17:6; Acts 21:30; 2 Corinthians 6:5; Acts 16:16; Acts 8:3
- 20 James 4:4; Romans 12:2; Acts 28:22; John 15:18–20; Acts 17:6–8
- 21 Esther 3:8; Acts 16:12; Jeremiah 10:3; Acts 26:3
- 22 1 Thessalonians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 6:5; Acts 22:22–26; Hebrews 11:36; 2 Corinthians 11:23–25
- 23 Revelation 2:10; 2 Timothy 2:9; 1 Samuel 23:22–23; Matthew 27:63–66; Ephesians 3:1
- 24 Job 13:27; Job 33:11; Jeremiah 29:26; Jeremiah 38:26; Psalm 105:18
- 25 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18; Psalm 119:62; James 1:2; Romans 5:3; 1 Peter 1:6–8
- 26 Acts 4:31; Acts 5:19; Acts 12:10; Acts 12:7; Psalm 146:7
- 27 Acts 12:19; Matthew 27:5; 1 Kings 16:18; 2 Samuel 17:23; 1 Samuel 31:4–5
- 28 1 Thessalonians 5:15; Luke 6:27–28; Luke 23:34; Exodus 20:13; Matthew 5:44
- 29 Revelation 3:9; Daniel 6:26; Jeremiah 10:10; Acts 9:5–6; Isaiah 66:5
- 30 John 6:27–29; Acts 2:37; Acts 22:10; Luke 3:10; Acts 14:15
- 31 John 1:12; John 3:36; Acts 2:38–39; Romans 10:9–10; Acts 11:13–14
- 32 Romans 1:16; Colossians 1:27–28; 1 Timothy 1:13–16; 1 Thessalonians 2:8; Mark 16:15
- 33 1 Corinthians 1:16; Acts 16:15; Luke 10:33–34; Acts 16:25; Galatians 5:13
- 34 Romans 15:13; Acts 2:46; Romans 5:11; Philemon 7; Isaiah 61:10
- 35 Acts 5:40; Acts 4:21; Jeremiah 5:22; Psalm 76:10
- 36 Acts 15:33; John 14:27; Mark 5:34; 1 Samuel 29:7; Exodus 4:18
- 37 Acts 22:25–29; Proverbs 28:1; Acts 16:20–24; Matthew 10:16; Psalm 94:20
- 38 Acts 22:29; Matthew 21:46; Matthew 14:5
- 39 Matthew 8:34; Mark 5:17; Daniel 6:23; Daniel 6:16; Isaiah 49:23
- 40 Acts 14:22; Acts 16:14; 1 Thessalonians 3:2–3; 2 Corinthians 4:16–18; 2 Corinthians 1:3–7
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
was thought likely") to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul." See again Paul judaizing.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 11 (1889)
… sailing from Troas, we directed our ship's course towards Samothracia." And then he carefully indicates all the rest of their journey as far as Philippi, and how they delivered their first address: "for, sitting down," he says, "we spake unto the women who had assembled;" and certain believed, even a great many.
Hear, for instance, the seller of purple saying, "If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come in, and abide with me." Hear the women, who went about with the apostles, having taken unto themselves manly courage, Priscilla, Persis, and the rest; from whom our present women are as far removed as our men from their men.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)