Old Testament

New Testament

Acts 16:8-21 Modern English Version (MEV)

8. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.

9. During the night a vision appeared to Paul: A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

10. After he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

11. From Troas we set sail on a straight course to Samothrace and the next day to Neapolis,

12. and from there to Philippi, which is the main city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony. We stayed in this city several days.

13. On the Sabbath we went out of the city to a riverside, where prayer was customarily offered. And we sat down and spoke to the women who had assembled.

14. A woman named Lydia, a seller of purple fabric of the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God, heard us. The Lord opened her heart to acknowledge what Paul said.

15. When she and her household were baptized, she entreated us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and remain there.” And she persuaded us.

16. On one occasion, as we went to the place of prayer, a servant girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling.

17. She followed Paul and us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”

18. She did this for many days. But becoming greatly troubled, Paul turned to the spirit and said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out at that moment.

19. When her masters saw that the hope of their profits was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace to the rulers.

20. And they brought them to the magistrates, saying, “These men, being Jews, greatly trouble our city

21. and teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.”

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