Written by Yahusha's Student: LUKE (the Doctor) ...
1 Paul went to the city of Derbe and then to Lystra, where a follower of YAHUSHA named Timothy lived. Timothy’s mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 The believers in the cities of Lystra and Iconium had only good things to say about him. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to travel with him, but all the Jews living in that area knew that his father was a Greek. So Paul circumcised Timothy to please the Jews.
4 Then Paul and those with him traveled through other cities. They gave the believers the rules and decisions made from from the Disciples at the Jerusalem Council. They told them to obey these rules. 5 So the Fellowships were becoming stronger in their belief, and the number of believers was growing every day.
6 Paul and those with him went through the areas of Phrygia and Galatia because YAHUSHA'S Spirit did not allow them to give the offer of Good News in the province of Asia. 7 When they reached the border of Mysia, they tried to go on into Bithynia, but the Spirit of YAHUSHA did not let them go there. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went to the city of Troas.
9 That night Paul saw a vision. In it, a man from Macedonia came to Paul. The man stood there and begged, “Come across to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we (LUKE IS OBVIOUSLY THERE ON THIS TRIP TOO) immediately prepared to leave for Macedonia. We just knew that YAHUSHA had called us to offer the Good News of deliverance to those people also.
11 We left Troas in a ship and sailed to the island of Samothrace. The next day we sailed to the city of Neapolis. 12 Then we went to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city in that part of Macedonia. We stayed there for a few days. 13 On the Shabath Day we went out the city gate to the river. There we thought we might find a special place for prayer. Some women had gathered there, so we sat down and talked with them. 14 There was a woman there named Lydia from the city of Thyatira. Her job was selling purple cloth. She was a worshiper of the true Creator YAHUAH. Lydia was listening to Paul, and YAHUSHA opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying.
15 She and all the people living in her house were immersed. Then she invited us into her home. She said, “If you think I’m a true believer in the Master YAHUSHA, come stay in my house.” And she persuaded us to stay with her.
16 One day we were going to the place for prayer, and a servant girl met us. She had the spirit of a python in her allowing her to speak what would happen in the future, and by doing this she earned a lot of money for the men who owned her. 17 She started following Paul and the rest of us around. She kept shouting, "THESE MEN ARE SERVANTS OF THE MOST HIGH CREATOR! THEY ARE TELLING YOU HOW YOU CAN BE DELIVERED!” 18 She continued doing this for many days. Finally this bothered Paul so much that he turned and said to the spirit, “By the power of YAHUSHA Messiah, I command you to come out of her!” And the demon spirit came straight out.
19 When the men who owned the servant girl saw this, they realised that they could no longer use her to make money. So they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them to the public square to meet with the authorities. 20 They brought Paul and Silas before the Roman officials and said, “These men are Jews, and they are making trouble in our city. 21 They are telling people to do things that are not right for us as Romans to do.”
22 The whole crowd turned against Paul and Silas. The officials tore the clothes off both men and ordered that they be beaten with rods. 23 They were beaten severely and thrown into jail. The officials told the jailer, “Guard them very carefully!” 24 When the jailer heard this special order, he put Paul and Silas far inside the jail and bound their feet between large blocks of wood.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing songs to YAHUSHA. The other prisoners were listening to them also. 26 Suddenly there was an earthquake so strong that it shook the foundation of the jail. All the doors of the jail opened, and the chains on all the prisoners fell off. 27 The jailer woke up and saw that the jail doors were open. He thought that the prisoners had already escaped, so he got out his sword and was ready to kill himself (BEFORE HE COULD BE SEVERELY PUNISHED FOR LOSING PRISONERS ON HIS WATCH). 28 But Paul shouted,
“OY!! Don’t hurt yourself! We’re all still here!”
29 The jailer told someone to bring a light. Then he ran inside and, shaking with fear, fell down in front of Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them outside and said, “Men, what must I do to be delivered?” 31 They said to him, “Believe in the Master YAHUSHA and you will be delivered - you and all who live in your house.” 32 So Paul and Silas offered the message of YAHUSHA to the jailer and all the people who lived in his house.
33 It was late at night, but the jailer took Paul and Silas and washed their wounds. Then the jailer and all his people were immersed. 34 After this the jailer took Paul and Silas home and gave them some food. All the people were very happy because they now believed in YAHUSHA. 35 The next morning the Roman officials sent some soldiers to tell the jailer, “Let these men go free.” 36 The jailer said to Paul, “The officials have sent these soldiers to let you go free. You can leave now. Go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to the soldiers, “Those officials did not prove that we did anything wrong, but they beat us in public and put us in jail. And we are Roman citizens. Now they want us to go away quietly. NO WAY!! They must come here themselves and lead us out!”
38 The soldiers told the officials what Paul said, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were afraid. 39 So they came and told them they were so sorry. They led them out of the jail and asked them to leave the city. 40 But when Paul and Silas came out of the jail, they went to Lydia’s house first, where they saw some of the believers there and encouraged them. Then they left when they were good and ready.
Comments