1 Paulo e Silas foram primeiro a Derbe e depois a Listra, onde encontraram Timóteo, um discípulo que era filho de mãe judaica cristã e de pai grego. 2 Timóteo era muito considerado pelos irmãos em Listra e Icónio; 3 pelo que Paulo lhe pediu que se juntasse a eles na viagem. Atendendo aos judeus daquela região, circuncidou Timóteo antes da partida, pois toda a gente sabia que o pai dele era grego. 4 Depois, indo de cidade em cidade, tornaram conhecida a decisão relativa aos gentios dada pelos apóstolos e anciãos em Jerusalém. 5 E assim as igrejas cresciam diariamente em fé e em número.

6 Seguidamente Paulo e Silas percorreram a Frígia e a Galácia, pois o Espírito Santo impedira-os de ir à província da Ásia naquela altura. 7 Chegando à fronteira da Mísia, encaminharam-se para a província da Bitínia, mas uma vez mais o Espírito de Jesus os impediu. 8 Em alternativa, prosseguiram viagem através da província da Mísia até à cidade de Tróade.

9 Naquela noite Paulo teve uma visão. Viu um homem da Macedónia, que lhe pedia: "Vem à Macedónia, vem ajudar-nos!" 10 Depois de ter esta visão, logo procurámos seguir para a Macedónia, concluindo que era Deus quem nos enviara a pregar ali o evangelho. 11 Embarcámos em Tróade, atravessámos para a Samotrácia e, no dia seguinte, para Neápolis. 12 Chegámos finalmente a Filipos, colónia romana e capital do distrito da Macedónia. Ficámos ali vários dias.

13 No sábado, saímos da cidade para a beira do rio, onde julgávamos que algumas pessoas se reuniriam para oração. Encontrámos ali algumas mulheres e fomos falar-lhes. 14 Uma delas era Lídia, vendedora de púrpura, natural de Tiatira. Ela já adorava a Deus e, enquanto nos ouvia, o Senhor abriu-lhe o coração e aceitou tudo o que Paulo dizia. 15 Foi batizada com todos os seus familiares e pediu-nos que fôssemos seus hóspedes: "Se acham que sou fiel ao Senhor, venham e fiquem na minha casa!" E tanto teimou que acabámos por aceitar.

16 Certo dia, indo nós a caminho do local de oração junto ao rio, encontrámos uma rapariga escrava, possuída por demónios, e que ganhava muito dinheiro para os seus senhores prevendo o futuro. 17 Pôs-se então a seguir-nos e a gritar: "Estes homens são servos do Deus altíssimo e vieram ensinar-nos o caminho da salvação!"

18 Isto repetiu-se dia após dia, até que Paulo, bastante perturbado com o caso, se voltou e falou ao demónio que estava dentro dela: "Ordeno-te, em nome de Jesus Cristo, que saias do seu corpo!" E imediatamente assim foi.

19 Destruídas as suas esperanças de fazer fortuna, os senhores desta escrava agarraram em Paulo e Silas e levaram-nos à praça pública, à presença dos líderes. 20 "Estes judeus andam a corromper a cidade!", gritavam. 21 "Andam a ensinar ao povo a fazer coisas contrárias às leis romanas."

22 Depressa se formou uma multidão ameaçadora contra Paulo e Silas. E os juízes mandaram que os despissem e açoitassem. Repetidas vezes as varas caíram sobre as suas costas nuas; 23 depois meteram-nos na cadeia e o carcereiro recebeu ordem para os guardar com toda a segurança. 24 Por isso, meteu-os numa cela interior e prendeu-lhes os pés ao tronco de madeira.

25 Cerca da meia-noite, quando Paulo e Silas oravam e cantavam hinos ao Senhor, escutados pelos outros presos, 26 deu-se de súbito um grande terramoto; a prisão foi abalada até aos alicerces, as portas abriram-se e as cadeias de todos os presos cairam!

27 O carcereiro acordou, viu as portas da prisão abertas e, julgando que os presos tinham escapado, puxou da espada para pôr fim à vida. 28 Mas Paulo gritou-lhe: "Não faças isso! Estamos todos aqui!"

29 Tremendo de terror, o carcereiro mandou vir luzes e, correndo à cela, prostrou-se no chão diante de Paulo e Silas. 30 Trazendo-os para fora, perguntou-lhes: "Meus senhores, que devo fazer para ser salvo?"

31 Eles responderam: "Crê no Senhor Jesus e serás salvo, tu e a tua casa." 32 Anunciaram-lhe então, a ele e a todos os seus familiares, as boas novas do Senhor. 33 Naquela mesma hora, o carcereiro lavou-lhes os ferimentos e, com toda a sua família, foi batizado. 34 Depois, levando-os à casa onde morava, serviu-lhes uma refeição. Tanto ele como os seus estavam cheios de alegria por serem agora todos crentes em Deus!

35 Na manhã seguinte, os juízes mandaram guardas dizer ao carcereiro: "Ponham esses homens em liberdade!" 36 O carcereiro disse a Paulo: "Podem sair quando quiserem! Vão em paz!"

37 Mas Paulo respondeu: "Não! Castigaram-nos publicamente, sem julgamento, encarceraram-nos, a nós que somos cidadãos romanos, e agora querem que saiamos em segredo? Que venham eles mesmos soltar-nos!"

38 Os guardas levaram a resposta aos juízes que ficaram receosos ao saberem que Paulo e Silas eram cidadãos romanos. 39 Dirigiram-se então à prisão e pediram-lhes desculpas. Puseram-nos fora, rogando-lhes que abandonassem a cidade. 40 Paulo e Silas voltaram a casa de Lídia, onde se encontraram com os crentes e os encorajaram uma vez mais antes de deixarem a cidade.

1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: 2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek. 4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. 5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. 6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, 7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. 8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. 11 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; 12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. 13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

14 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. 15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. 18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, 20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither 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. 23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor 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 unto God: and the prisoners heard 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 every one’s bands were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. 35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. 36 And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace. 37 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. 38 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans. 39 And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city. 40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.