1 Paulo e Silas foram primeiro a Derbe e depois a Listra, onde encontraram Timóteo, um crente 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 lhes juntasse 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 dissera-lhes que não fossem 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 lhes disse que não o fizessem8 Por isso, prosseguiram viagem através da província da Mísia até à cidade de Troas.9 Naquela noite Paulo teve uma visão. Viu um homem da Macedónia, na Grécia, que lhe pedia: Vem ajudar-nos!10 Por isso logo procurámos seguir para a Macedónia, concluindo que era Deus quem nos enviava a pregar ali o evangelho.11 Embarcámos em Troas, atravessámos para a Samotrácia e, no dia seguinte, para Neápolis,i12 chegando finalmente a Filipos, uma colónia romana e a cidade principal 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 reuniram para oração. Encontrámos então algumas mulheres que ali foram e falámos-lhes. Uma delas era Lídia, vendedora de púrpura, natural de Tiatira. Ela já adorava Deus, e, enquanto ouvia, o Senhor abriu-lhe o coração, e aceitou tudo o que Paulo dizia. Foi baptizada 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. Pôs-se 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 perante os juízes, na grande praça central. Estes judeus andam a corromper a cidade, gritavam. Andam a ensinar ao povo que faça 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. Repetidamente as varas caíram sobre as suas costas nuas, e depois meteram-nos na cadeia. O carcereiro recebeu ordem para os guardar com toda a segurança; 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, houve de súbito um grande terramoto; a prisão foi abalada até aos alicerces, as portas abriram-se, e tombaram por terra as cadeias de todos os presos!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, lançou-se por terra 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 Senhor33 Naquela mesma hora, o carcereiro lavou-lhes os ferimentos e, com toda a sua família, foi baptizado34 Depois, levando-os à casa onde morava, serviu-lhes uma refeição. Tanto ele como os seus estavam cheios de alegria por agora serem todos crentes em Deus!35 Na manhã seguinte, os juízes mandaram polícias 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 polícias levaram a resposta aos juízes, que ficaram receosos ao saberem que Paulo e Silas eram cidadãos romanos. Dirigiram-se, então à prisão, e pediram desculpas. Saindo com eles, rogaram-lhes que abandonassem a cidade40 Paulo e Silas voltaram a casa de Lídia, onde se encontraram com os crentes e encorajaram-nos uma vez mais antes de saírem da cidade.

1 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain woman who was a Jewess, and believed, but his father was a Greek.2 Who 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 who were in those quarters: for they all knew that his father was a Greek.4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep that were ordained by the apostles and elders who 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 by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia;7 After they had come to Mysia, they essayed 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 endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering, that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to 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 spoke to the women who resorted thither.14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended to the things which were spoken by 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, who brought her masters much gain by sooth-saying:17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, who show to us the way of salvation.18 And this she did 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 market-place to 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 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 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 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 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 spoke to 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, without delay.34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, 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 to them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privately? no verily; but let them come themselves and bring us out.38 And the sergeants told these words to 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.