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Timotej sa stáva Pavlovým spolupracovníkom

16  Pavol a Sílas navštívili najprv mesto Derbe a odtiaľ sa dostali do Lystry. Tam stretli mladého veriaceho Timoteja. Jeho matka bola Židovka, ktorá uverila v Krista, ale otec bol Grék.

Bratia v Lystre aj v Ikoniu sa o ňom veľmi pochvalne vyjadrovali.

Jeho si Pavol vybral za svojho sprievodcu. Z ohľadu na tamojších Židov, ktorí vedeli, že jeho otec je Grék, mu Pavol odporúčal, aby sa radšej dal obrezať.

Vo všetkých mestách, ktorými prechádzali, zoznamovali kresťanov s ustanoveniami, ktoré prijali apoštoli a starší jeruzalemského zboru.

A tak sa zbory upevňovali vo viere a zo dňa na deň v nich pribúdali noví kresťania.

Cesta do Európy cez Troadu

Po svojom pobyte v Lystre prešli cez provinciu Frýgiu naspäť do Galácie.

Svätý Duch im totiž povedal, aby tentoraz nešli do provincie Ázia.

A keď došli do Mýzie a chceli cestovať ďalej na sever do provincie Bitýnia, cítili, že ich tam Duch Ježišov neposiela.

Prešli teda Mýziou a došli k moru do Troady.

10 Tam mal Pavol v noci sen. Stál pred ním akýsi Macedónec a prosil ho: Príď do Macedónska a pomôž nám!"

11 Po tomto Pavlovom videní sme sa bez váhania začali pripravovať na cestu do Macedónska, lebo sme usúdili, že Boh nás posiela, aby sme tam hlásali radostnú zvesť.

Filipy -- prvý kresťanský zbor v Európe

12 Z Troady sme sa teda plavili rovno na ostrov Samotráke, na druhý deň do Neapola a po súši sme pokračovali do Filíp, najvýznamnejšieho mesta východného Macedónska, obývaného najmä rímskymi kolonistami. Tam sme strávili niekoľko dní.

13 Pretože v meste nebola synagóga, vybrali sme sa v sobotu za bránu na breh rieky, lebo sme vedeli, že sa tam schádzajú miestni Židia a bohabojní pohania modliť. Skutočne sme tam našli skupinku žien. Prisadli sme si k nim a hovorili sme im o Kristovi.

14 Medzi poslucháčkami bola aj Lýdia, obchodníčka s purpurovými látkami z mesta Tyatira, ktorá verila v jediného Boha. Pán jej otvoril srdce a dychtivo počúvala všetko, čo Pavol hovoril.

15 Dala sa pokrstiť aj s celou svojou rodinou a pozvala nás do svojho domu s prosbou: Ak ste presvedčení, že som uverila v Pána, buďte hosťami v mojom dome." A dovtedy naliehala, kým sme neprijali jej pozvanie.

Pavol a Sílas vo väzení

16 Keď sme raz šli na miesto modlitieb, stretla nás mladá otrokyňa, ktorá mala veštecký dar a predpovedaním budúcnosti prinášala svojim pánom značný zisk.

17 Chodila za Pavlom a za nami a stále volala: Toto sú služobníci najvyššieho Boha a prišli sem, aby vám povedali, ako môžete byť zachránení."

18 To sa opakovalo deň čo deň, až to Pavol nezniesol a prikázal démonovi v nej: V mene Ježiša Krista ti prikazujem, aby si z nej vyšiel!" A v tej chvíli ju ten zlý duch opustil.

19 Keď si jej páni uvedomili, že tým prišli o svoj zisk, chytili Pavla a Sílasa a dovliekli ich na námestie pred sudcov:

20 Títo Židia poburujú naše mesto," kričali.

21 Zavádzajú tu zvyky, ktoré sú proti našim rímskym zákonom."

22 Aj poštvaný dav sa obrátil proti nim. Sudcovia dali teda z nich postŕhať šaty a vyšľahať ich po nahom tele prútmi.

23 Keď ich poriadne zbičovali, vrhli ich do väzenia a žalárnikovi prikázali, aby ich prísne strážil.

24 Dal ich do najhlbšej cely a nohy im pre istotu zovrel do klady.

25 Okolo polnoci, keď sa Pavol a Sílas modlili a spevom oslavovali Boha, až sa to rozliehalo po celej väznici,

26 nastalo zrazu veľké zemetrasenie. Celá budova sa otriasala až do základov. Všetky dvere sa pootvárali a väzňom spadli okovy.

27 Keď sa žalárnik prebudil a videl, čo sa stalo, vytasil meč a chcel sa zabiť, lebo si myslel, že väzni utiekli.

28 Ale Pavol nahlas skríkol: Nerob to! Všetci sme tu!"

29 Tu žalárnik rozkázal, aby mu priniesli svetlo, vbehol dnu a trasúc sa od strachu, padol pred Pavlom a Sílasom na kolená.

30 Potom ich vyviedol von a spýtal sa: Páni, čo mám robiť, aby som bol spasený?"

31 Odpovedali mu: Uver v Pána Ježiša a budeš spasený ty i všetci v tvojom dome."

32 A začali jemu i všetkým v jeho domácnosti zvestovať Božie slovo.

33 Hneď v tú nočnú hodinu sa ich žalárnik ujal, vymyl a ošetril im rany a dal sa pokrstiť aj s celou svojou rodinou.

34 Potom ich zaviedol do svojho domu, pohostil ich a tešil sa on i celá jeho rodina, že mohli uveriť v Boha.

35 Na druhé ráno poslali sudcovia zriadencov s odkazom: Prepusť tých ľudí!"

36 Žalárnik oznámil Pavlovi, že sú slobodní a môžu odísť.

37 Ale Pavol odpovedal: To teda nie! Nás rímskych občanov verejne a bez súdu zbili a zavreli do väzenia. A teraz by sa nás chceli tajne zbaviť? Nech pekne prídu osobne a prepustia nás!"

38 Zriadenci to oznámili sudcom. Keď počuli, že Pavol a Sílas sú rímski občania, náramne sa preľakli,

39 prišli sa ospravedlniť, vyviedli ich z väzenia a pekne ich požiadali, aby opustili mesto.

40 Pavol a Sílas po prepustení z väzenia navštívili Lýdiu, kde sa stretli s veriacimi. Potešili sa navzájom a odišli z Filíp.

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

16 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra,(A) where a disciple named Timothy(B) lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer(C) but whose father was a Greek. The believers(D) at Lystra and Iconium(E) spoke well of him. Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.(F) As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders(G) in Jerusalem(H) for the people to obey.(I) So the churches were strengthened(J) in the faith and grew daily in numbers.(K)

Paul’s Vision of the Man of Macedonia

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia(L) and Galatia,(M) having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.(N) When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus(O) would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.(P) During the night Paul had a vision(Q) of a man of Macedonia(R) standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we(S) got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel(T) to them.

Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi

11 From Troas(U) we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi,(V) a Roman colony and the leading city of that district[a] of Macedonia.(W) And we stayed there several days.

13 On the Sabbath(X) we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira(Y) named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart(Z) to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household(AA) were baptized,(AB) she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

Paul and Silas in Prison

16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer,(AC) we were met by a female slave who had a spirit(AD) by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God,(AE) who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.(AF)

19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money(AG) was gone, they seized Paul and Silas(AH) and dragged(AI) them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar(AJ) 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans(AK) to accept or practice.”(AL)

22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.(AM) 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer(AN) was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.(AO)

25 About midnight(AP) Paul and Silas(AQ) were praying and singing hymns(AR) to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.(AS) At once all the prison doors flew open,(AT) and everyone’s chains came loose.(AU) 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.(AV) 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.(AW) 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”(AX)

31 They replied, “Believe(AY) in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved(AZ)—you and your household.”(BA) 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night(BB) the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.(BC) 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he(BD) was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

35 When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” 36 The jailer(BE) told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”(BF)

37 But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens,(BG) and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”

38 The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed.(BH) 39 They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city.(BI) 40 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house,(BJ) where they met with the brothers and sisters(BK) and encouraged them. Then they left.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 16:12 The text and meaning of the Greek for the leading city of that district are uncertain.

16 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:

Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

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.

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.

And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

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,

After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.

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.