Nov 19 - Acts 16-17
Acts
1Then he arrived at Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple named Timothy was there, the son of a faithful Jewish woman, his father a Gentile2The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium rendered good testimony to him3Paul wanted this man to travel with him, and taking him, he circumcised him, because of the Jews who were in those places. For they all knew that his father was a Gentile4And as they were traveling through the cities, they delivered to them the dogmas to be kept, which were decreed by the Apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem5And certainly, the Churches were being strengthened in faith and were increasing in number every day6Then, while crossing through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the Word in Asia7But when they had arrived in Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them8Then, when they had crossed through Mysia, they descended to Troas9And a vision in the night was revealed to Paul of a certain man of Macedonia, standing and pleading with him, and saying: "Cross into Macedonia and help us!10Then, after he saw the vision, immediately we sought to set out for Macedonia, having been assured that God had called us to evangelize to them11And sailing from Troas, taking a direct path, we arrived at Samothrace, and on the following day, at Neapolis12and from there to Philippi, which is the preeminent city in the area of Macedonia, a colony. Now we were in this city some days, conferring together13Then, on the Sabbath day, we were walking outside the gate, beside a river, where there seemed to be a prayer gathering. And sitting down, we were speaking with the women who had assembled14And a certain woman, named Lydia, a seller of purple in the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened. And the Lord opened her heart to be receptive to what Paul was saying15And when she had been baptized, with her household, she pleaded with us, saying: "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, enter into my house and lodge there." And she convinced us16Then it happened that, as we were going out to prayer, a certain girl, having a spirit of divination, met with us. She was a source of great profit to her masters, through her divining17This girl, following Paul and us, was crying out, saying: "These men are servants of the Most High God! They are announcing to you the way of salvation!18Now she behaved in this way for many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you, in the name of Jesus Christ, to go out from her." And it went away in that same hour19But her masters, seeing that the hope of their profit went away, apprehended Paul and Silas, and they brought them to the rulers at the courthouse20And presenting them to the magistrates, they said: "These men are disturbing our city, since they are Jews21And they are announcing a way which is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, since we are Romans.22And the people rushed together against them. And the magistrates, tearing their tunics, ordered them to be beaten with staffs23And when they had inflicted many scourges on them, they cast them into prison, instructing the guard to watch them diligently24And since he had received this kind of order, he cast them into the interior prison cell, and he restricted their feet with stocks25Then, in the middle of the night, Paul and Silas were praying and praising God. And those who were also in custody were listening to them26Yet truly, there was a sudden earthquake, so great that the foundations of the prison were moved. And immediately all the doors were opened, and the bindings of everyone were released27Then the prison guard, having been jarred awake, and seeing the doors of the prison open, drew his sword and intended to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had fled28But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying: "Do no harm to yourself, for we are all here!29Then calling for a light, he entered. And trembling, he fell before the feet of Paul and Silas30And bringing them outside, he said, "Sirs, what must I do, so that I may be saved?31So they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and then you will be saved, with your household.32And they spoke the Word of the Lord to him, along with all those who were in his house33And he, taking them in the same hour of the night, washed their scourges. And he was baptized, and next his entire household34And when he had brought them into his own house, he set a table for them. And he was joyous, with his entire household, believing in God35And when daylight had arrived, the magistrates sent the attendants, saying, "Release those men.36But the prison guard reported these words to Paul: "The magistrates have sent to have you released. Now therefore, depart. Go in peace.37But Paul said to them: "They have beaten us publicly, though we were not condemned. They have cast men who are Romans into prison. And now they would drive us away secretly? Not so. Instead, let them come forward38and let us drive them away." Then the attendants reported these words to the magistrates. And upon hearing that they were Romans, they were afraid39And arriving, they pleaded with them, and leading them out, they begged them to depart from the city40And they went away from the prison and entered into the house of Lydia. And having seen the brothers, they consoled them, and then they set out
1Now when they had walked through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they arrived at Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews2Then Paul, according to custom, entered to them. And for three Sabbaths he disputed with them about the Scriptures3interpreting and concluding that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise again from the dead, and that "this is the Jesus Christ, whom I am announcing to you.4And some of them believed and were joined to Paul and Silas, and a great number of these were from the worshipers and the Gentiles, and not a few were noble women5But the Jews, being jealous, and joining with certain evildoers among the common men, caused a disturbance, and they stirred up the city. And taking up a position near the house of Jason, they sought to lead them out to the people6And when they had not found them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers to the rulers of the city, crying out: "For these are the ones who have stirred up the city. And they came here7and Jason has received them. And all these men act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.8And they incited the people. And the rulers of the city, upon hearing these things9and having received an explanation from Jason and the others, released them10Yet truly, the brothers promptly sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea. And when they had arrived, they entered the synagogue of the Jews11But these were more noble than those who were at Thessalonica. They received the Word with all enthusiasm, daily examining the Scriptures to see if these things were so12And indeed, many believed among them, as well as not a few among the honorable Gentile men and women13Then, when the Jews of Thessalonica had realized that the Word of God was also preached by Paul at Beroea, they went there also, stirring up and disturbing the multitude14And then the brothers quickly sent Paul away, so that he might travel by sea. But Silas and Timothy remained there15Then those who were leading Paul brought him as far as Athens. And having received an order from him to Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him quickly, they set out16Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred up within him, seeing the city given over to idolatry17And so, he was disputing with the Jews in the synagogue, and with the worshipers, and in public places, throughout each day, with whomever was there18Now certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were arguing with him. And some were saying, "What does this sower of the Word want to say?" Yet others were saying, "He seems to be an announcer for new demons." For he was announcing to them Jesus and the Resurrection19And apprehending him, they brought him to the Areopagus, saying: "Are we able to know what this new doctrine is, about which you speak20For you bring certain new ideas to our ears. And so we would like to know what these things mean.21(Now all the Athenians, and arriving visitors, were occupying themselves with nothing other than speaking or hearing various new ideas.22But Paul, standing in the middle of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are rather superstitious23For as I was passing by and noticing your idols, I also found an altar, on which was written: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this is what I am preaching to you24the God who made the world and all that is in it, the One who is the Lord of heaven and earth, who does not live in temples made with hands25Neither is he served by the hands of men, as if in need of anything, since it is he who gives to all things life and breath and all else26And he has made, out of one, every family of man: to live upon the face of the entire earth, determining the appointed seasons and the limits of their habitation27so as to seek God, if perhaps they may consider him or find him, though he is not far from each one of us28‘For in him we live, and move, and exist.’ Just as some of your own poets have said. ‘For we are also of his family.29Therefore, since we are of the family of God, we must not consider gold or silver or precious stones, or the engravings of art and of the imagination of man, to be a representation of what is Divine30And indeed, God, having looked down to see the ignorance of these times, has now announced to men that everyone everywhere should do penance31For he has appointed a day on which he will judge the world in equity, through the man whom he has appointed, offering faith to all, by raising him from the dead.32And when they had heard about the Resurrection of the dead, indeed, some were derisive, while others said, "We will listen to you about this again.33So Paul departed from their midst34Yet truly, certain men, adhering to him, did believe. Among these were also Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them