Lydia

11We sailed from Troas straight to the island of Samothrace. The next day we went on to Neapolis.

Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;

12From there we went to Philippi. It was the main city in that part of Macedonia, and Rome ruled it. We stayed there several days.

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.

NoteRome was a big city far away that ruled many lands. In Philippi people followed Roman laws and Roman ways.

13On the Sabbath, the Jewish day of rest, we went outside the city to a river. People often prayed there. We sat down and talked with the women who had come.

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.

NoteThe Sabbath was the seventh day of each week. Jewish people rested on it and worshiped God. They met by the river because there was no meeting house in that city.

14One woman listening was named Lydia. She came from the city of Thyatira and sold purple cloth. She worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to take in what Paul said.

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.

NotePurple cloth cost a great deal of money. Mostly rich and important people wore it. So Lydia's work brought her plenty of money. Lydia was not Jewish, but she prayed to the God of the Jewish people.

15She and everyone in her house were baptized. That means they were washed with water to show they now followed Jesus. Then she said, "If you believe I really trust the Lord, come and stay at my house." She kept asking until we agreed.

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.

NoteA slave was a person owned by someone else. Slaves could not leave or keep their own pay. Her "house" meant her family and the workers who lived with her.

35When morning came, the judges sent officers with this order: "Let those men go."

And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.

NoteThese officers worked for the judges. They carried the sticks and passed on the judges' orders.

36The jailer told Paul, "The judges have sent word to set you free. So you may leave now and go in peace."

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.

37But Paul said to the officers, "They beat us in front of everyone, with no trial. And we are Roman citizens! Then they threw us in jail. Now do they want to push us out in secret? No! Let them come here and lead us out themselves."

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.

NoteA Roman citizen belonged to Rome and had special rights. It was against the law to beat one without a trial first. A trial is when leaders listen carefully before deciding if someone did wrong.

38The officers told the judges what Paul had said. The judges were scared when they heard the men were Roman citizens.

And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.

39So the judges came and spoke kindly to them. They led them out of the jail. Then they asked them to leave the city.

And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.

40Paul and Silas left the jail and went to Lydia's house. They saw the believers there and cheered them up. Then they left the city.

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.