Silas

22The apostles and elders and the whole church liked this plan. They picked some of their own men to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas, who was also called Barsabbas, and Silas. Both men were leaders among the believers.

Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

NoteAntioch was a big city far to the north of Jerusalem. Many people there were Gentiles who now followed Jesus. Judas had a second name, Barsabbas, so people knew which Judas was meant.

23They sent this letter with them: "From the apostles, the elders and the brothers. To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings!"

And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

NoteSyria and Cilicia were lands near Antioch. Back then a letter started with the writers' names, not at the end.

24"We have heard that some men went out from us and upset you. Their words troubled your minds. They said you must be circumcised and keep the law. We never told them to say that."

Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

NoteThese men had left Jerusalem on their own. Nobody there had sent them or told them what to say.

25"So we all agreed together. We chose some men to send to you. They come with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul."

It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26"These two men have put their lives in danger for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

NoteTo "put their lives in danger" means they could have been killed. People had thrown stones at Paul for telling about Jesus.

27"So we are sending Judas and Silas. They will tell you the same things with their own mouths."

We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

28"The Holy Spirit thought this was good, and so did we. We will not lay any load on you except these few needed things."

For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

29"Stay away from food that was given to idols. Stay away from blood. Do not eat animals that were choked to death. Stay away from sexual sin. If you keep away from these things, you will do well. Goodbye."

That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Note"Goodbye" here is the old word "farewell." It was the polite way to finish a letter.

30So the men were sent off, and they went to Antioch. They called all the believers together. Then they gave them the letter.

So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

31The people read it. Its kind words cheered them up, and they were glad.

Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

NoteThe letter said kind, comforting words. Those words took away the believers' worry.

32Judas and Silas were prophets themselves. They said many things to cheer up the believers and make them strong.

And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

NoteA prophet is someone who tells people a message from God.

33They stayed there for a while. Then the believers sent them off in peace. They went back to the ones who had sent them.

And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

34But Silas was happy to stay there instead.

Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

NoteSome very old copies of this book do not have this sentence. That is why some Bibles leave it out.

35Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch too. They and many others taught people and told them the word of the Lord.

Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

36Some days later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's go back and visit our brothers. Let's go to every town where we told people the Lord's message. We can see how they are doing."

And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the LORD, and see how they do.

Note"Brothers" here does not mean boys from the same family. It means the other people who follow Jesus.

37Barnabas wanted to take John with them. John was also called Mark.

And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

38But Paul did not think that was a good idea. Mark had left them back in Pamphylia. He had not stayed to do the work with them.

But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

NotePamphylia was a land they had visited on an earlier trip. Mark had left them there and gone home.

39They disagreed so strongly that they split up and went different ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus.

And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

NoteCyprus is an island in the sea. It was the place where Barnabas had grown up.

40Paul chose Silas and left. The believers asked God to be kind to Paul and take care of him.

And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

NoteThe believers prayed for Paul before he left. They asked God to be kind to him and keep him safe.

41He traveled through Syria and Cilicia. He made the churches there stronger.

And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

NoteSyria and Cilicia were the lands Paul came from. The churches there were small groups of believers. They often met in someone's house.

16One day we were going to the place of prayer. A slave girl met us. A spirit in her let her tell people what would happen to them. She earned a lot of money for her owners this way.

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:

NoteA slave was a person owned by someone else. She had to work for her owners and give them the money.

17She followed Paul and the rest of us and shouted, "These men serve the Most High God! They are telling you the way to be saved!"

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.

Note"Most High God" means the God who is above everything and everyone. To be saved means to be rescued and brought safe to God.

18She did this for many days. At last Paul had had enough. He turned and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ, I order you to come out of her!" The spirit left her right then.

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.

19Her owners saw that their way of making money was gone. They grabbed Paul and Silas. They dragged them to the leaders in the market place.

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,

NoteThe market place was the busy middle of the town. It was where people bought food and where leaders heard complaints.

20They brought them to the city judges and said, "These men are Jews. They are making trouble all over our city."

And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

NoteMagistrates were the men who ran the city. They also decided when someone had broken the law.

21"They teach ways that we Romans are not allowed to take up or follow."

And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

22The crowd joined in against them. The judges had their clothes torn off. Then they ordered the two men beaten with sticks.

And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

NoteThe men's clothes were pulled off so the sticks hit bare skin. Roman officers carried bundles of sticks for beating people.

23The men were hit many times. Then they were thrown into jail. The jailer was told to guard them carefully.

And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

NoteThe King James Bible says "stripes." That meant the sore marks left on skin after a beating.

24Because of that order, the jailer put them in the deepest room of the jail. He locked their feet into heavy wooden blocks called stocks.

Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

NoteStocks were heavy blocks of wood with holes cut in them. A prisoner's ankles were locked inside so he could not walk.

25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing songs to God. The other prisoners were listening to them.

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

26Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the jail down to its base. All the doors flew open at once. Every prisoner's chains came loose.

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.

27The jailer woke up and saw the jail doors standing open. He pulled out his sword to kill himself. He thought all the prisoners had run away.

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.

NoteA Roman guard who let prisoners escape could be put to death himself. That is why he was so afraid.

28But Paul shouted in a loud voice, "Do not hurt yourself! We are all still here!"

But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

29The jailer called for lights. He rushed in, shaking with fear, and fell down in front of Paul and Silas.

Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

30He brought them outside and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

NoteTo be saved means to be rescued and made safe with God forever.

31They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved. This is true for you and for everyone in your house."

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

32Then Paul and Silas told God's message to him and to all the people living in his house.

And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

33At that same hour of the night, the jailer washed their sore places. Right away he and all his family were baptized.

And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

NoteBaptized means dipped in water. It showed that a person now belonged to Jesus.

34He brought them into his home and set food in front of them. He and his whole family were full of joy that they now believed in God.

And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

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.

1Paul and his friends traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia. Then they came to the city of Thessalonica. There was a synagogue there, a place where Jewish people met to pray and learn.

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:

NoteAmphipolis, Apollonia, and Thessalonica were towns in Greece. Paul and his friends walked the roads between them.

2Paul went in, as he always did. For three Sabbath days he talked with the people there about the Scriptures. The Sabbath was the Jewish day of rest.

And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

NoteA synagogue was a building where Jewish people met. They prayed there and read God's word out loud. The Scriptures were their holy books. Christians now call them the Old Testament.

3He explained and showed them that the Christ had to suffer and then rise from the dead. Christ means God's chosen King. Paul said, "This Jesus I am telling you about is the Christ."

Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

Note"Risen again from the dead" means came back to life after dying. Most people expected God's chosen King to win, not to suffer. That is why Paul had to explain it so carefully.

4Some of them believed and joined Paul and Silas. Many Greeks who worshiped God believed too. So did quite a few important women.

And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

NoteThe King James says they "consorted with" Paul. That just means they joined him and stayed with him. Silas was Paul's friend who traveled with him. Some Greeks were not Jewish but had learned to love Israel's God.

5But some of the Jews did not believe, and they were jealous. They gathered rough troublemakers from the market and made a mob. Soon the whole city was in an uproar. They rushed to Jason's house to drag Paul and Silas out to the crowd.

But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

NoteThe King James calls them "lewd fellows of the baser sort." In old English that meant rough, no-good men who liked trouble. An uproar is a loud, angry crowd making noise.

6They could not find them there. So they dragged Jason and some other believers to the city leaders. They shouted, "These men have turned the world upside down. Now they have come here too!"

And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

Note"Brethren" is an old word for brothers. Here it means the other people who believed. "Turned the world upside down" was an insult. It meant these men changed everything wherever they went.

7"Jason has taken them into his house. They all go against the rules of Caesar, the ruler of Rome. They say there is another king, named Jesus!"

Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

NoteCaesar was the emperor, the top ruler of Rome. Saying someone else was king sounded like fighting against him. That was a very serious thing to be accused of.

8The crowd and the city leaders heard this. It upset them very much.

And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.

9The leaders made Jason and the others pay money as a promise to keep the peace. Then they let them go.

And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

NoteThe King James says they "taken security of Jason." Jason paid money to promise there would be no more trouble. He would get it back if the city stayed calm.

10As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. When they got there, they went into the synagogue.

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

NoteBerea was another town in Greece, about a day away.

11The people in Berea were more fair-minded than the people in Thessalonica. They were glad to listen to the message. Every day they read the Scriptures to see if it was true.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

NoteThe King James says these people were "more noble." It does not mean they were rich or royal. It means they listened fairly and checked things for themselves.

12So many of them believed. Quite a few important Greek women and men believed too.

Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

Note"Honourable women" means women that other people looked up to and listened to.

13Then the Jews in Thessalonica heard that Paul was teaching God's word in Berea. So they came there too and stirred up the crowds.

But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.

14Right away the believers sent Paul off toward the sea. Silas and Timothy stayed behind in Berea.

And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.

NoteThey sent Paul toward the sea so he could sail away safely. Timothy was a young helper who traveled with Paul.

15The men who traveled with Paul brought him all the way to Athens. Then they went back with this message for Silas and Timothy: come to Paul as fast as you can.

And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

NoteAthens was a famous Greek city. People came there to learn and to talk about ideas.

1After this, Paul left the city of Athens. He went to the city of Corinth.

After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;

NoteAthens and Corinth are cities in Greece. Corinth was busy and full of ships and traders. Paul walked and sailed a long way between the two.

2There he met a Jew named Aquila, who was born in Pontus. Aquila had just come from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They came because Claudius, the ruler of Rome, had ordered all Jews to leave that city. Paul went to see them.

And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.

NoteJews are God's people, the family of Israel. Pontus was a land far away, by the Black Sea. Rome was the biggest, strongest city in the world then. Its ruler could order people to move away, and they had to go.

3Paul stayed with them and worked with them. They made tents for a living, and so did Paul.

And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

NoteTents were made of tough cloth or leather, sewn by hand. Travelers and soldiers slept in them. Teachers like Paul often had a trade so they could pay for their own food.

4Every Sabbath, the Jewish day of rest, Paul talked with people in the synagogue, the place where Jews met to worship. He tried to help both Jews and Greeks believe.

And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

NoteThe Sabbath was the day each week when Jews rested. They did no work and met to worship God. Greeks were people who were not Jews. Many of them came to listen too.

5Then Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia. After that, Paul spent all his time teaching. He told the Jews that Jesus is the Christ, the King God had promised to send.

And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

NoteChrist means "the chosen one." God's people had waited a very long time for him. Macedonia was a land to the north, where Paul had been before.

6But they argued with him and said insulting things. So Paul shook out his clothes and said to them, "What happens to you is your own fault. I have done my part. From now on I will go to the Gentiles, people who are not Jews."

And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

NoteShaking out your clothes was a sign, like brushing off dust. It meant, "I have said all I can say here." The old words "Your blood be upon your own heads" mean the choice is now theirs.

7So Paul left there and went into the house of a man named Justus. Justus worshiped God. His house was right next door to the synagogue.

And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.

NoteJustus was not a Jew, but he loved the God of Israel. He came to the synagogue to listen and pray.

8Crispus was the leader of the synagogue. He believed in the Lord, and so did everyone in his house. Many other people in Corinth heard and believed too. They were baptized, washed in water to show they now followed Jesus.

And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

NoteThe leader of a synagogue kept the building and chose who would speak. Being baptized meant going down into water and coming up again.

9One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision, a picture God showed him. He said, "Do not be afraid. Keep speaking. Do not stay quiet."

Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:

NoteA vision is something God shows a person, like a dream while awake.

10"I am with you. No one will attack you and hurt you. Many people in this city belong to me."

For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

11So Paul stayed there for a year and a half. He taught God's word to the people.

And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

18God always keeps his word. In the same way, what we said to you was not yes and no at the same time.

But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.

19We told you about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Silvanus, Timothy, and I told you about him. He was never yes and no. In him the answer is always yes.

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.

NoteSilvanus is another name for Silas. He was Paul's friend and traveled with him to teach about Jesus.

20God has made many promises. In Jesus, all of them are yes. So we say Amen, which means yes, this is true. This brings honor to God.

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

NoteAmen is a word people said at the end of a prayer. It means "yes, this is true."

21God is the one who keeps us strong with you in Christ. He chose us and set us apart for himself.

Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

NoteThe old wording says God "anointed" us. To anoint someone was to pour oil on their head. It showed everyone that this person was picked for a special job.

22He also put his own mark on us, to show that we are his. And he put his Spirit in our hearts. The Spirit is God's promise that more is coming.

Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

NoteA seal was a mark pressed into soft wax. It showed who owned something, like writing your name on your lunch. The old wording also calls the Spirit an "earnest." That was a first bit of money paid to promise the rest was coming.