The Early Church

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

And after they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brethren unto those that had sent them forth.

Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

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

And after some days Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city wherein we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they fare.

And Barnabas was minded to take with them John also, who was called Mark.

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

And there arose a sharp contention, so that they parted asunder one from the other, and Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away unto Cyprus:

but Paul chose Silas, and went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.

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

And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess that believed; but his father was a Greek.

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

Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those parts: for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

And as they went on their way through the cities, they delivered them the decrees to keep which had been ordained of the apostles and elders that were at Jerusalem.

So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden of the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;

and when they were come over against Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia; and the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not;

and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There was a man of Macedonia standing, beseeching him, and saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

And when he had seen the vision, straightway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel unto them.

Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis;

and from thence to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the first of the district, a Roman colony: and we were in this city tarrying certain days.

And on the sabbath day we went forth without the gate by a river side, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down, and spake unto the women that were come together.

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul.

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.