The Early Church

Judas also and Silas, being themselves also prophets, through much discourse did exhort the brethren, and confirm,

and having passed some time, they were let go with peace from the brethren unto the apostles;

and it seemed good to Silas to remain there still.

And Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming good news--with many others also--the word of the Lord;

and after certain days, Paul said unto Barnabas, `Having turned back again, we may look after our brethren, in every city in which we have preached the word of the Lord--how they are.'

And Barnabas counselled to take with them John called Mark,

and Paul was not thinking it good to take him with them who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and did not go with them to the work;

there came, therefore, a sharp contention, so that they were parted from one another, and Barnabas having taken Mark, did sail to Cyprus,

and Paul having chosen Silas, went forth, having been given up to the grace of God by the brethren;

and he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the assemblies.

And he came to Derbe and Lystra, and lo, a certain disciple was there, by name Timotheus son of a certain woman, a believing Jewess, but of a father, a Greek,

who was well testified to by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium;

this one did Paul wish to go forth with him, and having taken him , he circumcised him, because of the Jews who are in those places, for they all knew his father--that he was a Greek.

And as they were going on through the cities, they were delivering to them the decrees to keep, that have been judged by the apostles and the elders who are in Jerusalem,

then, indeed, were the assemblies established in the faith, and were abounding in number every day;

and having gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia,

having gone toward Mysia, they were trying to go on toward Bithynia, and the Spirit did not suffer them,

and having passed by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

And a vision through the night appeared to Paul--a certain man of Macedonia was standing, calling upon him, and saying, `Having passed through to Macedonia, help us;' --

and when he saw the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go forth to Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord hath called us to preach good news to them,

having set sail, therefore, from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, on the morrow also to Neapolis,

thence also to Philippi, which is a principal city of the part of Macedonia--a colony. And we were in this city abiding certain days,

on the sabbath-day also we went forth outside of the city, by a river, where there used to be prayer, and having sat down, we were speaking to the women who came together,

and a certain woman, by name Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, worshipping God, was hearing, whose heart the Lord did open to attend to the things spoken by Paul;

and when she was baptized, and her household, she did call upon us, saying, `If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, having entered into my house, remain;' and she constrained us.