but even after that we had suffered before and were shamefully entreated at Philippi - as ye well know - then were we bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God, with much striving.
After the rage was ceased, Paul called the disciples unto him, and took his leave of them, and departed for to go into Macedonia. And when he had gone over those parts, and given them large exhortations, he came into Greece: and there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria; He purposed to return through Macedonia.
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There accompanied him into Asia, Sopater of Beroea: And of Thessalonica, Aristarchus and Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy: And out of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. These went before, and tarried us at Troas. And we sailed away from Philippi after the holy days, and came unto them to Troas in five days, where we abode seven days.
and from thence to Philippi, which is the chiefest city in the parts of Macedonia: and a free city. We were in that city abiding a certain days. And on the Sabbath days, we went out of the city besides a river where men were wont to pray, and we sat down and spake unto the women which thither resorted. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, gave us audience: whose heart the Lord opened that she attended unto the things which Paul spake.
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When she was baptised, and her household, she besought us saying, "If ye think that I believe on the Lord come into my house, and abide there." And she constrained us. And it fortuned as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit that prophesied met us, which brought her master and masters much vantage with prophesying. The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, "These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation." And this did she many days. But Paul, not content, turned about and said to the spirit, "I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ that thou come out of her." And he came out the same hour. And when her master and mistress saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, and brought them to the officers, saying, "These men trouble our city, which are Jews and preach ordinances which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, seeing we are Romans." And the people ran on them, and the officers rent their clothes, and commanded them to be beaten with rods, and when they had beaten them sore, they cast them into prison commanding the jailer to keep them surely. Which jailer, when he had received such commandment, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. At midnight, Paul and Silas prayed, and lauded God. And the prisoners heard them. And suddenly, there was a great earthquake, so that the foundation of the prison was shaken, and by and by all the doors opened, and every man's bonds were loosed. When the keeper of the prison waked out of his sleep, and saw the prison doors open, he drew out his sword and would have killed himself, supposing the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice saying, "Do thyself no harm, for we are all here." Then he called for a light and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved and thy household." And they preached unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds, and was baptised, with all that belonged unto him, straightway. When he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and joyed that he with all his household believed on God. And when it was day, the officers sent the ministers saying, "Let those men go." The keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, "The officers have sent word to loose you. Now therefore get you hence and go in peace." Then said Paul unto them, "They have beaten us, openly un-condemned, for all that we are Romans, and have cast us into prison: and now would they send us away privily? Nay not so, but let them come themselves and fetch us out." When the ministers told these words unto the officers, they feared when they heard that they were Romans; and came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of 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.
I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at the last ye are revived again to care for me in that wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. I speak not because of necessity. For I have learned in whatsoever estate I am, therewith to be content. I can both cast down myself, I can also exceed. Everywhere, and in all things I am instructed, both to be full, and to be hungry: to have plenty, and to suffer need.
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I can do all things through the help of Christ, which strengtheneth me. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye bare part with me in my tribulation. Ye of Philippi know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no congregation bare part with me as concerning giving and receiving but ye only. For when I was in Thessalonica, ye sent once, and afterward again, unto my needs: not that I desire gifts: but I desire abundant fruit on your part. I received all, and have plenty. I was even filled after that I have received of Epaphroditus, that which came from you, an odor that smelleth sweet, a sacrifice accepted and pleasant to God.
I supposed it necessary to send brother Epaphroditus unto you, my companion in labour and fellow soldier, your apostle, and my minister at my needs.
Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ. To all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.
I pray Euodia, and beseech Syntyche that they be of one accord in the Lord.