Original Douay Rheims Bible (1582 & 1610)

The Actes of the Apostles

Paul hauing for his part visited the Churches of Syria, Cilicia, and Lycaonia, deliuering vnto them withal to keep the Decrees of the Council; 6. beginneth a new iourney, ouer Phrygia, Galatia, Mysia: 8. Yea into Europe also he passeth, admonished by a vision, and commeth into Macedonia, 12. and there he beginneth the Church of the Philippians, working miracles, and suffering persecution.
1. AND he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, there was a certaine Disciple there named Timothee, the sonne of a 'Iew' widow woman that beleeued, of a father a Gentile.
2. To this man the Brethren that were in Lystra and Iconium, gaue a good testimonie.
3. Him Paul would haue to goe forth with him: and taking him he circumcised him because of the Iewes that were in those places. For they al knew that his father was a Gentile.
4. And when they passed through the cities, they deliuered vnto them to keepe the Here again they take order that the decrees and articles of faith agreed vpon in the Councel of Ierusalem, should be executed & obserued. Whereby we see both the great authoritie of Councels, & the diligence that al Prelates ought to haue to see the Decrees & Canons of the Councels put in execution. decrees that were decreed of the Apostles and Ancients where were at Hierusalem.
5. And the Churches were confirmed in faith, and did abound in number daily.
6. And passing through Phrygia and the countrie of Galatia, they were This people had not the Ghospel denied vnto them altogether, but for a time: because (as Venerable Bede thinketh) God foresaw they would not beleeue, & so should haue been more grieuously damned. forbidden by the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia.
7. And when they were come into Mysia, they attempted to goe into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Iᴇꜱᴠꜱ permitted them not.
8. And when they had passed through Mysia, they went downe to Troas:
9. and a vision by night was shewed to Paul. There was a certaine man of Macedonia standing and beseeching him, and saying: Passe into Macedonia, and help vs.
10. And as soone as he had seen the vision, forthwith we sought to goe into Macedonia, being assured that God had called vs to euangelize to them.
11. And sailing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the day following to Neapolis:
12. and from thence to Philippi, which is the first citie of the part of Macedonia, a Colonia, is such a citie where the most inhabitants are strangers, sent thither from other great cities & States, namely from the Romanes. Celonia. And we were in this citie certaine daies abiding.
13. And vpon the day of the Sabboths, we went forth without the gate beside a riuer, where it seemed that there was praier: & sitting we spake to the women that were assembled.
14. And a certaine woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the citie of the Thyatirians, one that worshipped God, did heare: whose hart our Lord opened to attend to those things which were said of Paul.
15. And when she was baptized, & her house, she besought vs, saying: If you haue iudged me to be faithful to our Lord, enter into my house & tarie. And she constrained vs.
16. And it came to passe as we went to praier, a certaine wench hauing a Pythonical spirit, met vs, that brought great gaine to her Maisters by diuining.
17. This same following Paul & vs, cried saying: Either the Deuil was compelled by the vertue of Paul's presence to say truth, or els (as such doe oftentimes) he spake truth now, that they might the more trust him, and he better beguile them at other times. These men are the seruants of the high God, which preach vnto you the way of saluation.
18. And this she did many daies. And Paul being sorie, and turning, said to the spirit: I command thee in the name of Iesvs Christ to goe out from her. And he went out the same houre.
19. But her Maisters seeing that the hope of their gaine was gone, apprehending Paul and Silas, brought them into the market place to the Princes:
20. and presenting them to the Magistrates, they said: These men trouble our citie, being Iewes:
21. and they preach a fashion which it is not lawful for vs to receiue, nor doe, being Romanes.
22. And the people ranne against them: and the Magistrates tearing their coates, commanded them to be beaten with roddes.
23. And when they had laid * 2. Corinth. 11. many stripes vpon them, they did cast them into prison, commanding the keeper that he should keep them diligently.
24. Who when he had receiued such commandement, cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25. And at mid-night Paul and Silas praying, did praise God. And they that were in prison, heard them.
26. But sodenly there was made a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prisons were shaken. And forthwith al the doores were opened: and the bands of al were loosed.
27. And the keeper of the prison waked out of his sleep, and seeing the doores of the prisons opened, drawing out his sword, would haue killed himself, supposing that the prisonners had been fled.
28. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying: Doe thy self no harme, for we are al here.
29. And calling for light, he went in, and trembling fel downe to Paul and Silas at their feet:
30. and bringing them forth, he said: Maister, what must I doe that I may be saued?
31. But they said: It is no other faith that saueth but that which worketh by Charitie. Aug. Enchirid. c. 67. Beleeue in our Lord Iᴇꜱᴠꜱ; and thou shalt be saued and thy house.
32. And thy preached the word of our Lord to him with al that were in his house.
33. And he taking them in the same houre of the night, Happie Gailers that doe mercie toward their godly prisonners, and receiue againe by them such spiritual benefites. washed their wounds: and himself was baptized and al his house incontinent.
34. And when he had brought them into his own house, he laid the table for them, and reioyced with al his house, beleeuing God.
35. ANd when day was come, the Magistrates sent the Sergeants, saying: Let those men goe.
36. And the keeper of the prison told these words to Paul, That the Magistrates haue sent that you should be let goe. Now therfore departing, goe ye in peace.
37. But Paul said to them: Being whipped openly, vncondemned, men that are Romanes, they haue cast vs into prison: & now doe they send vs out secretly? Not so, but let them come, & let vs out themselues.
38. And the Sergeants reported these wordes to the Magistrates. And they were afraid hearing that they were Romanes:
39. and comming they besought them, & bringing them forth they desired them to depart out of the citie.
40. And going out of the prison, they entred in vnto Lydia: and hauing seen the Brethren, they comforted them, and departed.