---
title: "Acts 16 – Catholic Bible (CPDV) & Latin Vulgate · Bless"
url: https://blessbible.app/bible/acts/16/
description: "Paul visits the churches. He is called to preach in Macedonia. He is scourged at… Acts 16 in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin Vulgate."
---

# Acts 16

Acts 16 is chapter 16 of 28 in the Acts of the Apostles. Here are all 40 verses in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin of the Clementine Vulgate beside them.

> Paul visits the churches. He is called to preach in Macedonia. He is scourged at Philippi.
>
> — Bp. Richard Challoner, chapter summary

## Acts 16 (Catholic Public Domain Version)

1. Then he arrived at Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple named Timothy was there, the son of a faithful Jewish woman, his father a Gentile.
2. The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium rendered good testimony to him.
3. Paul wanted this man to travel with him, and taking him, he circumcised him, because of the Jews who were in those places. For they all knew that his father was a Gentile.
4. And as they were traveling through the cities, they delivered to them the dogmas to be kept, which were decreed by the Apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.
5. And certainly, the Churches were being strengthened in faith and were increasing in number every day.
6. Then, while crossing through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the Word in Asia.
7. But when they had arrived in Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them.
8. Then, when they had crossed through Mysia, they descended to Troas.
9. And a vision in the night was revealed to Paul of a certain man of Macedonia, standing and pleading with him, and saying: “Cross into Macedonia and help us!”
10. Then, after he saw the vision, immediately we sought to set out for Macedonia, having been assured that God had called us to evangelize to them.
11. And sailing from Troas, taking a direct path, we arrived at Samothrace, and on the following day, at Neapolis,
12. and from there to Philippi, which is the preeminent city in the area of Macedonia, a colony. Now we were in this city some days, conferring together.
13. Then, on the Sabbath day, we were walking outside the gate, beside a river, where there seemed to be a prayer gathering. And sitting down, we were speaking with the women who had assembled.
14. And a certain woman, named Lydia, a seller of purple in the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened. And the Lord opened her heart to be receptive to what Paul was saying.
15. And when she had been baptized, with her household, she pleaded with us, saying: “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, enter into my house and lodge there.” And she convinced us.
16. Then it happened that, as we were going out to prayer, a certain girl, having a spirit of divination, met with us. She was a source of great profit to her masters, through her divining.
17. This girl, following Paul and us, was crying out, saying: “These men are servants of the Most High God! They are announcing to you the way of salvation!”
18. Now she behaved in this way for many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you, in the name of Jesus Christ, to go out from her.” And it went away in that same hour.
19. But her masters, seeing that the hope of their profit went away, apprehended Paul and Silas, and they brought them to the rulers at the courthouse.
20. And presenting them to the magistrates, they said: “These men are disturbing our city, since they are Jews.
21. And they are announcing a way which is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, since we are Romans.”
22. And the people rushed together against them. And the magistrates, tearing their tunics, ordered them to be beaten with staffs.
23. And when they had inflicted many scourges on them, they cast them into prison, instructing the guard to watch them diligently.
24. And since he had received this kind of order, he cast them into the interior prison cell, and he restricted their feet with stocks.
25. Then, in the middle of the night, Paul and Silas were praying and praising God. And those who were also in custody were listening to them.
26. Yet truly, there was a sudden earthquake, so great that the foundations of the prison were moved. And immediately all the doors were opened, and the bindings of everyone were released.
27. Then the prison guard, having been jarred awake, and seeing the doors of the prison open, drew his sword and intended to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had fled.
28. But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying: “Do no harm to yourself, for we are all here!”
29. Then calling for a light, he entered. And trembling, he fell before the feet of Paul and Silas.
30. And bringing them outside, he said, “Sirs, what must I do, so that I may be saved?”
31. So they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and then you will be saved, with your household.”
32. And they spoke the Word of the Lord to him, along with all those who were in his house.
33. And he, taking them in the same hour of the night, washed their scourges. And he was baptized, and next his entire household.
34. And when he had brought them into his own house, he set a table for them. And he was joyous, with his entire household, believing in God.
35. And when daylight had arrived, the magistrates sent the attendants, saying, “Release those men.”
36. But the prison guard reported these words to Paul: “The magistrates have sent to have you released. Now therefore, depart. Go in peace.”
37. But Paul said to them: “They have beaten us publicly, though we were not condemned. They have cast men who are Romans into prison. And now they would drive us away secretly? Not so. Instead, let them come forward,
38. and let us drive them away.” Then the attendants reported these words to the magistrates. And upon hearing that they were Romans, they were afraid.
39. And arriving, they pleaded with them, and leading them out, they begged them to depart from the city.
40. And they went away from the prison and entered into the house of Lydia. And having seen the brothers, they consoled them, and then they set out.

## Acts 16 in Latin (Clementine Vulgate, 1592)

1. Pervenit autem Derben et Lystram. Et ecce discipulus quidam erat ibi nomine Timotheus, filius mulieris Judææ fidelis, patre gentili.
2. Huic testimonium bonum reddebant qui in Lystris erant et Iconio fratres.
3. Hunc voluit Paulus secum proficisci: et assumens circumcidit eum propter Judæos qui erant in illis locis. Sciebant enim omnes quod pater ejus erat gentilis.
4. Cum autem pertransirent civitates, tradebant eis custodiri dogmata quæ erant decreta ab Apostolis et senioribus qui erant Jerosolymis.
5. Et ecclesiæ quidem confirmabantur fide, et abundabunt numero quotidie.
6. Transeuntes autem Phrygiam et Galatiæ regionem, vetati sunt a Spiritu Sancto loqui verbum Dei in Asia.
7. Cum venissent autem in Mysiam, tentabant ire in Bithyniam: et non permisit eos Spiritus Jesu.
8. Cum autem pertransissent Mysiam, descenderunt Troadem:
9. et visio per noctem Paulo ostensa est: vir Macedo quidam erat stans et deprecans eum, et dicens: Transiens in Macedoniam, adjuva nos.
10. Ut autem visum vidit, statim quæsivimus proficisci in Macedoniam, certi facti quod vocasset nos Deus evangelizare eis.
11. Navigantes autem a Troade, recto cursu venimus Samothraciam, et sequenti die Neapolim:
12. et inde Philippos, quæ est prima partis Macedoniæ civitas, colonia. Eramus autem in hac urbe diebus aliquot, conferentes.
13. Die autem sabbatorum egressi sumus foras portam juxta flumen, ubi videbatur oratio esse: et sedentes loquebamur mulieribus quæ convenerant.
14. Et quædam mulier nomine Lydia, purpuraria civitatis Thyatirenorum, colens Deum, audivit: cujus Dominus aperuit cor intendere his quæ dicebantur a Paulo.
15. Cum autem baptizata esset, et domus ejus, deprecata est, dicens: Si judicastis me fidelem Domino esse, introite in domum meam, et manete. Et coëgit nos.
16. Factum est autem euntibus nobis ad orationem, puellam quamdam habentem spiritum pythonem obviare nobis, quæ quæstum magnum præstabat dominis suis divinando.
17. Hæc subsecuta Paulum et nos, clamabat dicens: Isti homines servi Dei excelsi sunt, qui annuntiant vobis viam salutis.
18. Hoc autem faciebat multis diebus. Dolens autem Paulus, et conversus, spiritui dixit: Præcipio tibi in nomine Jesu Christi exire ab ea. Et exiit eadem hora.
19. Videntes autem domini ejus quia exivit spes quæstus eorum, apprehendentes Paulum et Silam, perduxerunt in forum ad principes:
20. et offerentes eos magistratibus, dixerunt: Hi homines conturbant civitatem nostram, cum sint Judæi:
21. et annuntiant morem quem non licet nobis suscipere neque facere, cum simus Romani.
22. Et cucurrit plebs adversus eos: et magistratus, scissis tunicis eorum, jusserunt eos virgis cædi.
23. Et cum multas plagas eis imposuissent, miserunt eos in carcerem, præcipientes custodi ut diligenter custodiret eos.
24. Qui cum tale præceptum accepisset, misit eos in interiorem carcerem, et pedes eorum strinxit ligno.
25. Media autem nocte Paulus et Silas orantes, laudabant Deum: et audiebant eos qui in custodia erant.
26. Subito vero terræmotus factus est magnus, ita ut moverentur fundamenta carceris. Et statim aperta sunt omnia ostia: et universorum vincula soluta sunt.
27. Expergefactus autem custos carceris, et videns januas apertas carceris, evaginato gladio volebat se interficere, æstimans fugisse vinctos.
28. Clamavit autem Paulus voce magna, dicens: Nihil tibi mali feceris: universi enim hic sumus.
29. Petitoque lumine, introgressus est: et tremefactus procidit Paulo et Silæ ad pedes:
30. et producens eos foras, ait: Domini, quid me oportet facere, ut salvus fiam?
31. At illi dixerunt: Crede in Dominum Jesum, et salvus eris tu, et domus tua.
32. Et locuti sunt ei verbum Domini cum omnibus qui erant in domo ejus.
33. Et tollens eos in illa hora noctis, lavit plagas eorum: et baptizatus est ipse, et omnis domus ejus continuo.
34. Cumque perduxisset eos in domum suam, apposuit eis mensam, et lætatus est cum omni domo sua credens Deo.
35. Et cum dies factus esset, miserunt magistratus lictores, dicentes: Dimitte homines illos.
36. Nuntiavit autem custos carceris verba hæc Paulo: Quia miserunt magistratus ut dimittamini: nunc igitur exeuntes, ite in pace.
37. Paulus autem dixit eis: Cæsos nos publice, indemnatos homines Romanos, miserunt in carcerem: et nunc occulte nos ejiciunt? Non ita: sed veniant,
38. et ipsi nos ejiciant. Nuntiaverunt autem magistratibus lictores verba hæc. Timueruntque audito quod Romani essent:
39. et venientes deprecati sunt eos, et educentes rogabant ut egrederentur de urbe.
40. Exeuntes autem de carcere, introierunt ad Lydiam: et visis fratribus consolati sunt eos, et profecti sunt.

## Catechism of the Catholic Church

Paragraph numbers and the Catechism's own section headings (never quoted); text at vatican.va.
- CCC ¶ 1226: Baptism in the Economy of Salvation ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 1252: Who can Receive Baptism? ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 434: Jesus ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 1655: The Domestic Church ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))

## Bishop Challoner's notes

Bp. Richard Challoner, notes on the Douay-Rheims (1750); they comment on its older wording.
- Verse 16: That is, a spirit pretending to divine, and tell fortunes.

## Read at Mass (US)

- Sat, Jan 23, 2027: Saturday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time — Alleluia, See Acts 16:14b
- Sat, May 1, 2027: Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter — First Reading, Acts 16:1-10
- Tue, May 4, 2027: Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter — First Reading, Acts 16:22-34
- Thu, Oct 7, 2027 (computed): Our Lady of the Rosary — Alleluia, See Acts 16:14b

7 more dates through December 31, 2028, in the [liturgical calendar](https://blessbible.app/calendar/).

Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.

Source: Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain; Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592).