Acts 16ASV
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Acts16

American Standard Version · Public Domain

1And 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.

2The same was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

3Him 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.

4And 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.

5So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

6And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden of the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;

7and when they were come over against Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia; and the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not;

8and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

9And 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.

10And 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.

11Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis;

12and 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.

13And 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.

14And 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.

15And 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.

16And it came to pass, as we were going to the place of prayer, that a certain maid having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.

17The same following after Paul and us cried out, saying, These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim unto you the way of salvation.

18And this she did for many days. But Paul, being sore troubled, turned and said to the spirit, I charge thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out that very hour.

19But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers,

20and when they had brought them unto the magistrates, they said, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

21and set forth customs which it is not lawful for us to receive, or to observe, being Romans.

22And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent their garments off them, and commanded to beat them with rods.

23And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

24who, having received such a charge, cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

25But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God, and the prisoners were listening to them;

26and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison-house were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened; and every one’s bands were loosed.

27And the jailor, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.

28But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

29And he called for lights and sprang in, and, trembling for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas,

30and brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house.

32And they spake the word of the Lord unto him, with all that were in his house.

33And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, immediately.

34And he brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his house, having believed in God.

35But when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.

36And the jailor reported the words to Paul, saying, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore come forth, and go in peace.

37But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Romans, and have cast us into prison; and do they now cast us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and bring us out.

38And the serjeants reported these words unto the magistrates: and they feared when they heard that they were Romans;

39and they came and besought them; and when they had brought them out, they asked them to go away from the city.

40And 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.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Acts 16.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: Paul takes Timothy to be his assistant. (1–5). Paul proceeds to Macedonia, The conversion of Lydia. (6–15). An evil spirit cast out, Paul and Silas scourged and imprisoned. (16–24). The conversion of the jailer at Philippi. (25–34). Paul and Silas released. (35–40).

vv1-5

Well may the church look for much service from youthful ministers who set out in the same spirit as Timothy. But when men will submit in nothing, and oblige in nothing, the first elements of the Christian temper seem to be wanting; and there is great reason to believe that the doctrines and precepts of the gospel will not be successfully taught. The design of the decree being to set aside the ceremonial law, and its carnal ordinances, believers were confirmed in the Christian faith, because it set up a spiritual way of serving God, as suited to the nature both of God and man. Thus the church increased in numbers daily.

vv6-15

The removals of ministers, and the dispensing the means of grace by them, are in particular under Divine conduct and direction. We must follow Providence: and whatever we seek to do, if that suffer us not, we ought to submit and believe to be for the best. People greatly need help for their souls, it is their duty to look out for it, and to invite those among them who can help them. And God's calls must be complied with readily. A solemn assembly the worshippers of God must have, if possible, upon the sabbath day. If we have not synagogues, we must be thankful for more private places, and resort to them; not forsaking the assembling together, as our opportunities are. Among the hearers of Paul was a woman, named Lydia. She had an honest calling, which the historian notices to her praise. Yet though she had a calling to mind, she found time to improve advantages for her soul. It will not excuse us from religious duties, to say, We have a trade to mind; for have not we also a God to serve, and souls to look after? Religion does not call us from our business in the world, but directs us in it. Pride, prejudice, and sin shut out the truths of God, till his grace makes way for them into the understanding and affections; and the Lord alone can open the heart to receive and believe his word. We must believe in Jesus Christ; there is no coming to God as a Father, but by the Son as Mediator.

vv16-24

Satan, though the father of lies, will declare the most important truths, when he can thereby serve his purposes. But much mischief is done to the real servants of Christ, by unholy and false preachers of the gospel, who are confounded with them by careless observers. Those who do good by drawing men from sin, may expect to be reviled as troublers of the city. While they teach men to fear God, to believe in Christ, to forsake sin, and to live godly lives, they will be accused of teaching bad customs.

Cross References

Acts 16
v12 Timothy 1:5thematic

Names Timothy's Jewish mother Eunice and grandmother Lois, explaining his early upbringing in the scriptures.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v12 Timothy 3:15thematic

Confirms Timothy was taught the Holy Scriptures from childhood by his faithful Jewish mother.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v37Acts 22:25-28thematic

Direct parallel of Paul asserting his Roman citizenship to avoid unlawful abuse by authorities.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v12 Timothy 3:11thematic

Timothy's first-hand awareness of Paul's persecutions at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

Theological principle of Paul becoming 'all things to all men' to win some, explaining Timothy's circumcision.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v3Galatians 2:3contrast

Contrast where Paul refused to circumcise Titus, refusing to compromise gospel freedom for Judaizers.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v21 Timothy 3:7thematic

Paul's ministerial requirement that a bishop must have a good report from those without.

Supported by John Calvin

v4Acts 15:28thematic

The specific decree from the Jerusalem Council delivered by Paul to the churches.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v14Luke 24:45thematic

Parallel of the Lord opening the understanding, matching how He opened Lydia's heart.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v30Acts 2:37thematic

Parallel conviction of sin where listeners ask what they must do.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v1Acts 14:6thematic

Identifies Derbe and Lystra as cities of Lycaonia from Paul's previous missionary journey.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v15Luke 14:23thematic

Illustrates Lydia's holy importunity as she 'constrained' the missionaries to stay.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v18Mark 1:25thematic

Jesus rebukes an unclean spirit, refusing testimony from demons, matching Paul's response.

Supported by Matthew Henry

Paul's catalog of sufferings, including being beaten with rods and imprisoned.

Supported by JFB

v10Psalms 119:60thematic

Illustrates the immediate obedience of the missionary team after the Macedonian vision.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v31Acts 16:3thematic

Demonstrates baptism of a believer's entire household, matching Lydia's and the jailer's families.

Supported by Matthew Henry