Acts Chapter 16

From The Open Bible Project

16:1 He came to Derbe and Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess who believed; but his father was a Greek.

• (1) Paul himself does not receive Timothy into the ministry without sufficient testimony, and permission of the brethren.
• (a) Paul, in his second epistle to Timothy, commends the godliness of Timothy’s mother and grandmother.

16:2 The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium gave a good testimony about him.

• (b) Both for his godliness and honesty.

16:3 Paul wanted to have him go out with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts; for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

• (2) Timothy is circumcised, not simply for any necessity, but in respect of the time only, in order to win the Jews.

16:4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered the decrees to them to keep which had been ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.

• (3) Charity is to be observed in things indifferent so that regard is had both of the weak, and of the peace of the Church.
• (c) These decrees which he spoke of in the former chapter.

16:5 So the assemblies were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

16:6 When they had gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.

• (4) God appoints certain and determinate times to open and set forth his truth, so that both the election and the calling may proceed of grace.
• (d) He does not show why they were forbidden, but only that they were forbidden, teaching us to obey and not to enquire.

16:7 When they had come opposite Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit didn't allow them.

16:8 Passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

16:9 A vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a man of Macedonia standing, begging him, and saying, "Come over into Macedonia and help us."

• (5) They are the ministers of the Gospel by whom he helps those who are likely to perish.

16:10 When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go out to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the Good News to them.

• (6) The Saints did not easily believe every vision.

16:11 Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis;

16:12 and from there to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the foremost of the district, a Roman colony. We were staying some days in this city.

16:13 On the Sabbath day we went forth outside of the city by a riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down, and spoke to the women who had come together.

• (7) God begins his kingdom in Macedonia by the conversion of a woman, and so shows that there is no exception of persons in the Gospel.
• (e) Where they customarily assembled themselves.

16:14 A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul.

• (8) The Lord opens the heart to hear the word which is preached.

16:15 When she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and stay." So she persuaded us.

• (9) An example of a godly housewife.

16:16 It happened, as we were going to prayer, that a certain girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune telling.

• (10) Satan transforms himself into an angel of light, and covets to enter by undermining, but Paul openly stops him, and casts him out.
• (f) This is a sure sign of the god Apollo, who would give answers to those that asked him.

16:17 Following Paul and us, she cried out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of salvation!"

16:18 She was doing this for many days. But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" It came out that very hour.

• (g) Paul made no haste to do this miracle, for he did all things only as he was led by the Spirit.

16:19 But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.

• (11) Covetousness of evil gain and of profit is an occasion for persecuting the truth. In the meanwhile, God sparing Timothy, calls Paul and Silas as the stronger to battle.

16:20 When they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, "These men, being Jews, are agitating our city,

• (12) Covetousness pretends a desire for common peace and godliness.

16:21 and set forth customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans."

• (13) It is an argument of the devil to use the authority of ancestors, though not distinguishing exactly which ancestors.

16:22 The multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore their clothes off of them, and commanded them to be beaten with rods.

• (14) An example of evil magistrates, to obey the fury and rage of the people.

16:23 When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely,

16:24 who, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison, and secured their feet in the stocks.

• (h) Because he wanted to be more sure that they did not escape, he set them fast in the stocks.

16:25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

• (15) The prayers of the godly do shake both heaven and earth.

16:26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were loosened.

16:27 The jailer, 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.

• (16) The merciful Lord, as often as he desires, draws men to life even through the midst of death, and whereas they justly deserved great punishment, he shows them great mercy.

16:28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, "Don't harm yourself, for we are all here!"

• (17) In means which are especially extraordinary, we should not move our foot forward, unless God goes before us.

16:29 He called for lights and sprang in, and, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas,

16:30 and brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

16:31 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."

16:32 They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house.

16:33 He took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household.

• (18) God with the very same hand wounds and heals when it pleases him.

16:34 He brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his household, having believed in God.

16:35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, "Let those men go."

• (19) Shame and confusion is in due time the reward of wicked and unjust magistrates.

16:36 The jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore come out, and go in peace."

16:37 But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly, without a trial, men who are Romans, and have cast us into prison! Do they now release us secretly? No, most certainly, but let them come themselves and bring us out!"

• (20) We must not render injury for injury, and yet nonetheless it is lawful for us to use such helps as God gives us, to bridle the outrageousness of the wicked, so that they do not hurt others in a similar way.

16:38 The sergeants reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans,

• (21) The wicked are not moved with the fear of God, but with the fear of men: and by that means also God provides for his, when it is needed.

16:39 and they came and begged them. When they had brought them out, they asked them to depart from the city.

16:40 They went out of the prison, and entered into Lydia's house. When they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them, and departed.

• (22) We may avoid dangers in such a way that we never neglect our duty.