Acts 16

1 pervenit autem in Derben et Lystram et ecce discipulus quidam erat ibi nomine Timotheus filius mulieris iudaeae fidelis patre gentili

2 huic testimonium reddebant qui in Lystris erant et Iconii fratres

3 hunc voluit Paulus secum proficisci et adsumens circumcidit eum propter Iudaeos qui erant in illis locis sciebant enim omnes quod pater eius gentilis esset

4 cum autem pertransirent civitates tradebant eis custodire dogmata quae erant decreta ab apostolis et senioribus qui essent Hierosolymis

5 et ecclesiae quidem confirmabantur fide et abundabant numero cotidie

6 transeuntes autem Frygiam et Galatiae regionem vetati sunt a Sancto Spiritu loqui verbum in Asia

7 cum venissent autem in Mysiam temptabant ire Bithyniam et non permisit eos Spiritus Iesu

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 adiuva nos

10 ut autem visum vidit statim quaesivimus proficisci in Macedoniam certi facti quia vocasset nos Deus evangelizare eis

11 navigantes autem a Troade recto cursu venimus Samothraciam et sequenti die Neapolim

12 et inde Philippis quae est prima partis Macedoniae civitas colonia eramus autem in hac urbe diebus aliquot conferentes

13 die autem sabbatorum egressi sumus foras portam iuxta flumen ubi videbatur oratio esse et sedentes loquebamur mulieribus quae convenerant

14 et quaedam mulier nomine Lydia purpuraria civitatis Thyatirenorum colens Deum audivit cuius Dominus aperuit cor intendere his quae dicebantur a Paulo

15 cum autem baptizata esset et domus eius deprecata est dicens si iudicastis me fidelem Domino esse introite in domum meam et manete et coegit nos

16 factum est autem euntibus nobis ad orationem puellam quandam habentem spiritum pythonem obviare nobis quae quaestum magnum praestabat dominis suis divinando

17 haec subsecuta Paulum et nos clamabat dicens isti homines servi Dei excelsi sunt qui adnuntiant vobis viam salutis

18 hoc autem faciebat multis diebus dolens autem Paulus et conversus spiritui dixit praecipio tibi in nomine Iesu Christi exire ab ea et exiit eadem hora

19 videntes autem domini eius quia exivit spes quaestus eorum adprehendentes Paulum et Silam perduxerunt in forum ad principes

20 et offerentes eos magistratibus dixerunt hii homines conturbant civitatem nostram cum sint Iudaei

21 et adnuntiant morem quem non licet nobis suscipere neque facere cum simus Romani

22 et concurrit plebs adversus eos et magistratus scissis tunicis eorum iusserunt virgis caedi

23 et cum multas plagas eis inposuissent miserunt eos in carcerem praecipientes custodi ut diligenter custodiret eos

24 qui cum tale praeceptum accepisset misit eos in interiorem carcerem et pedes eorum strinxit in ligno

25 media autem nocte Paulus et Silas adorantes laudabant Deum et audiebant eos qui in custodia erant

26 subito vero terraemotus factus est magnus ita ut moverentur fundamenta carceris et aperta sunt statim ostia omnia et universorum vincula soluta sunt

27 expergefactus autem custos carceris et videns apertas ianuas carceris evaginato gladio volebat se interficere aestimans fugisse vinctos

28 clamavit autem Paulus magna voce dicens nihil feceris tibi mali universi enim hic sumus

29 petitoque lumine introgressus est et tremefactus procidit Paulo et Silae

30 et producens eos foras ait domini quid me oportet facere ut salvus fiam

31 at illi dixerunt crede in Domino Iesu et salvus eris tu et domus tua

32 et locuti sunt ei verbum Domini cum omnibus qui erant in domo eius

33 et tollens eos in illa hora noctis lavit plagas eorum et baptizatus est ipse et omnes eius continuo

34 cumque perduxisset eos in domum suam adposuit eis mensam et laetatus 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 haec Paulo quia miserunt magistratus ut dimittamini nunc igitur exeuntes ite in pace

37 Paulus autem dixit eis caesos nos publice indemnatos homines romanos miserunt in carcerem et nunc occulte nos eiciunt non ita sed veniant

38 et ipsi nos eiciant nuntiaverunt autem magistratibus lictores verba haec timueruntque audito quod Romani essent

39 et venientes deprecati sunt eos et educentes rogabant ut egrederentur urbem

40 exeuntes autem de carcere introierunt ad Lydiam et visis fratribus consolati sunt eos et profecti sunt

Acts 16 Commentary

Chapter 16

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)

Verses 1-5 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.

Verses 6-15 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.

Verses 16-24 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.

Verses 25-34 The consolations of God to his suffering servants are neither few nor small. How much more happy are true Christians than their prosperous enemies! As in the dark, so out of the depths, we may cry unto God. No place, no time is amiss for prayer, if the heart be lifted up to God. No trouble, however grievous, should hinder us from praise. Christianity proves itself to be of God, in that it obliges us to be just to our own lives. Paul cried aloud to make the jailer hear, and to make him heed, saying, Do thyself no harm. All the cautions of the word of God against sin, and all appearances of it, and approaches to it, have this tendency. Man, woman, do not ruin thyself; hurt not thyself, and then none else can hurt thee; do not sin, for nothing but that can hurt thee. Even as to the body, we are cautioned against the sins which do harm to that. Converting grace changes people's language of and to good people and good ministers. How serious the jailer's inquiry! His salvation becomes his great concern; that lies nearest his heart, which before was furthest from his thoughts. It is his own precious soul that he is concerned about. Those who are thoroughly convinced of sin, and truly concerned about their salvation, will give themselves up to Christ. Here is the sum of the whole gospel, the covenant of grace in a few words; Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. The Lord so blessed the word, that the jailer was at once softened and humbled. He treated them with kindness and compassion, and, professing faith in Christ, was baptized in that name, with his family. The Spirit of grace worked such a strong faith in them, as did away further doubt; and Paul and Silas knew by the Spirit, that a work of God was wrought in them. When sinners are thus converted, they will love and honour those whom they before despised and hated, and will seek to lessen the suffering they before desired to increase. When the fruits of faith begin to appear, terrors will be followed by confidence and joy in God.

Verses 35-40 Paul, though willing to suffer for the cause of Christ, and without any desire to avenge himself, did not choose to depart under the charge of having deserved wrongful punishment, and therefore required to be dismissed in an honourable manner. It was not a mere point of honour that the apostle stood upon, but justice, and not to himself so much as to his cause. And when proper apology is made, Christians should never express personal anger, nor insist too strictly upon personal amends. The Lord will make them more than conquerors in every conflict; instead of being cast down by their sufferings, they will become comforters of their brethren.