Acts 16

1 And he came into Derbe and Lystra. And lo! a disciple was there, by name Timothy, the son of a Jewess christian [+the son of a woman Jewess faithful, or christian], and of the father heathen.

2 And brethren that were in Lystra and Iconium [The brethren that were in Lystra and Iconium], yielded good witnessing to him.

3 And Paul would that this man should go forth with him [Paul would him to go forth with himself], and he took, and circumcised him, for Jews that were in those places. For all knew, that his father was heathen.

4 [Forsooth] When they passed by cities, they betook to them to keep the teachings, that were deemed of apostles and elder men, that were at Jerusalem.

5 And the churches were confirmed in faith, and increased in number each day.

6 And they passed Phrygia, and the country of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to speak the word of God in Asia.

7 And when they came to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus suffered not them [and the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not].

8 But when they had passed by Mysia, they came down to Troas;

9 and a vision by night was showed to Paul. But a man of Macedonia that stood, prayed him, and said [and a vision in night was showed to Paul. Some man of Macedonia was standing, and praying him, and saying], Go thou into Macedonia, and help us.

10 And as he had seen the vision, at once [anon] we sought to go forth into Macedonia, and were made certain, that God had called us to preach to them [made certain that God had called us to evangelize to them].

11 And we went by ship from Troas, and came to Samothracia with straight course [Soothly we going by boat, or sailing, from Troas, with straight course came to Samothracia]; and the day following to Neapolis;

12 and from thence to Philippi, that is the first part of Macedonia, the city colony [the city of colony]. And we were in this city some days, and spake together [speaking together].

13 And in the day of sabbaths we went forth without the gate beside the river, where prayer seemed to be [Soothly in the day of sabbaths, we went out without the gate beside the flood, where prayer was seen to be]; and we sat, and spake to women that came together.

14 And a woman [And some woman], Lydia by name, a purpless of the city of Thyatira, worshipping God, heard; whose heart the Lord opened to give attention to these things, that were said of Paul.

15 And when she was baptized and her house, she prayed, and said, If ye have deemed that I am faithful to the Lord, enter ye into mine house, and dwell [she prayed, saying, If ye have deemed me to be faithful to the Lord, enter ye into mine house, and dwell]. And she constrained us.

16 And it was done, when we went to prayer, that a damsel that had a spirit of divination [some wench having a spirit of divination], met us, which gave great winning to her lords in divining.

17 This followed Paul and us, and cried, and said [saying], These men be servants of the high God, that tell to you the way of health.

18 And this she did in many days. And Paul sorrowed, and turned, and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ, that thou go out of her [I command to thee in the name of Jesus Christ, to go out of her]. And he went out in the same hour.

19 And the lords of her saw, that the hope of their winning went away, and they took Paul and Silas, and led into the market, either doom place, to the princes [catching Paul and Silas, they led them into the market, or doom place, to the princes].

20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, These men disturb our city [These men distrouble our city], for they be Jews,

21 and show a custom, which is not leaveful to us to receive [and show a custom, which it is not leaveful to us to receive], neither do, since we be Romans.

22 And the people and magistrates ran against them [And the people ran against them, and the magistrates], and when they had rent (to pieces) the coats of them, they commanded them to be beaten with rods.

23 And when they had given to them many wounds, they sent them into prison, and commanded to the keeper, that he should keep them diligently [commanding to the keeper, that he diligently should keep them].

24 And when he had taken such a precept, he put them into the inner prison [Which, when he had taken such a precept, sent them into the inner prison], and restrained the feet of them in a tree.

25 And at midnight Paul and Silas worshipped, and praised God; and they that were in [the] keeping heard them.

26 And suddenly a great earth-moving was made, so that the foundaments of the prison were moved. And at once [And anon] all the doors were opened, and the bonds of all were loosed.

27 And the keeper of the prison was awaked, and saw the gates of the prison opened [and seeing the gates of the prison opened], and with a sword drawn out he would have slain himself, and guessed that the men that were bound had fled [weening the bound men to have fled].

28 But Paul cried with a great voice, and said [saying], Do thou no harm to thyself, for all we be here.

29 And he asked light, and entered [in], and trembled, and fell down to Paul and to Silas at their feet [and trembling he fell down to Paul and Silas at the feet].

30 And he brought them withoutforth, and said, Lords, what behooveth me to do, that I be made safe?

31 And they said, Believe thou in the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be safe, and thine house.

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

33 And he took them in the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds. And he was baptized, and all his house at once [anon].

34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set to them a board. And he was glad with all his house, and believed to God [And he gladded with all his house, believing to God].

35 And when day was come, the magistrates sent constables, and said, Deliver thou those men. [And when day was made, the magistrates sent tormentors, saying, Dismiss, or deliver, ye those men.]

36 And the keeper of the prison told these words to Paul, That the magistrates have sent, that ye be delivered; now therefore go ye out, and go ye in peace [and go in peace].

37 And Paul said to them, They sent us men of Rome into prison, that were beaten openly and uncondemned, and now privily they bring us out; not so, but come they themselves, and deliver us out. [Forsooth Paul said to them, They sent into prison us, beaten openly uncondemned, men Romans, and now privily they cast us out; not so, but come they, and themselves cast us out.]

38 And the constables told these words to the magistrates; and they dreaded, for they heard that they were Romans.

39 And they came, and besought them, and they brought them out, and prayed, that they should go out of the city.

40 And they went out of the prison, and entered to Lydia [entered into Lydia]. And when they saw brethren [And the brethren seen], they comforted them, and went forth.

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.