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Acts 16

Commentary · verses 1-40

Paul's second missionary journey continued.

Map: Paul's Second Missionary Journey Antioch, then Tarsus, then Derbe, then Lystra, then Iconium, then Antioch (Pisidia), then Troas, then Samothrace, then Neapolis, then Philippi, then Amphipolis, then Apollonia, then Thessalonica, then Berea, then Athens, then Corinth, then Cenchreae, then Ephesus, then Caesarea, then Antioch. Achaia Asia Galatia Cilicia Syria Cyprus Crete Mediterranean Sea Aegean Sea Antioch Tarsus Derbe Lystra Iconium Antioch (Pisidia) Troas Samothrace Neapolis Philippi Thessalonica Berea Athens Corinth Ephesus Caesarea
Paul's Second Missionary Journey · Acts 15:40–18:22 Antioch → Tarsus → Derbe → Lystra → Iconium → Antioch (Pisidia) → Troas → Samothrace → Neapolis → Philippi → Amphipolis → Apollonia → Thessalonica → Berea → Athens → Corinth → Cenchreae → Ephesus → Caesarea → Antioch

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.

1Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:

Commentary · verse 1

Paul and Silas went to Derbe and Lystra. In Lystra, they met up with Timothy. Timothy's mother was a believing Jew but his father was a Greek (implying unbelief). This was the Timothy to whom Paul wrote the epistles named 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy.

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

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

Commentary · verse 2

Timothy was "well reported of" by the believers 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.

3Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

Commentary · verse 3

Paul had Timothy come with him on this second missionary journey. Timothy was circumcised because of the Jews who all knew that Timothy's father was a Greek. Timothy's circumcision was not done by necessity but as a "hurdle." This was not something Timothy had to do (like during the Law) but it would stop other Jews from questioning his belief. This was done for the benefit of others.

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.

4And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

Commentary · verse 4

The decrees of the council in Jerusalem were delivered to the churches.

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

5And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Commentary · verse 5

The churches were strengthened in faith and increased in number daily as a result of the decrees established at the council in Jerusalem that encouraged preaching the Gospel to Gentiles.

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;

6Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

7After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

Commentary · verses 6-7

They went throughout Phrygia and Galatia but were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. They approached Mysia and they decided to head towards Bithynia but the Spirit would not permit them.

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

8And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.

Commentary · verse 8

So, they passed by Mysia and came to Troas. Paul and Silas were obedient to the Holy Spirit.

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.

9And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

Commentary · verse 9

Paul had a vision of a man calling him to Macedonia. Was this vision and calling the reason the Holy Spirit forbade them to go to Asia? Notice, from this point on, Luke started using the words "we, us" instead of "they, them." Luke was from Troas and now had joined Paul's second missionary journey.

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.

10And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

Commentary · verse 10

They immediately set things in order to go to Macedonia.

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.

11Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;

12And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.

Commentary · verses 11-12

From Troas they went to Samothrace and the next day to Neapolis, then to Philippi where they stayed for 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.

13And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

14And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of 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 went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

17The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

Commentary · verses 13-17

Paul and Silas were met by a girl possessed by a spirit of divination. She was used by her masters to make money. Notice, WHAT she stated was a fact: these men were servants of the Most High God, who proclaimed 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.

18And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

Commentary · verse 18

She cried out for many days that Paul and Silas were the servants of the Most High God and showing the way of Salvation. However, Paul was grieved and cast out the spirit. Why did he let her cry out for many days? She was saying a right WHAT (that they were servants of God and showing the way of Salvation). However, she had a wrong HOW (by a spirit of divination) and wrong WHY: Paul would not have wanted people to think she was with Paul. People would have followed her after Paul left.

Notice, Paul cast this spirit out of her with the same method that Peter used to do his first healing: Paul first stated a preface where he was the subject (Peter's preface was "silver and gold have I none, but what I have I give to you"), then he made a statement in the Name of Jesus Christ where the object of the spiritual warfare was the subject of the statement. Paul spoke to the spirit and told it to come out of her.

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.

19And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

20And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

21And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

Commentary · verses 19-21

Her masters were mad that they would not make money off of her any longer so they accused Paul and Silas of troubling the city. Again, the conflict was the Law, this time as it related to these people 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:

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

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

Commentary · verses 22-23

Paul and Silas were beaten and then cast into prison.

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;

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

25And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

Commentary · verses 24-25

Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God and the prisoners heard them. This was definitely rejoicing and being exceedingly glad from suffering for Christ (Matthew 5:11-12). This would also be proof these men were completely surrendered to God.

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.

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

Commentary · verse 26

A great earthquake shook the foundation of the prison and opened all the locks.

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.

27And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

Commentary · verse 27

The jailer was about to commit suicide because he thought the prisoners escaped. He would have been responsible for the escapes, if that happened.

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

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

Commentary · verse 28

Paul cried out that they were all still there.

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?

29Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

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

Commentary · verses 29-30

The jailer asked what to 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.

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

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

Commentary · verses 31-32

They preached the Word of the Lord to the jailer and his house.

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

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

Commentary · verse 33

The jailer's family washed the wounds on Paul and Silas, and became believers.

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.

34And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

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

36And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.

37But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.

Commentary · verses 34-37

Paul brought up a point that invoked Justice. They were beaten publicly and the magistrates wanted to release them privately, this was unjust. Paul also stated that he and Silas were Romans. Paul wanted to make these rulers conscious of what they did by having them personally release them.

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.

38And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.

39And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of 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.

Commentary · verses 38-40

The magistrates personally released them. Then, Paul and Silas were comforted by the believers in Lydia's house.

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