Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Acts 16

Act 16:1 Then 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:

Derbe and Lystra

Act 14:6.

a certain woman

1Co 7:14; Eph 6:4; 2Ti 1:5; 3:15.

Act 16:2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

well reported

1Ti 3:7; 3Jo 1:12.

Act 16:3 Him 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.

took and circumcised him

1Co 9:19-20; Gal 2:3; 5:6; 6:15.

Act 16:4 And 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.

elders

Elders. Act 20:17. (Act 11:30; Tit 1:5-9.)

Act 16:5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

established

strengthened.

Act 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

Holy Ghost

Holy Spirit (N.T.). Act 16:6-7; Act 18:25. (Mat 1:18; Act 2:4.)

Act 16:7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

Spirit

R.V. adds of Jesus, as in the best authorities.

Act 16:9 And 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.

prayed him

beseeching him. Here the Gospel turns toward Europe.

Act 16:10 And 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.

we

The change here from "they," as in the preceding verses, to "we" indicates that at Troas Luke, the narrator, joined Paul's company.

into Macedonia

2Co 2:13.

gospel

Gospel. Act 20:24. (Gen 12:1-3; Rev 14:6.)

Act 16:12 And 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.

Philippi

Phl 1:1.

a colony

i.e. a Roman colony.

Act 16:13 And 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.

was wont to

might legally, i.e. a legal meeting-place for Jews where there was no synagogue.

Act 16:14 And 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.

whose heart the Lord opened

Jhn 6:44; Act 11:18; 2Co 4:6.

of Paul

by Paul.

Act 16:15 And 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.

If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord

2Sa 20:16-22; Phl 4:3; 2Jo 1:4-11.

she constrained us

Gen 19:3; 33:11; Jdg 19:21; Luk 24:29; Heb 13:2.

Act 16:16 And 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:

a spirit of divination

Greek a spirit, a Python.

much gain by soothsaying

Act 19:24.

Act 16:17 The 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.

most high God

Cf. Scofield Matthew 7:22, note. This marks the "spirit" (Act 16:18) as being a demon.

salvation [See also Act 16:30-31.]

See Scofield Romans 1:16, note.

Act 16:18 And 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.

in the name of Jesus Christ to come out

Mar 5:8.

came out the same hour

Miracles (N.T.). Act 16:16-18, 25-26; 19:11-12. (Mat 8:2-3; Act 28:8-9.)

Act 16:19 And 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,

saw that the hope of their gains was gone

Act 19:25-26.

drew

Greek dragged, probably by the feet. Cf. Act 14:19.

Act 16:20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

magistrates

Greek praetors, Roman magistrates.

do exceedingly trouble our city

1Ki 18:17; Act 17:6.

Act 16:22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

commanded to beat them

2Co 6:5; 11:23, 25; 1Th 2:2.

Act 16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

prison

Act 8:3.

Act 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

prayed, and sang praises

Literally were praying and singing hymns.

heard them

were listening.

Act 16:26 And 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.

a great earthquake

Act 4:31; Rev 6:12-17.

all the doors were opened

Act 5:19; 12:4-7.

Act 16:27 And 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.

would have killed himself

Act 12:19.

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

what must I do to be saved

Act 2:37; 2Co 7:10.

Act 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ

Faith. Act 27:25. (Gen 3:20; Heb 11:39.)

Jhn 3:16; 6:28-29; Act 13:38-39; Rom 10:6-11; 1Pe 1:21.

and thy house

Isa 54:13; Act 2:39; 11:14.

Act 16:34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

rejoiced

Act 2:46; Rom 15:13.

believing in God

having believed God.

Act 16:35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.

serjeants

Greek, lictors.

Act 16:37 But 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.

Romans

Act 16:21; 22:25-29; 23:6; 25:11-12.

Act 16:39 And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.

desired them to depart

Luk 8:37.

Act 16:40 And 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.

they comforted them

Act 14:22; Phl 2:1-2.