Acts · WEB-C
Acts
16
Bible textSynthetic voice (AI)
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. See also: 2 Timothy 1:52 Timothy 1:21 Corinthians 4:17The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium gave a good testimony about him. See also: 2 Timothy 3:151 Timothy 5:102 Timothy 3:11Paul 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. See also: Galatians 2:3Galatians 5:61 Corinthians 9:20As 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. See also: Acts 15:28-29Acts 15:2Acts 15:6So the assemblies were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily. See also: Acts 9:31Acts 2:47Acts 6:7When they had gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. See also: Acts 18:23Acts 16:7Acts 11:12When they had come opposite Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit didn’t allow them. See also: Philippians 1:19Galatians 4:6Romans 8:9Passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. See also: 2 Timothy 4:132 Corinthians 2:12Acts 16:11A 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.” See also: Acts 19:21Acts 18:5Acts 9:10-12When 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. See also: 2 Corinthians 2:12-13Acts 14:7Acts 20:13-15Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis; See also: Acts 21:1Acts 16:8and 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. See also: 1 Thessalonians 2:2Philippians 1:1Acts 20:6On the Sabbath day we went 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. See also: Acts 13:14Colossians 1:23Acts 21:5A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us. The Lord opened her heart to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul. See also: Luke 24:45Ephesians 1:17-18John 6:44-45When 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. See also: Acts 11:14Hebrews 13:2Acts 16:33As we were going to prayer, a certain girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune telling. See also: Leviticus 19:31Deuteronomy 18:9-11Isaiah 8:19Following Paul and us, she cried out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of salvation!” See also: John 14:61 Peter 2:16Mark 5:7She 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. See also: Mark 16:17Luke 10:17-19Mark 1:34But 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. See also: Acts 17:6Acts 21:302 Corinthians 6:5When they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men, being Jews, are agitating our city See also: James 4:4John 15:18-20Acts 28:22and advocate customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans.” See also: Esther 3:8Acts 16:12Acts 26:3The multitude rose up together against them and the magistrates tore their clothes from them, then commanded them to be beaten with rods. See also: 1 Thessalonians 2:22 Corinthians 6:5Acts 22:22-26When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. See also: Revelation 2:102 Timothy 2:91 Samuel 23:22-23Having received such a command, he threw them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks. See also: Job 33:11Job 13:27Jeremiah 29:26But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. See also: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18Psalms 119:62James 1:2Suddenly 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. See also: Acts 4:31Acts 5:19Acts 12:7The 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. See also: Acts 12:19Matthew 27:5Judges 9:54But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, “Don’t harm yourself, for we are all here!” See also: 1 Thessalonians 5:15Luke 6:27-28Luke 23:34He called for lights, sprang in, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas, See also: Revelation 3:9Daniel 6:26Jeremiah 10:10brought them out, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” See also: Acts 2:37John 6:27-29Acts 22:10They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” See also: John 1:12John 3:36Acts 2:38-39They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house. See also: Romans 1:16Colossians 1:27-281 Thessalonians 2:8He took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household. See also: 1 Corinthians 1:16Acts 16:15Acts 16:25He brought them up into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly with all his household, having believed in God. See also: Romans 15:13Acts 2:46Luke 15:32But when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, “Let those men go.” See also: Acts 5:40Acts 4:21Jeremiah 5:22The jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore come out and go in peace.” See also: Acts 15:33John 14:27Acts 16:27But 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!” See also: Acts 22:25-29Proverbs 28:1Daniel 3:25-26The sergeants reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans, See also: Acts 22:29Matthew 14:5Matthew 21:46and they came and begged them. When they had brought them out, they asked them to depart from the city. See also: Matthew 8:34Daniel 6:23Mark 5:17They went out of the prison and entered into Lydia’s house. When they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them, then departed. See also: Acts 16:14Acts 14:221 Thessalonians 3:2-3
See also: Cross references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), derived in part from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
Reflections
No reviewed reflections for this passage yet.
Notes · Haydock (1859, public domain)17 notes
Notes in English 19th-century Catholic commentary by Fr. George Leo Haydock, shown as published.
These notes keep the polemics of their time: some speak harshly of the Jewish people or of other Christians. The Church teaches otherwise today. The Jewish people may not be blamed for the death of Christ (Nostra Aetate 4; Catechism 597–598), and Christians of other communities are our brothers and sisters in the Lord (Unitatis Redintegratio 3). Christian unity
Acts 16:3
Ver. 3. Circumcised him. Not to obstruct the conversion of the Jews; and because it was still lawful to observe the Jewish ceremonies, though the obligation of keeping the old law had ceased. Wi. — This S. Paul did in order to gain the Jews, and make Timothy acceptable to them. Tirinus. — To the Jew, says he, (1 Cor. ix. 20.) I became a Jew, that I might gain the Jews. If he refused to circumcise Titus, in order to vindicate the Christian's independence of the Mosaic ceremonies; he now submits to the observance of them, to shew there is nothing of itself bad in them, and that they might without crime be practised, till time by degrees had abolished them. S. Aug. ep. lxxxii. ad S. Hieronymum.
↑ 3Acts 16:4
Ver. 4. Here, as well as in the last verse of the former chapter, we see S. Paul ordering the new converts, wherever he went, to receive, as their rule of conduct, the ordinances of the apostles and priests assembled in Jerusalem.
↑ 4Acts 16:6
This 19th-century note uses polemical language; read it in the light of the note at the top of this panel.
Ver. 6. They were forbidden by the Holy Ghost, to go, and preach at that time in the Lesser Asia, perhaps because their preaching in Macedonia was more necessary; or because S. John was to be sent into Asia. Wi. — Forbidden.
Why? Because they were not yet prepared to receive the gospel; or, perhaps, these provinces were reserved for S. John, as Bithynia was for S. Luke.
Menochius. — S. Leo compares this question to many others respecting the inscrutable judgments of God. Why did not the Son of God come into the world many ages before? Why did he suffer so many to die in ignorance? Why are there yet so many in infidelity? Why, in one family, does one believe and is converted, while another remains in darkness, and crime? Who shall account for the exercise he pleases to make of his rigour, or his mercy, when all were justly victims of the former? S. Leo de vocat. Gentium. lib. ii. c. 2.
↑ 6Acts 16:7
Ver. 7. The spirit of Jesus permitted them not. It is the same spirit, which just before was called the Holy Ghost: for the Holy Ghost is the spirit of Jesus, as proceeding from the Son as well as from the Father. Wi.
↑ 7Acts 16:9
Ver. 9. A vision, &c. The tutelar angel of the province, according to most interpreters, under the form of a Macedonian, who implored S. Paul in behalf of the province he guarded.
↑ 9Acts 16:10
Ver. 10. We. This change in the narration from the third, to the first person, we sought, &c. is remarkable. It is hence inferred, that S. Luke, the author of this book, joined S. Paul at Troas, and became his inseparable companion. Calmet.
— It is, however, probable, that as the narrative in the first person changes again at the end of this chapter, and is not resumed, till the fifth verse of the 20th chap. that S. Luke was absent on some mission during the time that elapsed between this and their sailing from Philippi, as mentioned hereafter.
Chap. xx. v. 6. Tirinus.
↑ 10Acts 16:13
Ver. 13. There was prayer.[1] The Greek word signifies either prayer itself, or an oratory, or place to pray in. Wi. — Not every prayer is here understood, but that which was joined in the celebration of the sacred mysteries. Estius in diffic.
loca. See 1 Cor. vii. and Acts vi.
↑ 13Acts 16:16
Ver. 16. A pythonical spirit. A spirit pretending to divination, to tell secrets, and things to come. See 2 Kings xxviii. Isaias viii. 19. Wi. — A divining spirit, which pretended to foretell things to come. It is strictly forbidden every where throughout the old law to have any dealings with persons of this description.
Deut. xviii. 10. Levit. xx. ult. &c. Hence it would appear that these superstitions were of early practice among mankind. It is lamentable that the present age is still credulous enough to believe in such impostures. The ignorance of mankind, it appears, has always been made a source of emolument to the designing. A.
↑ 16Acts 16:17
Ver. 17. These men are the servants of the most high God. Evil spirits in possessed people, are sometimes forced to tell the truth. Wi.
↑ 17Acts 16:18
Ver. 18. Observe here that the servants of God have a power granted them of controlling wicked spirits, according to the promise of our Lord, Luke ix. and x. Hence the seventy disciples, returning, said: Lord, even the devils are subject to us in thy name. Est. in diffic. loc.
↑ 18Acts 16:20
Ver. 20. Jews. This was the name the first Christians went by among the pagans. Indeed our Saviour's being born of that nation, and his disciples adoring the same God, and following the same morality and Scriptures as the Jews, were sufficient reasons to make them confounded. When Suetonius relates that Claudius banished the Jews from Rome, he means the Christians.
Calmet.
↑ 20Acts 16:21
Ver. 21. There was a standing decree of the senate, which forbade the introduction of any new divinity, without the formal consent of the senate. V.
↑ 21Acts 16:24
Ver. 24. Made their feet fast in the stocks. By the Latin and Greek text, they made them fast with wood. Wi.
↑ 24Acts 16:26
Ver. 26. All the doors were opened. This made the jailer conclude the prisoners had made their escape. And he being answerable for them, and expecting to be put to death, was for stabbing himself. Wi.
↑ 26Acts 16:33
Ver. 33. Was baptized, being first told what he was to believe, and do. Wi. —
Hence Catholics draw a very plausible argument for the baptism of infants, as it is very probable there were some infants in the family. See Estius in diffic.
loc.
↑ 33Acts 16:35
Ver. 35. Sent the serjeants,[2] vergers, or such like officers. Wi.
↑ 35Acts 16:37
Ver. 37. Romans. S. Paul inherited his right of citizenship from his father; it does not appear how Silas obtained it, perhaps by purchase. There is no proof that Silas was a freeman of Rome. D. Dion. Carthus. — It was forbidden by the Porcian and Sempronian laws, for a Roman citizen to be scourged, unless he was likewise convicted of a capital crime. Cicero pro Rabirio. Facinus est vinciri civem Romanum: scelus verberari. Id. cont. Verrem. The Romans were always very jealous of the dignity of their city. We cannot but admire S. Paul's astonishing desire of suffering for the name of Jesus, in concealing a circumstance, the very naming of which would have saved him the cruel scourging he suffered. If he now refuses to go out of the prison privately, it is to vindicate his honour, and to avert the scandal, which the new converts would naturally feel, in seeing their master treated as a criminal. He exemplified in this instance S. Augustin's principal; "Our lives are necessary for ourselves, but our reputation for others." A. — Estius declares, that Silas was also a Roman citizen, and that from this circumstance he probably received a Roman name, as Paul did. For in other parts of Scripture we find him styled Silvanus, (2 Cor. i. 19.) and at the commencement of both the epistles to the Thessalonians. — Not so; but let them come, &c. S. Paul patiently submitted himself to be whipped in a most disgraceful and cruel manner, which he could easily have prevented or put a stop to, by saying, I am a Roman citizen. Afterwards, when they were for setting him at liberty, he claims his privilege, he puts all the magistrates in a fright; they run to ask him pardon, and entreat him with all civility to leave the town, which he does not think fit to do, till he visited his brethren and friends. Wi.
____________________
[1] V. 13. Oratio, proseuche, preces, oratio & Oratorium.
[2] V. 35. Lictores, rabduchous, vergers, rod-bearers.
====================
↑ 37License: Notes by Fr. George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), from the Douay-Rheims Bible with Haydock's commentary (first ed. Thomas Haydock, Manchester/Dublin, 1811–1814; New York: Edward Dunigan & Brother, 1859); New Testament notes compiled with Fr. Benedict Rayment. Public domain. Digital text: "The Haydock Bible", Internet Archive (archive.org/details/TheHaydockBible), uploaded 2011 under the Public Domain Mark. · Credits and licenses