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:
came . . . to = arrived at. Greek. katantao. Occurs nine times in Acts, four times in Paul's epistles. Always accompanied by eis, except Acts 20:15 .
named = by name.
Timotheus . From this time closely associated with Paul in the ministry (Romans 16:21 ). He was probably one of his converts at his previous visit (Acts 14:7 ). Compare my own son in the faith ( 1Ti 1:2 , 1 Timothy 1:18 ; 2 Timothy 1:2 ). In six of Paul's epistles Timothy is joined with him in the opening salutation. His name, which means honour of God, or valued by God ( time and theos) , suggests the important part he was to take in the revelation of God's eternal purpose.
son . Greek. huios. App-108 .
certain . Texts omit.
and believed = a believer. Greek. pistos. App-150 . Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5 ), as well as her mother Lois, had instructed Timothy in the Holy Scriptures from his infancy (2 Timothy 3:15 ).
Greek : i.e. a Gentile (Greek. Hellen) . His influence doubtless prevented Timothy's being circumcised when eight days old.
2.
Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
well reported of = borne witness to. Greek. martureo. See p. 1511.
at = in. Greek. en. App-104 .
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.
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.
went through = were going through. Greek. diaporeuomai. Occurs elsewhere Luke 6:1 ; Luke 13:22 ; Luke 18:36 , Romans 15:24 .
decrees , or edicts. Greek. dogma. Occurs also Acts 17:7 . Luke 2:1 .Ephesians 2:15 .Colossians 2:14 .
keep = observe, or guard. Greek. phulasso.
ordained = decided. Greek. krino. App-122 .
of = by, as in Acts 16:2 .
apostles, &c . App-189 .
5.
And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
And so, &c . = The churches indeed therefore.
churches . App-186 .
established . Greek. stereoo. See note on Acts 3:7 ; Acts 14:22 . A medical word.
faith . App-150 .
daily . Greek. kath' ( App-104 .) hemeran, i.e. day by day.
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,
Now, &c. The texts read, "They went through".
the region of Galatia = the Galatian country.
forbidden = hindered.
the Holy Ghost . App-101 .
preach = speak. Greek. laleo. App-121 .
word . Greek. logos. App-121 .
Asia . See note on Acts 2:9 .
7.
After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
After they were = Having.
to = down to. Greek. kata. App-104 . to the border of Mysia. Revised Version "over against".
assayed = were attempting. Greek. peirazo. See Acts 15:10 .
into . Greek. kata, as above, but the texts read eis.
Bithynia . The province of Bithynia and Pontns, lying on the S. E. shores of the Propontis (Sea of Marmora), and the south shore of the Pontus Euxinus (Black Sea)
the Spirit = the Holy Spirit. App-101 . The texts add "of Jesus", but it was the same Spirit Who sent Paul and Barnabas forth from Antioch (Acts 13:2 , Acts 13:4 ), and had already hindered Paul and Silas (verses: Acts 16:6 , Acts 16:7 ). The Spirit promised by the Lord Jesus (Acts 2:33 . Joh 16:7 ).
8.
And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
Troas . Alexandreia Troas, the port on the coast of Mysia, about thirty miles south of the Dardanelles. Now Eski stamboul.
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.
vision . Greek. horama. See note on Acts 7:31 . It has been suggested that Paul had met Luke, and that it was he who was seen in the vision.
appeared to = was seen by. Greek. horao. App-133 .
in = through. Greek. dia. App-104 .Acts 16:1 .
There stood, &c . = A certain (Greek. tis. App-123 .) man (Greek. aner. App-123 .), a Macedonian, was standing.
prayed = praying. App-134 .
10.
And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
after = when.
had seen = saw. Greek. eidon. App-133 .
we . Here Luke comes upon the scene.
endeavoured = sought.
assuredly gathering . Greek. sumbibazo. See note on Acts 9:22 .
the Lord . App-98 ., but the texts read "God".
for to . . . them . Literally to evangelize them. Greek. euangelizo. App-121 .
11.
Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;
loosing . See note on Acts 13:13 .
came, &c . = ran direct. Greek. euthudromeo. Only here and Acts 21:1 . i.e. ran before the wind.
Samothracia . The highest in elevation of the northern AEgean islands, midway between Troas and Philippi.
next . See note on Acts 7:26 .
Neapolis . The harbour of Philippi, distant about ten miles away. The first European soil trodden by Paul It had taken two days with a favourable wind. Compare Acts 20:6 .
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 . The scene of the decisive battle which ended the Roman republic 42 B.C.
the chief city, &c . Literally the first of the district, a city of Macedonia, a colony. Amphipolis had been the chief city, and was still a rival of Philippi.
colony . Greek. kolonia. Only here. A Roman military settlement. The word survives in the names of some places in England, e.g. Lincoln. These colonies were settlements of old soldiers and others established by Augustus to influence the native people. Hence the significance of Acts 16:37 .
abiding . Greek. diatribo. See note on Acts 12:19 .
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.
on the sabbatb = on the (first) day of the sabbaths. See note on John 20:1 .
out of . Greek. exo, without.
city . The texts read "gate".
by a river side = beside (Greek. para. App-104 .) the river. No art. because the river (the Gangas) was well known to Luke.
where, &c . The texts read "where we reckoned prayer would be". See note on Acts 14:19 .
prayer . Greek. proseuche. App-134 . Here a place of prayer.
spake . Greek. laleo. App-121 .
unto = to.
resorted thither = came together.
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.
seller of purple . Greek. porphuropolis. Only here. The celebrated purple dye was made from the murex, a shell-fish. Referred to by Homer.
Thyatira . On the Lycus in Lydia. Inscriptions of the guild of Dyers at Thyatira.
which worshipped = one worshipping. Greek. sebomai. App-137 . No doubt a proselyte.
God . App-98 .
heard = was hearing.
opened = opened effectually. Greek. dianoigo. Only here, Acts 17:3 .Mark 7:34 , Mark 7:35 .Luke 2:23 ; Luke 24:31 , Luke 24:32 , Luke 24:45 .
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.
baptized . App-115 .
besought . Greek. parakaleo. App-134 .
judged . Greek. krino. App-122 .
faithful . Greek. pistos. App-150 .
abide . Greek. meno. See p. 1511.
constrained . Greek. parabiazomai. Only here and Luke 24:29 . Hindered in Asia their first convert is an Asiatic.
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:
damsel . Greek. paidiske. See note on Acts 12:13 . read "a spirit, a Python". The Python was a serpent destroyed, according to Greek Mythology, by Apollo, who was hence called Pythius, and the priestess at the famous temple at Delph was called the Pythoness. Through her the oracle was delivered. See an instance of these oracular utterances in Pember's Earth's Earliest Ages, ch. XII. The term Python became equivalent to a soothsaying demon, as in the case of this slave-girl who had an evil spirit as "control". She would be nowadays called a medium. The Lord's commission in Mark 16 was to cast out demons (Acts 16:17 ). To say that the girl was a ventriloquist, who was disconcerted, and so lost her power, shows what shifts are resorted to in order to get rid of the supernatural.
masters = owners. Greek. kurios. App-98 .
gain . Greek. ergasia = work; hence, wages, pay. Only here, Acts 16:19 ; Acts 19:24 , Acts 19:25 .Luke 12:58 . Ephesians 4:19 .
soothsaying = fortune-telling. Greek. manteuomai. Only here. In Septuagint used of false prophets. Deuteronomy 18:10 . 1 Samuel 28:8 , &c.
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.
The same = This one.
followed . . . and = following persistently. Greek. katakoloutheo. Only here and Luke 23:55 .
cried = kept crying, i.e. the demon in her. Compare Matthew 8:29 . Luke 4:33 .
men . Greek. anthropos. App-123 .
servants = bond-servants. Greek. doulos. App-190 .
Most High God . See note on Luke 1:32 and compare Mark 5:7 . Not necessarily a testimony to the true God, as the term was applied to Zeus.
shew = proclaim. Greek. katangello. App-121 .
us . The texts read "you".
salvation . Compare Luke 4:34 , where a demon testifies to the Lord, to discredit Him.
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.
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,
was gone = came out. Same word as in Acts 16:18 . Perhaps the demon rent and tore her in coming out, as in Mark 9:26 . Luke 9:42 .
caught = laid hold on.
drew = dragged. Greek. helkuo. Compare Acts 21:30 , where helko, the classical form, is used, and see note on John 12:32 .
marketplace . Greek. agora. Where the courts were held. Latin. forum.
rulers = authorities. Greek. archon.
20.
And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
brought . Greek. prosago. Only here, Acts 27:27 . Luke 9:41 . 1 Peter 3:18 .
magistrates . These were Romans. Greek. strategos. Showing Luke's accuracy. The magistrates of this colony bore the same title as at Rome, praetors, for which strategos is the Greek rendering, though before this it is applied to the captain of the Temple guard.
being . Greek. huparcho. See note on Luke 9:48 .
exceedingly trouble . Greek. ektarasso. Only here. It suggests that a riot was feared.
21.
And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
teach = proclaim. Same as "shew" (Acts 16:17 ).
customs . Greek. ethos. See note on Acts 6:14 .
are = it is.
receive . Greek. paradechomai. Only here, Acts 22:18 . Mar 4:20 . 1 Timothy 5:19 . Hebrews 12:6 .
neither . Greek. oude.
observe = do. being. Greek. eimi. Note the distinction. These men, being Jews to begin with . . . us who are Romans, as is well known.
22.
And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
multitude = crowd. Greek. ochlos.
rose up together . Greek. sunephistemi. Only here.
against . Greek. kata. App-104 .
rent off . Greek. perirregnumi. Only here.
beat them = beat them with rods. Greek. rabdizo. Only here and 2 Corinthians 11:25 . The lictors who attended on the praetors carried rods or staves ( rabdos ) for the purpose, and were called rod-bearers. Greek. rabdouchos. See Acts 16:35 .
23.
And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
stripes . Greek. plege. Four times translated "wound", five times "stripe", and twelve times "plague".
charging . Same as "command" in Acts 16:18 .
jailor . Greek. desmophulax, i.e. keeper of the prison. Only here and verses: Acts 16:27 , Acts 16:36 .
keep . Greek. tereo. Compare Acts 12:5 , Acts 12:6 .
safely . Greek. asphalos. See note on Mark 14:44 .
24.
Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
thrust = cast, as Acts 16:23 .
inner . Greek. esoteros. Comparative of eso, within. Only here and Hebrews 6:19 .
made . . . fast = made safe. Greek. asphalizo. Only here and Matthew 27:64-66 .
in the stocks . Literally unto (Greek. eis. App-104 .) the wood.
25.
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
midnight . Greek. meaonuktion. Only here, Acts 20:7 . Mark 13:35 .Luke 11:5 .
prayed, and = praying. Greek. proseuchomai. App-134 .
sang praises unto . Literally were hymning. Greek. humneo. Here, Matthew 26:30 . Mark 14:26 . Hebrews 2:12 . The first two passages refer to the great Hallel. See notes on Matthew 26:30 . Psalms 113 . If this were sung by Paul and Silas, note the beautiful significance of Psalms 115:11 , Psalms 116:3 , Psalms 116:4 , Psalms 116:15 , Psalms 116:17 , Psalms 118:6 , Psalms 118:29 , and in the result, Psalms 114:7 . The noun humnoa (hymn) only in Ephesians 5:19 . Colossians 3:16 .
heard = were listening to. Greek. epakroaomai. Only here. The noun occurs in 1 Samuel 15:22 (Septuagint).
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.
suddenly . Greek. aphno. See note on Acts 2:2 .
earthquake . Greek. seismos. See note on Matthew 8:24 .
prison . Greek. desmoterion. See note on Acts 5:21 . Not the word phulake which occurs in verses: Acts 16:23 , Acts 16:24 , Acts 16:27 , Act 23:37 , Act 23:40 .
shaken . Greek. saleuo. See Acts 4:31 .
loosed . Greek. aniemi. Only here, Acts 27:40 . Ephesians 6:9 . Hebrews 13:5 .
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.
keeper of the prison . Same as "jailor" (Acts 16:23 ).
awaking out of his sleep . Literally becoming awake. Greek. exupnos. Only here. The verb exupnizo only in John 11:11 .
drew out = drew.
would have killed = was about to kill. Greek. anaireo. See note on Acts 2:23 .
supposing . Greek. nomizo. See note on Acts 14:19 .
been fled = escaped. Compare Acts 12:19 ; Acts 27:42 . Roman soldiers were responsible with their lives for prisoners in their charge.
28.
But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
Do thyself no harm = Do nothing (Greek. medeis) evil (Greek. kakos. App-128 .) to thyself.
29.
Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
called for = asked for. Greek. aiteo. App-134 .
light . Greek. phos. App-130 .
sprang in . Greek. eispedao. Only here and Acts 14:14
came trembling = becoming (Greek. ginomai) in a tremble (Greek. entromos) . See note on Acts 7:32 .
30.
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
out = outside. Greek. exo.
Sirs . Greek. kurios. Compare App-98 . Same as "masters" (Acts 16:16 ).
to be = in order that (Greek. hina) I may be. This man was under deep conviction of sin, "shaken to his foundations". He was ready to be told of the Lord Jesus Christ. To bid people to believe, who are not under conviction, is vain.
31.
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Believe . Greek. pisteuo. App-150 .
Christ . The texts omit. Compare Matthew 1:21 .
thy house: i.e. on the same condition of faith.
32.
And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33.
And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
the same = in (Greek. en. App-104 .) the same.
washed = bathed them. Greek. louo. App-136 .
their stripes = from (Greek. apo. App-104 .) their wounds.
straightway . Greek. parachrema. Same as immediately ( V . 26). See note on Acts 3:7 .
34.
And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
brought . Greek. anago. Same as "loosed", Acts 16:11 .
set meat = placed a table. Compare Psalms 23:5 .
rejoiced . See noteon "was glad", Acts 2:26 .
believing . App-150 .
with all his house . Greek. panoiki, an adverb. Only here.
35.
And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
sent . Greek. apostello. App-174 .
Serjeants = lictors. Greek. rabdouchos. See Acts 16:22 . Only here and Acts 16:38 .
Let . . . go = Release. Gr, apoluo. App-174 .
36.
And 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.
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.
unto . Same as "to" in Acts 16:36 .
beaten . Greek. dero, as in Acts 5:40 .
openly = publicly. Greek. demosia. See note on Acts 5:18 .
uncondemned = without investigation. Greek. akatakritos. Only here and Acts 22:25 .
Romans = men (Greek. anthropos) Romans. The charge was that they were Jews, introducing alien customs, and the magistrates condemned them without
privily = secretly. Greek. lathra. Only here, Matthew 1:19 ; Matthew 2:7 . John 11:28 . Note the contrast, "openly . . . secretly". Figure of speech Antithesis. App-6 .
nay verily = no (Greek. ou. App-105 .) indeed.
fetch = lead. Same word as in Acts 5:19 ; Acts 7:36 , Acts 7:40 .
38.
And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
'words . Greek. rhema. See note on Mark 9:32 .
feared = were alarmed. Compare Acts 22:29 . They had violated the Roman law by which no Roman citizen could be scourged, or put to death, by any provincial governor without an appeal to the Emperor. Compare Acts 25:11 , Acts 25:12 .
39.
And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
brought . Same word as "fetch" (Acts 16:37 ).
desired = were praying. Greek. erotao. App-134 .
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.
comforted = exhorted. Greek. parakaleo, as in verses: Acts 16:9 , Acts 16:15 , Acts 16:39 .