16:1 Then 1 came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a
certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a
certain woman, which was a a Jewess, and believed; but
his father [was] a Greek:
(1) Paul himself does not receive Timothy into the ministry
without sufficient testimony, and permission of the
brethren.
(a) Paul, in his second epistle to Timothy, commends the
godliness of Timothy's mother and grandmother.
16:2 Which was b well reported of by the brethren that were at
Lystra and Iconium.
(b) Both for his godliness and honesty.
16:32 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.
(2) Timothy is circumcised, not simply for any necessity, but
in respect of the time only, in order to win the Jews.
16:43 And as they went through the cities, they delivered
them the c decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the
apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
(3) Charity is to be observed in things indifferent so that
regard is had both of the weak, and of the peace of the
Church.
(c) These decrees which he spoke of in the former chapter.
16:64 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the
region of Galatia, and were d forbidden of the Holy Ghost
to preach the word in Asia,
(4) God appoints certain and determinate times to open and set
forth his truth, so that both the election and the calling
may proceed of grace.
(d) He does not show why they were forbidden, but only that
they were forbidden, teaching us to obey and not to
enquire.
16:95 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.
(5) They are the ministers of the Gospel by whom he helps those
who are likely to perish.
16:106 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.
(6) The Saints did not easily believe every vision.
16:137 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river
side, where e prayer was wont to be made; and we sat
down, and spake unto the women which resorted [thither].
(7) God begins his kingdom in Macedonia by the conversion of a
woman, and so shows that there is no exception of persons
in the Gospel.
(e) Where they customarily assembled themselves.
16:148 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.
(8) The Lord opens the heart to hear the word which is
preached.
16:159 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.
(9) An example of a godly housewife.
16:1610 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain
damsel possessed with a spirit of f divination met us,
which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
(10) Satan transforms himself into an angel of light, and
covets to enter by undermining, but Paul openly stops him,
and casts him out.
(f) This is a sure sign of the god Apollo, who would give
answers to those that asked him.
16:18 And this did she g 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.
(g) Paul made no haste to do this miracle, for he did all
things only as he was led by the Spirit.
16:1911 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,
(11) Covetousness of evil gain and of profit is an occasion for
persecuting the truth. In the meanwhile, God sparing
Timothy, calls Paul and Silas as the stronger to battle.
16:2012 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These
men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
(12) Covetousness pretends a desire for common peace and
godliness.
16:2113 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to
receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
(13) It is an argument of the devil to use the authority of
ancestors, though not distinguishing exactly which
ancestors.
16:2214 And the multitude rose up together against them: and
the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to
beat [them].
(14) An example of evil magistrates, to obey the fury and rage
of the people.
16:24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the
inner prison, and made their feet h fast in the stocks.
(h) Because he wanted to be more sure that they did not
escape, he set them fast in the stocks.
16:2515 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang
praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
(15) The prayers of the godly do shake both heaven and earth.
16:2716 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.
(16) The merciful Lord, as often as he desires, draws men to
life even through the midst of death, and whereas they
justly deserved great punishment, he shows them great
mercy.
16:2817 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself
no harm: for we are all here.
(17) In means which are especially extraordinary, we should
not move our foot forward, unless God goes before us.
16:3318 And he took them the same hour of the night, and
washed [their] stripes; and was baptized, he and all his,
straightway.
(18) God with the very same hand wounds and heals when it
pleases him.
16:3519 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the
serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
(19) Shame and confusion is in due time the reward of wicked
and unjust magistrates.
16:3720 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.
(20) We must not render injury for injury, and yet nonetheless
it is lawful for us to use such helps as God gives us, to
bridle the outrageousness of the wicked, so that they do
not hurt others in a similar way.
16:3821 And the serjeants told these words unto the
magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they
were Romans.
(21) The wicked are not moved with the fear of God, but with
the fear of men: and by that means also God provides for
his, when it is needed.
16:4022 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.
(22) We may avoid dangers in such a way that we never neglect
our duty.
