PrevActs 16:10Next

Acts 16

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:

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

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.

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.

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

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,

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

And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

What does Acts 16:10 mean?

Explanation

The verse Acts 16:10 is a significant turning point in the Book of Acts, marking the start of Apostle Paul's journey to Macedonia after he has a vision.

The "we" in this verse indicates that the author of Acts, traditionally believed to be Luke, is including himself in the narrative, suggesting that he joins Paul on this journey.

The vision is understood as a divine command to bring the gospel, the teachings of Jesus Christ, to the people of Macedonia, a region in the northern Greek peninsula.

The use of the term "assuredly gathering" suggests a degree of certainty and collective discernment among Paul and his companions that this was indeed a call from God.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The Book of Acts, written by Luke, is a continuation of his Gospel and provides an account of the early Church and the spread of Christianity following the ascension of Jesus.

This particular verse occurs during Paul's second missionary journey (circa A.D. 49-52).

Macedonia was part of the Roman Empire at the time, and this marks the point where the Christian message begins to spread into Europe.

The Macedonian call represents a shift from Paul's initial plan and a responsiveness to God's guidance.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse is cited as an instance of divine guidance. In Christian tradition, it reflects the belief in God's active involvement in directing the mission of the Church.

Furthermore, some commentators point out that this passage exemplifies Paul's obedience to the Holy Spirit, which is seen as a model for believers to follow.

Different Christian denominations may have varying interpretations on the mechanics of divine calling and guidance, but most agree that God provides direction for His followers' lives.

Practical Applications

The verse can inspire individuals to be attentive and responsive to what they perceive as divine guidance in their lives. It encourages believers to actively seek God's purpose for their actions and to be willing to change course if they feel called to do so.

Additionally, the passage highlights the importance of joint discernment within Christian communities when making decisions or interpreting potential signs from God.

Cross-References

Acts 9:6: "And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do."
Acts 13:2: "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them."
Acts 26:19: "Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:"

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek that are significant in this verse include:

"vision" (Greek: ὅραμα, horama): meaning a sight or appearance, often with the implication of a divine or supernatural revelation.
"endeavored" (Greek: ζητέω, zeteo): which can mean to seek, to strive after, or to attempt with effort.
"assuredly gathering" (Greek: συμβιβάζω, sumbibazo): to bring together in one's mind, to deduce, or to conclude emphatically.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the context of other ancient religions, visions and dreams were often seen as methods through which gods communicated with humans.

The emphasis on divine calling in the verse can be compared with the calls of prophets in other religious traditions where an individual is chosen by the divine to deliver a message or fulfill a specific role.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern psychological and neuroscientific perspectives may explore the nature of visions, explaining them as phenomena that can occur under certain conditions.

From a historical viewpoint, it might be investigated how accounts of visions might influence group dynamics or decision-making within religious movements.

commentaries

Various Bible scholars have commented on Acts 16:10.

John Calvin saw the immediate response to the vision as evidence of Paul's obedience to God.

Bruce suggests that the "we" narration introduces Luke as Paul's companion, highlighting the authenticity of the account.

Matthew Henry's commentary emphasizes the providence of God in the spread of the gospel.

Contemporary scholarship often focuses on the theological implications of the verse in terms of missiology and the role of the Spirit in guiding the Church.

Acts 16

Acts 16

What does Acts 16:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 16:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?