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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 16:12 mean?

Explanation

Acts 16:12 describes a moment in the Apostle Paul's journey as a missionary.

Paul and his companions travel to Philippi, which is referred to as the "chief city" of the region in Macedonia and a Roman colony.

The passage indicates that they stayed in the city for some days.

This is part of the narrative of Paul's second missionary journey, where he is spreading the Christian gospel throughout the Roman Empire.

In a literal sense, this verse outlines a change in geographical location during Paul's travels, but deeper meanings could indicate the strategic and spiritual significance of their stay in Philippi, a major city which could provide a fruitful ground for spreading the teachings of Christianity.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Philippi was a city in eastern Macedonia established by the king Philip II, father of Alexander the Great.

Its status as a colony meant it was directly subject to Roman law, and its citizens enjoyed privileges not granted to inhabitants of non-colonial cities.

By the time of Paul's journeys, Philippi was an important urban center renowned for its loyalty to Rome.

This detail is key to understanding the strategic importance of the city as a hub where the message of Christianity could easily be disseminated along trade routes and through social networks of the Roman context.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, the verse demonstrates the growth and spread of Christianity beyond its Jewish roots into predominantly Gentile areas.

Paul's work in Philippi underscores the transition of Christianity becoming a global faith.

It reveals the missionary strategy of targeting influential cities which could act as catalysts for religious conversion on a larger scale.

Moreover, denominational perspectives might emphasize the significance of Philippi as the place of Lydia's conversion, the establishment of a church in a leading city, and the eventual European spread of Christianity.

Practical Applications

The verse invites reflection on the role of strategy in religious evangelism and mission work.

Paul’s targeted approach can be seen as a lesson in utilizing influential areas to create broader impact.

Practically, Christians today might interpret this as encouragement to engage urban centers and positions of influence in order to amplify their message.

The verse embodies the concept of creating strong foundational communities that can then support the wider spread of a movement or ideology.

Cross-References

Acts 16:9-10: "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 endeavoured to go into Macedonia..."

Acts 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."
Philippians 1:1: "Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons."

Language Study

The phrase "chief city" (πρώτη τῆς μερίδος) can imply that Philippi was a leading city or possibly a first city among others in the district.

"Colony" (κολωνίαν) refers to a Roman outlying territory settled by citizens or military veterans of Rome. This word emphasizes the close political and cultural ties to the Roman heartland.

The word for "abiding" (διετρίβομεν) indicates spending time or continuing in a place, suggesting a meaningful purpose during their stay beyond merely passing through.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Philippi was also near the site of a critical battle in 42 B.C. where Julius Caesar’s assassins were defeated, which was crucial to the establishment of the Roman Empire.

This historical layer might be compared to other ancient narratives of strategic city conquests or divine interventions in battles in the myths of various cultures.

In terms of religious interpretation, Philippi as a colony held significant religious syncretism which would later be addressed by Paul, showing the clash and eventual mingling of different religious practices.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives primarily intersect with this verse in the discipline of archaeology.

Excavations in Philippi provide critical insights into the city's layout, infrastructure, and the societal makeup during Paul's visit.

These findings can enrich the understanding of the setting where early Christian communities emerged and expanded.

Additionally, sociology and anthropology offer frameworks for understanding the dynamics of early Christian mission work in varied cultural landscapes.

Commentaries

Commentators generally agree that Acts 16:12 portrays a significant pivot in the missionary efforts of Paul and his companions.

John Calvin notes the intentionality of selecting Philippi as a missionary destination due to its prominence.

Matthew Henry discusses the providential guidance in Paul's journey.

Modern commentaries, such as the New International Commentary on the New Testament, delve into the social-political status of Philippi as a Roman colony and how it shaped the strategy of early missionaries.

They reflect on the balance of divine guidance and human strategy in the spread of Christianity.

Acts 16

Acts 16

What does Acts 16:12 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 16:12 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?