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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 16:5 mean?

Explanation

Acts 16:5 speaks to the growth of the early Christian churches, describing a positive progression in both the strength of the believers' faith and the numerical expansion of the Christian community.

The verse indicates that the churches were not only strengthened in their beliefs but also that this strengthening led to increased membership.

This growth was a daily occurrence, suggesting a constant and ongoing process rather than a series of isolated events.

It implies a dynamic move of the Holy Spirit and successful evangelistic efforts.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

This verse is situated within the Acts of the Apostles, a New Testament book that details the history of the early Christian church following the ascension of Jesus Christ.

Specifically, Acts 16 narrates part of Paul's second missionary journey, which took place around 49 to 52 AD.

The verse follows the decision of the Jerusalem Council, which determined that Gentile converts did not need to follow Jewish ceremonial laws to be part of the Christian community.

This decision was pivotal in the expansion of Christianity beyond the Jewish population and thus fueled the growth mentioned in Acts 16:5.

Theological Insights

From a theological viewpoint, this verse underscores several key doctrines:

Divine Providence: The growth of the churches is seen as guided by God's hand.
Ecclesiology: The verse reflects on the nature of the church as a continually growing community of believers.
Soteriology: Implicit in the increased numbers daily is the idea of salvation reaching more individuals.
Missiology: The role of missionary work and evangelism in the establishment and growth of the church.

Different denominations and theologians might emphasize various aspects of this growth, such as God's sovereignty versus human responsibility in evangelism.

Practical Applications

In a contemporary setting, Acts 16:5 can encourage individuals and congregations to:

Engage actively in spreading their faith to contribute to the growth of their religious community.
Trust in God's guidance for the growth and establishment of churches.
Emphasize the teaching and disciple-making processes, as faith establishment is linked to church growth.

Cross-References

Matthew 28:19-20 - The Great Commission, which commands the disciples to make disciples of all nations.
Acts 2:47 - Describes the Lord adding to the church daily those who were being saved.
1 Corinthians 3:6-7 - Paul discusses how he planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.

Language Study

The key terms in the original Greek text of this verse include:

"churches" (ἐκκλησίαις - ekklēsiais): referring to assemblies or congregations.
"established" (ἐστερεοῦντο - estereounto): means to strengthen or make firm.
"faith" (πίστει - pistei): implies trust or belief in the teachings of Jesus.
"increased" (ἐπληθύνοντο - eplēthunonto): signifies multiplication or growth in number.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparing the growth of the early Christian church with other religious movements of the time, it can be noted that Christianity spread remarkably quickly and was inclusive of various cultural groups.

This inclusivity and the message of individual salvation without adherence to complex ceremonial laws distinguished it from other Jewish sects and pagan religions.

Scientific Perspectives

While the verse itself does not directly relate to science, the spread of religious beliefs and communal behaviours can be studied through the lens of sociology and anthropology.

Studies in group dynamics, conversion theories, and the psychological underpinnings of religious experiences might offer insight into why and how the early church grew as rapidly as it did.

Commentaries

Commentators offer diverse insights on Acts 16:5:

John Gill notes that the churches were confirmed in the doctrines of faith, and that the simplicity of church government and worship may have been appealing to new converts.
Matthew Henry emphasizes the role of God's grace in multiplying the churches and sees the daily growth as evidence of a living church.
The Pulpit Commentary discusses how the decree from the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) likely had a role in promoting unity and thus strengthening the churches.

Acts 16

Acts 16

What does Acts 16:5 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 16:5 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?