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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 16:9 mean?

Explanation

Acts 16:9 is a significant verse in the Christian New Testament where the Apostle Paul receives a divine message in a vision.

The verse narrates that Paul had a nighttime vision where he saw a man from Macedonia, a region in the northern part of Greece, standing and begging Paul to come over to Macedonia to help them.

This can be understood both literally and metaphorically.

Literally, it was a call for help from the people of Macedonia who needed the Christian gospel that Paul was preaching.

Metaphorically, it represents the call of the Gentiles for salvation, marking the expansion of the Christian mission beyond Asia Minor into Europe.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

This incident occurred during Paul's second missionary journey, which is detailed in Acts 15:36 to 18:22.

During this period, Christianity was spreading through the Roman Empire, and Paul and his companions were initiating churches in various cities across the region.

Earlier in Acts 16, Paul tried to enter other regions to preach, but was prevented by the Holy Spirit.

The vision of the Macedonian man is seen as God's guidance redirecting Paul's missionary work to Europe, starting in Philippi, a leading city of the district of Macedonia.

Theological Insights

From a theological viewpoint, this verse can be seen to emphasize the sovereignty of God in the expansion of the Christian mission.

It highlights the theme of divine guidance and calling, where the Holy Spirit directs mission efforts according to divine plan rather than human initiative.

Additionally, some theologians consider this vision as an indication of the collective call of the Gentiles to be included in the salvation originally promised to the Jews. Paul's response to this call can serve as a model for Christian obedience and attentiveness to God's leading.

Practical Applications

This verse can inspire individuals to be attentive to divine guidance or calls to action that can come through various means.

It encourages believers to be open to changes in direction or plans based on what they perceive as divine intervention.

The wider lesson is about being of service to others; when there's a call for help, one should consider responding to it, as Paul did in the vision.

Cross-References

Acts 16:10 - "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."
Acts 9:12 - "And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight."
Romans 15:26 - "For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem."

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek text of this verse include:

"ὅραμα" (horama): meaning "vision," referring to something seen with the eyes or a supernatural appearance perceived in an ecstatic state.
"βοηθήσον" (boēthēson): the verb form of "help," an urgent call for assistance or aid.
"Μακεδονίαν" (Makedonian): directly translates to "Macedonia," the geographical region being referred to.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the Greco-Roman world, visions and dreams were considered significant and often interpreted as messages from the divine.

Similarly, in many ancient religions and myths, gods communicated with humans via dreams and visions.

Paul's vision in Acts 16:9 can draw comparisons to such cultural beliefs yet is distinctive in its monotheistic context where the one God guides the mission of the Church.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science tends to be skeptical about supernatural visions, often attempting to explain them as psychological phenomena. Research into the nature of dreams and visions explores their cognitive and neurological aspects.

However, while science can offer insights into the brain's functioning during such experiences, it remains agnostic on the question of divine intervention.

Commentaries

Commentaries vary in their analysis of this verse.

Some focus on the obedience of Paul to divine guidance, noting Paul's willingness to change his plans abruptly in response to the vision. Others emphasize the strategic nature of the mission to Macedonia, as Philippi was a Roman colony and a strategic gateway to Europe.

Most agree that this verse represents a pivotal moment in the spread of Christianity, Luke's narrative in Acts intends to show the Holy Spirit actively guiding the apostles to new mission fields.

Acts 16

Acts 16

What does Acts 16:9 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 16:9 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?