Acts 16:1

CHAPTER XVI.

Paul, coming to Derbe and Lystra, meets with Timothy, the son of

a Jewess by a Greek father, whom he circumcises and takes with

him into his work, 1-3.

As they pass through the different cities, they deliver the

apostles' decrees to the Churches; and they are established in

the faith, and daily increase in numbers, 4, 5.

They travel through Phrygia, Galatia, Mysia, and to Troas, 6-8.

Where Paul has a vision, relative to his preaching in

Macedonia, 9, 10.

Leaving Troas, he sails to Samothracia and Neapolis, and comes

to Philippi in Macedonia, 11, 12.

Lydia, a seller of purple, receives the apostles teaching; and

she and her family are baptized, 13-16.

A young woman, with a spirit of divination, dispossessed by St.

Paul, 16-18.

Her masters, finding their gain by her soothsaying gone, make an

attack upon Paul and Silas, drag them before the magistrates,

who command them to be beaten, thrust into the closest prison,

and their feet made fast in the stocks, 19-24.

Paul and Silas singing praises at midnight, the prison doors

are miraculously opened, and all the bonds of the prisoners

loosed, 25, 26.

The keeper being alarmed, supposing that the prisoners were

fled, is about to kill himself, but is prevented by Paul,

27-28.

He inquires the way of salvation, believes, and he and his

whole family are baptized, 29-34.

The next morning the magistrates order the apostles to be

dismissed, 35, 36.

Paul pleads his privilege as a Roman, and accuses the

magistrates of injustice, who, being alarmed, come themselves

to the prison, deliver them, and beg them to depart from the

city, 37-39.

They leave the prison, enter into the house of Lydia, comfort

the brethren, and depart, 40.

NOTES ON CHAP. XVI.

Verse Acts 16:1. A certain disciple] Bishop Pearce would read the latter part of this verse and the beginning of the next thus-A certain disciple named Timotheus, (the son of a certain Jewish woman that believed, but of a father who was a Greek,) who was well reported of by the brethren, c.

This Timothy was the same person to whom St. Paul wrote those two noble epistles which are still extant. His mother's name was Eunice, as we learn from 2 Timothy 1:5. What his father's name was we know not he was either a mere heathen, or, at most, only a proselyte of the gate, who never submitted to circumcision: had he submitted to this rite, he would, no doubt, have circumcised his son; but the son being without it is a proof that the father was so too. Some MSS. state that Timothy's mother was now a widow; but this does not appear to be well founded.