Acts 16 will be fun today, so let’s get started and verse 1 reads.
Acts 16:1] 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:
This “he” is Paul. This Timothy’s mother was of Judah, and his father being Greek (a Roman citizen) is a reason for the split of Barnabas and Mark, as we will see in a minute.
Acts 16:2] Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
[3] 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.
Now Paul was just with the brethren in Jerusalem, they just reasoned with the Apostles that circumcision was not of the flesh but of the heart. And now for both men and women. Why Paul would circumcise any man now is beyond me.
Acts 16:4] 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.
Elders put burdens of law on the people, but the Apostles taught Moses, prophets and gospels. The good news that Christ has died and was risen again that on repentance we can be forgiven.
Acts 16:5] And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
[6] 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,
[7] After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
The Holy Spirit was guiding them where to go.
Acts 16:8] And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
[9] 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.
[10] 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.
[11] Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;
[12] 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.
[13] 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.
[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.
[15] 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.
Probably a believer from John the Baptist, now has the news of Christ crucified. Who was having prayer with others and worshipping the Lord when Paul came.
Acts 16:16] 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:
This woman was possessed by a serpent spirit. Wicked and of Satan.
Acts 16:17] 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.
This possessed woman proclaimed the truth. But for napharias reasons.
Acts 16:18] 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.
[19] 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,
Here we go, after being grieved, Paul cast out the devil that was following him.
Acts 16:20] And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
We lost money because these men cast out an evil spirit from our girl. Can’t make this up.
Acts 16:21] And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
[22] And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
This is the reason that God intervened between Paul and Barnabas and cause a strife that would separate them. You see, Barnabas and Mark are Jews (of the tribe of Judah). And Paul (though being of the tribe of Benjamin) was a Roman citizen. This will come in Paul’s favor in a minute.
Acts 16:23] And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
[24] Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
[25] And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
Imagine you in prison with these two and hear them singing praises to God.
Acts 16:26] 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.
[27] 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.
[28] But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
The other prisoners were still there also, maybe after hearing them pray to the Lord and suddenly all doors and shackles falling off of them, might have opened their eyes also. Notice Paul’s compassion for the jailor.
Acts 16:29] Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
[30] And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
[31] And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
[32] And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
[33] And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
[34] And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Cleaned their stripes, and fed them in his own house.
Acts 16:35] And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
[36] 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.
[37] 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.
It was illegal to beat a Roman publicly without a trial. They had just broken the law, not only did they beat them, but also imprisoned them without trial. These people are in big trouble with Ceasar. This will put the fear of Ceasar in them.
Acts 16:38] And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
[39] And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
[40] 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.
If Barnabas and Mark were there, they might have been killed and nothing would have been for them. So, God takes care of his ministries and those that serve him. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible