返回Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Acts 16:1–3. He came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, whose mother was a believing Jewess, but whose father was a Greek, and who was well spoken of by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted to take him along with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
Remarkably, the Jews so neglected the law that they gave their daughters in marriage to Greeks and married Greek women.
"Taking him, he circumcised him for the sake of the Jews." The wisdom of Paul is worthy of great admiration. He who so championed against the circumcision of the Gentiles and who drove everything forward until the question was resolved, circumcised his own disciple. He not only did not forbid this to others, but even did it himself. In every matter he had benefit in mind and did nothing without purpose. And one must also marvel at how Paul disposed him toward circumcision.
"On account of the Jews who were in those places." Because they would never have dared to listen to the word of God from an uncircumcised person. And what then?
Pay attention to the justification of this act. Paul circumcised Timothy in order to abolish circumcision; he was not supporting circumcision, but wanted to fulfill a most important task pleasing to all the apostles, because if Timothy had not been circumcised and at the same time were a teacher of the Jews, then everyone would have turned away from him. If the Jews already so strongly accused Paul on account of Trophimus the Ephesian, since they thought that Paul had brought him into the temple (and he was one of the Greeks), then what would Paul himself have had to endure if an uncircumcised man were with him as a teacher? But look: he is justified both in the opinion of the apostles, and he speaks in the temple about the fulfillment of this justification. He did everything for the salvation of the Jews. One could perhaps point out that Peter too concealed himself under the guise of Judaism… And this in no way harmed the apostles; on the contrary, the fact that the Jews had such teachers who, in their opinion, observed the law, served as an occasion for their conversion and the beginning of their faith in Christ.
Acts 16:4–12. And as they went through the cities, they delivered to the faithful the decrees to keep, that were ordained by the Apostles and elders in Jerusalem. And the churches were established in the faith and increased in number daily. Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were not permitted by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they came to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia; but the Spirit did not allow them. And passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a certain man, a Macedonian, stood beseeching him and saying: Come over into Macedonia and help us. And after this vision, immediately we resolved to go into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel there. Therefore, setting sail from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis, and from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. In this city we stayed for some days.
They say that "they delivered the decrees to the faithful to observe," they delivered not the mysteries of the incarnation, but the instructions "to abstain from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication" (Acts 15:29) — everything that pertains to the ordering of a proper life.
"They were not permitted by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia." Why they were forbidden to preach in Asia, he does not say, but that it was forbidden to them, he did say, teaching us thereby to obey and not to demand an account, and showing that often they also acted in a human manner. The Spirit forbids the apostles to preach in Asia and Bithynia, since He foresaw that the inhabitants there would be seized by the heresy of the spirit-fighters.
"There was a vision to Paul in the night: a certain man, a Macedonian, stood before him, asking him and saying." No longer through an Angel, as with Philip and Cornelius, but in a vision Paul receives the revelation — in a more human manner. Where it is easy to persuade, there it is in a more human manner, but where great effort is required, there the revelation comes in a more Divine form. It should be noted that in these cities Luke was also with Paul. This is evident from the fact that the latter unites his own person with the former, when he says: "we resolved to set out… we sailed a straight course… we stayed."
Acts 16:13–15. And on the sabbath day we went outside the city to the river, where prayer was customarily held, and having sat down, we spoke with the women who had gathered there. And a certain woman from the city of Thyatira, named Lydia, a seller of purple, who worshipped God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she besought us, saying: if you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay with me. And she persuaded us.
There, because of the small number of Jews, there was no synagogue, and the especially devout among them gathered secretly outside the city "by the river." As a more carnal people, the Jews, where there was no synagogue, prayed even outside of one, designating some particular place for this — they also prayed on Sabbaths, when the people usually gathered as well.
"If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord." See how wise this woman is: first she herself testified that God had called her. Notice also her modesty. She is a simple woman; she sold fabrics dyed in purple. And Luke is not ashamed to mention her trade. She did not say, "If you have seen that I am a great woman," or "I am a pious woman," but says, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord." If to the Lord, then all the more so to you. She did not simply invite them to her house, but left the matter to their will, although she strongly insisted on her desire.
Acts 16:16–21. It happened that, as we were going to the house of prayer, a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by soothsaying. Following after Paul and us, she cried out, saying: these men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation. This she did for many days. But Paul, being greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit: I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And the spirit came out that very hour. Then her masters, seeing that the hope of their profit was gone, seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the marketplace before the rulers. And having brought them to the magistrates, they said: these men, being Jews, are disturbing our city and are advocating customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.
What spirit possessed the servant girl? They call it, after the place, the god Python. He wanted to lead the apostles into temptation. Otherwise, this is that woman, Pythia, of whom they say that she sat on the tripod of Apollo with her legs spread apart, and that an evil spirit, rising from the cavity beneath the tripod, entered into her and drove her into a frenzy; then she would go into a rage, foam at the mouth, and in such a state of frenzy utter incoherent words. "Following Paul and us, she cried out, saying: these men are servants of the Most High God." O unclean spirit! If you know that they "proclaim the way of salvation," then why do you not depart from them?
"Paul, having become indignant," that is, being aroused and agitated. By shutting her mouth, even though she was speaking the truth, he teaches us not to admit demons to ourselves, even if they take on the appearance of defending the truth, but to block every occasion of temptation for them and not to listen to anything they say. If Paul had paid attention to the testimony of this spirit, the latter would have deceived many of the believers. Therefore Paul at first not only did not accept, but rejected its testimony, not wishing to increase the number of his signs. But when the spirit persisted, then Paul commanded it to come out of the woman. Thus, the spirit acted craftily, but Paul acted wisely.
"Her masters, seeing that the hope of their profit was gone." Everywhere the cause of evil is money. For the sake of enrichment, the woman's masters wanted her to be possessed by a demon. Look: they do not even want to acknowledge the demon, but are consumed by their one passion — love of money. The demon said: "These men are servants of the Most High God," but they say that "these men… are troubling our city." The demon said that they "proclaim to us the way of salvation," but the servant girl's masters say that they "advocate customs which… are not lawful… to accept."
Acts 16:22–34. The crowd also rose up against them, and the magistrates, having torn their garments off them, commanded to beat them with rods. And having given them many stripes, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he cast them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas, praying, were singing hymns to God; and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains were loosened. The jailer, having been awakened and seeing the prison doors opened, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying: Do yourself no harm, for we are all here. He called for a light, rushed into the prison, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And having brought them out, he said: Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said: Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and all your household. And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And having taken them at that hour of the night, he washed their wounds, and immediately he himself was baptized and all his household. And having brought them into his house, he set a table before them and rejoiced with all his household, having believed in God.
To perform miracles and to teach was the work of Paul, while Silas also took part with him in dangers. Take note that even the demons know that the crucified Jesus is the Most High God, and that Paul is His servant, which he himself affirmed, saying: "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ" (Rom. 1:1).
"Suddenly there was a great earthquake." The doors opened, and the prison guard woke up. What had happened astonished him. But the prisoners did not see this, otherwise they would all have fled. And so that the guard would not think that this had happened by itself, the doors opened following the earthquake.
"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your whole household." Even in prison Paul did not give himself rest, and there he drew the jailer to himself and accomplished this beautiful captivity.
"Having taken them at that hour of the night, he washed their wounds." The jailer washed their wounds, but he himself was washed from his sins.
"And he rejoiced with all his house, that he believed in God," though he had received nothing except good words and good hopes.
Acts 16:35–40. When day came, the magistrates sent the officers, saying: Release those men. The jailer reported these words to Paul: The magistrates have sent to release you; so now come out and go in peace. But Paul said to them: They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and now they are sending us out secretly? No, let them come themselves and lead us out. The officers reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. And they came and apologized to them, and leading them out, asked them to leave the city. So they went out of the prison and came to Lydia, and when they saw the brethren, they instructed them, and departed.
And after the magistrates gave the order, Paul does not leave the prison, but, for the edification of Lydia, the seller of purple, and others, he frightens the magistrates, so that they would not think that they had been released at someone's request. He even accuses the magistrates of having publicly beaten them — them, who had been convicted of nothing and were moreover Roman citizens. You see: they often acted in a manner characteristic of ordinary people. Paul stated this (that they were Roman citizens and had been convicted of nothing) so that it would not appear that he was being released as a harmful person accused of something. As for the jailer, this is Stephanas, whom Paul mentions in the Epistle to the Corinthians: "I baptized also the household of Stephanas" (1 Cor. 1:16).
"Having departed from the prison, they came to Lydia and, having seen the brethren, instructed them, and departed." It was not fitting to leave in a state of anxiety and concern the woman who had shown them hospitality; and they, despite the urgings of the magistrates, did not wish to depart without visiting a simple woman and the other persons whom they called brethren. O, how great are their humility and love!
Acts 16:1–3. He came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, whose mother was a believing Jewess, but whose father was a Greek, and who was well spoken of by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted to take him along with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
Remarkably, the Jews so neglected the law that they gave their daughters in marriage to Greeks and married Greek women.
"Taking him, he circumcised him for the sake of the Jews." The wisdom of Paul is worthy of great admiration. He who so championed against the circumcision of the Gentiles and who drove everything forward until the question was resolved, circumcised his own disciple. He not only did not forbid this to others, but even did it himself. In every matter he had benefit in mind and did nothing without purpose. And one must also marvel at how Paul disposed him toward circumcision.
"On account of the Jews who were in those places." Because they would never have dared to listen to the word of God from an uncircumcised person. And what then?
Pay attention to the justification of this act. Paul circumcised Timothy in order to abolish circumcision; he was not supporting circumcision, but wanted to fulfill a most important task pleasing to all the apostles, because if Timothy had not been circumcised and at the same time were a teacher of the Jews, then everyone would have turned away from him. If the Jews already so strongly accused Paul on account of Trophimus the Ephesian, since they thought that Paul had brought him into the temple (and he was one of the Greeks), then what would Paul himself have had to endure if an uncircumcised man were with him as a teacher? But look: he is justified both in the opinion of the apostles, and he speaks in the temple about the fulfillment of this justification. He did everything for the salvation of the Jews. One could perhaps point out that Peter too concealed himself under the guise of Judaism… And this in no way harmed the apostles; on the contrary, the fact that the Jews had such teachers who, in their opinion, observed the law, served as an occasion for their conversion and the beginning of their faith in Christ.
Acts 16:4–12. And as they went through the cities, they delivered to the faithful the decrees to keep, that were ordained by the Apostles and elders in Jerusalem. And the churches were established in the faith and increased in number daily. Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were not permitted by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they came to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia; but the Spirit did not allow them. And passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a certain man, a Macedonian, stood beseeching him and saying: Come over into Macedonia and help us. And after this vision, immediately we resolved to go into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel there. Therefore, setting sail from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis, and from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. In this city we stayed for some days.
They say that "they delivered the decrees to the faithful to observe," they delivered not the mysteries of the incarnation, but the instructions "to abstain from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication" (Acts 15:29) — everything that pertains to the ordering of a proper life.
"They were not permitted by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia." Why they were forbidden to preach in Asia, he does not say, but that it was forbidden to them, he did say, teaching us thereby to obey and not to demand an account, and showing that often they also acted in a human manner. The Spirit forbids the apostles to preach in Asia and Bithynia, since He foresaw that the inhabitants there would be seized by the heresy of the spirit-fighters.
"There was a vision to Paul in the night: a certain man, a Macedonian, stood before him, asking him and saying." No longer through an Angel, as with Philip and Cornelius, but in a vision Paul receives the revelation — in a more human manner. Where it is easy to persuade, there it is in a more human manner, but where great effort is required, there the revelation comes in a more Divine form. It should be noted that in these cities Luke was also with Paul. This is evident from the fact that the latter unites his own person with the former, when he says: "we resolved to set out… we sailed a straight course… we stayed."
Acts 16:13–15. And on the sabbath day we went outside the city to the river, where prayer was customarily held, and having sat down, we spoke with the women who had gathered there. And a certain woman from the city of Thyatira, named Lydia, a seller of purple, who worshipped God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she besought us, saying: if you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay with me. And she persuaded us.
There, because of the small number of Jews, there was no synagogue, and the especially devout among them gathered secretly outside the city "by the river." As a more carnal people, the Jews, where there was no synagogue, prayed even outside of one, designating some particular place for this — they also prayed on Sabbaths, when the people usually gathered as well.
"If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord." See how wise this woman is: first she herself testified that God had called her. Notice also her modesty. She is a simple woman; she sold fabrics dyed in purple. And Luke is not ashamed to mention her trade. She did not say, "If you have seen that I am a great woman," or "I am a pious woman," but says, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord." If to the Lord, then all the more so to you. She did not simply invite them to her house, but left the matter to their will, although she strongly insisted on her desire.
Acts 16:16–21. It happened that, as we were going to the house of prayer, a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by soothsaying. Following after Paul and us, she cried out, saying: these men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation. This she did for many days. But Paul, being greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit: I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And the spirit came out that very hour. Then her masters, seeing that the hope of their profit was gone, seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the marketplace before the rulers. And having brought them to the magistrates, they said: these men, being Jews, are disturbing our city and are advocating customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.
What spirit possessed the servant girl? They call it, after the place, the god Python. He wanted to lead the apostles into temptation. Otherwise, this is that woman, Pythia, of whom they say that she sat on the tripod of Apollo with her legs spread apart, and that an evil spirit, rising from the cavity beneath the tripod, entered into her and drove her into a frenzy; then she would go into a rage, foam at the mouth, and in such a state of frenzy utter incoherent words. "Following Paul and us, she cried out, saying: these men are servants of the Most High God." O unclean spirit! If you know that they "proclaim the way of salvation," then why do you not depart from them?
"Paul, having become indignant," that is, being aroused and agitated. By shutting her mouth, even though she was speaking the truth, he teaches us not to admit demons to ourselves, even if they take on the appearance of defending the truth, but to block every occasion of temptation for them and not to listen to anything they say. If Paul had paid attention to the testimony of this spirit, the latter would have deceived many of the believers. Therefore Paul at first not only did not accept, but rejected its testimony, not wishing to increase the number of his signs. But when the spirit persisted, then Paul commanded it to come out of the woman. Thus, the spirit acted craftily, but Paul acted wisely.
"Her masters, seeing that the hope of their profit was gone." Everywhere the cause of evil is money. For the sake of enrichment, the woman's masters wanted her to be possessed by a demon. Look: they do not even want to acknowledge the demon, but are consumed by their one passion — love of money. The demon said: "These men are servants of the Most High God," but they say that "these men… are troubling our city." The demon said that they "proclaim to us the way of salvation," but the servant girl's masters say that they "advocate customs which… are not lawful… to accept."
Acts 16:22–34. The crowd also rose up against them, and the magistrates, having torn their garments off them, commanded to beat them with rods. And having given them many stripes, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he cast them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas, praying, were singing hymns to God; and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains were loosened. The jailer, having been awakened and seeing the prison doors opened, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying: Do yourself no harm, for we are all here. He called for a light, rushed into the prison, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And having brought them out, he said: Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said: Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and all your household. And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And having taken them at that hour of the night, he washed their wounds, and immediately he himself was baptized and all his household. And having brought them into his house, he set a table before them and rejoiced with all his household, having believed in God.
To perform miracles and to teach was the work of Paul, while Silas also took part with him in dangers. Take note that even the demons know that the crucified Jesus is the Most High God, and that Paul is His servant, which he himself affirmed, saying: "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ" (Rom. 1:1).
"Suddenly there was a great earthquake." The doors opened, and the prison guard woke up. What had happened astonished him. But the prisoners did not see this, otherwise they would all have fled. And so that the guard would not think that this had happened by itself, the doors opened following the earthquake.
"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your whole household." Even in prison Paul did not give himself rest, and there he drew the jailer to himself and accomplished this beautiful captivity.
"Having taken them at that hour of the night, he washed their wounds." The jailer washed their wounds, but he himself was washed from his sins.
"And he rejoiced with all his house, that he believed in God," though he had received nothing except good words and good hopes.
Acts 16:35–40. When day came, the magistrates sent the officers, saying: Release those men. The jailer reported these words to Paul: The magistrates have sent to release you; so now come out and go in peace. But Paul said to them: They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and now they are sending us out secretly? No, let them come themselves and lead us out. The officers reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. And they came and apologized to them, and leading them out, asked them to leave the city. So they went out of the prison and came to Lydia, and when they saw the brethren, they instructed them, and departed.
And after the magistrates gave the order, Paul does not leave the prison, but, for the edification of Lydia, the seller of purple, and others, he frightens the magistrates, so that they would not think that they had been released at someone's request. He even accuses the magistrates of having publicly beaten them — them, who had been convicted of nothing and were moreover Roman citizens. You see: they often acted in a manner characteristic of ordinary people. Paul stated this (that they were Roman citizens and had been convicted of nothing) so that it would not appear that he was being released as a harmful person accused of something. As for the jailer, this is Stephanas, whom Paul mentions in the Epistle to the Corinthians: "I baptized also the household of Stephanas" (1 Cor. 1:16).
"Having departed from the prison, they came to Lydia and, having seen the brethren, instructed them, and departed." It was not fitting to leave in a state of anxiety and concern the woman who had shown them hospitality; and they, despite the urgings of the magistrates, did not wish to depart without visiting a simple woman and the other persons whom they called brethren. O, how great are their humility and love!