Ac 16:1
16:1 Then {1} came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a
     certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a
     certain woman, which was a {a} Jewess, and believed; but
     his father [was] a Greek:

 (1) Paul himself does not receive Timothy into the ministry
     without sufficient testimony, and permission of the
     brethren.
     (a) Paul, in his second epistle to Timothy, commends the
         godliness of Timothy's mother and grandmother.

Ac 16:2
16:2 Which was {b} well reported of by the brethren that were at
     Lystra and Iconium.

     (b) Both for his godliness and honesty.

Ac 16:3
16:3 {2} 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.

 (2) Timothy is circumcised, not simply for any necessity, but
     in respect of the time only, in order to win the Jews.

Ac 16:4
16:4 {3} And as they went through the cities, they delivered
     them the {c} decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the
     apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

 (3) Charity is to be observed in things indifferent so that
     regard is had both of the weak, and of the peace of the
     Church.
     (c) These decrees which he spoke of in the former chapter.

Ac 16:6
16:6 {4} Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the
     region of Galatia, and were {d} forbidden of the Holy Ghost
     to preach the word in Asia,

 (4) God appoints certain and determinate times to open and set
     forth his truth, so that both the election and the calling
     may proceed of grace.
     (d) He does not show why they were forbidden, but only that
         they were forbidden, teaching us to obey and not to
         enquire.

Ac 16:9
16:9 {5} 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.

 (5) They are the ministers of the Gospel by whom he helps those
     who are likely to perish.

Ac 16:10
16:10 {6} 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.

 (6) The Saints did not easily believe every vision.

Ac 16:13
16:13 {7} And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river
      side, where {e} prayer was wont to be made; and we sat
      down, and spake unto the women which resorted [thither].

 (7) God begins his kingdom in Macedonia by the conversion of a
     woman, and so shows that there is no exception of persons
     in the Gospel.
     (e) Where they customarily assembled themselves.

Ac 16:14
16:14 {8} 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.

 (8) The Lord opens the heart to hear the word which is
     preached.

Ac 16:15
16:15 {9} 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.

 (9) An example of a godly housewife.

Ac 16:16
16:16 {10} And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain
      damsel possessed with a spirit of {f} divination met us,
      which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

 (10) Satan transforms himself into an angel of light, and
      covets to enter by undermining, but Paul openly stops him,
      and casts him out.
      (f) This is a sure sign of the god Apollo, who would give
          answers to those that asked him.

Ac 16:18
16:18 And this did she {g} 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.

      (g) Paul made no haste to do this miracle, for he did all
          things only as he was led by the Spirit.

Ac 16:19
16:19 {11} 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,

 (11) Covetousness of evil gain and of profit is an occasion for
      persecuting the truth.  In the meanwhile, God sparing
      Timothy, calls Paul and Silas as the stronger to battle.

Ac 16:20
16:20 {12} And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These
      men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

 (12) Covetousness pretends a desire for common peace and
      godliness.

Ac 16:21
16:21 {13} And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to
      receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

 (13) It is an argument of the devil to use the authority of
      ancestors, though not distinguishing exactly which
      ancestors.

Ac 16:22
16:22 {14} And the multitude rose up together against them: and
      the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to
      beat [them].

 (14) An example of evil magistrates, to obey the fury and rage
      of the people.

Ac 16:24
16:24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the
      inner prison, and made their feet {h} fast in the stocks.

      (h) Because he wanted to be more sure that they did not
          escape, he set them fast in the stocks.

Ac 16:25
16:25 {15} And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang
      praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

 (15) The prayers of the godly do shake both heaven and earth.

Ac 16:27
16:27 {16} 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.

 (16) The merciful Lord, as often as he desires, draws men to
      life even through the midst of death, and whereas they
      justly deserved great punishment, he shows them great
      mercy.

Ac 16:28
16:28 {17} But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself
      no harm: for we are all here.

 (17) In means which are especially extraordinary, we should
      not move our foot forward, unless God goes before us.

Ac 16:33
16:33 {18} And he took them the same hour of the night, and
      washed [their] stripes; and was baptized, he and all his,
      straightway.

 (18) God with the very same hand wounds and heals when it
      pleases him.

Ac 16:35
16:35 {19} And when it was day, the magistrates sent the
      serjeants, saying, Let those men go.

 (19) Shame and confusion is in due time the reward of wicked
      and unjust magistrates.

Ac 16:37
16:37 {20} 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.

 (20) We must not render injury for injury, and yet nonetheless
      it is lawful for us to use such helps as God gives us, to
      bridle the outrageousness of the wicked, so that they do
      not hurt others in a similar way.

Ac 16:38
16:38 {21} And the serjeants told these words unto the
      magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they
      were Romans.

 (21) The wicked are not moved with the fear of God, but with
      the fear of men: and by that means also God provides for
      his, when it is needed.

Ac 16:40
16:40 {22} 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.

 (22) We may avoid dangers in such a way that we never neglect
      our duty.