6 They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region , having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia ; 7 and after they came to Mysia , they were trying to go into Bithynia , and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; 8 and passing by Mysia , they came down to Troas . 9 A vision appeared to Paul in the night : a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying , "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10 When he had seen the vision , immediately we sought to go into Macedonia , concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
11 So putting out to sea from Troas , we ran a straight course to Samothrace , and on the day following to Neapolis ; 12 and from there to Philippi , which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia , a Roman colony ; and we were staying in this city for some days . 13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside e , where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer ; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled . 14 A woman named Lydia , from the city of Thyatira , a seller of purple fabrics , a worshiper of God , was listening ; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul . 15 And when she and her household had been baptized , she urged us, saying , "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord , come into my house and stay ." And she prevailed upon us.
16 It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer , a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling . 17 Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying , "These men are bond-servants of the Most High God , who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation ." 18 She continued doing this for many days . But Paul was greatly annoyed , and turned and said to the spirit , "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" And it came out at that very moment . 19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone , they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the authorities , 20 and when they had brought them to the chief magistrates , they said , "These men are throwing our city into confusion , being Jews , 21 and are proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe , being Romans ." 22 The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods . 23 When they had struck them with many blows , they threw them into prison , commanding the jailer to guard them securely ; 24 and he, having received such a command , threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 16:6-24
Commentary on Acts 16:6-15
(Read Acts 16:6-15)
The removals of ministers, and the dispensing the means of grace by them, are in particular under Divine conduct and direction. We must follow Providence: and whatever we seek to do, if that suffer us not, we ought to submit and believe to be for the best. People greatly need help for their souls, it is their duty to look out for it, and to invite those among them who can help them. And God's calls must be complied with readily. A solemn assembly the worshippers of God must have, if possible, upon the sabbath day. If we have not synagogues, we must be thankful for more private places, and resort to them; not forsaking the assembling together, as our opportunities are. Among the hearers of Paul was a woman, named Lydia. She had an honest calling, which the historian notices to her praise. Yet though she had a calling to mind, she found time to improve advantages for her soul. It will not excuse us from religious duties, to say, We have a trade to mind; for have not we also a God to serve, and souls to look after? Religion does not call us from our business in the world, but directs us in it. Pride, prejudice, and sin shut out the truths of God, till his grace makes way for them into the understanding and affections; and the Lord alone can open the heart to receive and believe his word. We must believe in Jesus Christ; there is no coming to God as a Father, but by the Son as Mediator.
Commentary on Acts 16:16-24
(Read Acts 16:16-24)
Satan, though the father of lies, will declare the most important truths, when he can thereby serve his purposes. But much mischief is done to the real servants of Christ, by unholy and false preachers of the gospel, who are confounded with them by careless observers. Those who do good by drawing men from sin, may expect to be reviled as troublers of the city. While they teach men to fear God, to believe in Christ, to forsake sin, and to live godly lives, they will be accused of teaching bad customs.