Acts 16 · The Lantern

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

And he came both to Derbe and to Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman, but of a Greek father;

who was well spoken of by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium.

Paul wanted this one to go forth with him, and having taken him, he circumcised him on account of the Jews who were in those parts; for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

Whatever … [the gnostic] has in his mind, he bears on his tongue, to those who are worthy to hear, speaking as well as living from assent and inclination. For he both thinks and speaks the truth; unless at any time, medicinally, as a physician for the safety of the sick, he may deceive or tell an untruth, according to the Sophists.

There have been in the whole period of the duration of the world two conspicuous changes of people's lives, which are also called two Testaments, or, on account of the wide fame of the matter, two earthquakes; the one from idols to the law, the other from the law to the gospel.

"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.

And while they were passing through the cities, they were delivering to them the decrees to keep, which had been decided on by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.

"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. And so were the Churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily." Dost thou mark fighting, and by fighting, edification?

He called the abstaining of the sacrifices "doctrines," from sexual immorality and from blood, and from what is strangled; which he sees as a condition for canonical life. For these order a temperate life and are fitting for rational people.

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.

The churches therefore were strengthened in the faith and were increasing in number every day.

Paul’s Vision of the Macedonian

Then they passed through Phrygia and the Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.

"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," having left Phrygia and Galatia, they hastened into the interior.

They were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia, etc., up to Passing into Macedonia, help us. Truly the Lord is terrible in counsel above the sons of men. One promises to follow the Master in everything and is not allowed; another, commanded to follow, does not get the requested leave for burial of his father. Saul is drawn in, invincible and resisting.

"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.

And having come down to Mysia, they were attempting to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.

And having passed by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

And a vision appeared to Paul during the night: a certain man of Macedonia was standing and beseeching him and saying, “Having passed over into Macedonia, help us.”

If one ought to ascend to a more hidden understanding, I would say that there were certain shepherds — angels who governed human affairs — and that, while each one of these was preserving his own charge and, keeping watch by day and by night, could now no longer bear the labor, and was industriously doing this, that he might govern the nations that had been entrusted to him, an…

No longer through an angel as with Philip or Cornelius, but through a vision it appears to Paul more humanly. For there persuasion is easy, more human; there, however, great force, more divine. Since he was only about to preach, it appears to him as a dream for this purpose. But he did not presume to preach; for by this the Holy Spirit reveals.

"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.

And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go forth to Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to evangelise to them.

"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." "Assuredly gathering," it says, "that the Lord had called us." That is, inferring, both from the circumstance that Paul saw it and none other, and from the having been "forbidden by the Spirit," and from their be…

Notably, Luke was with Paul in those cities, as appears from these words in which he includes himself at the same time, saying: We sought, we came by a straight course, and other similar things. [AMMONIUS]

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."

Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi

Having sailed then from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and on the following day to Neapolis,

"Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; and from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony." That is, even the voyage made this manifest: for there was no tardiness. It became the very root of Macedonia. It is a high distinction for a city, the being a colony.

He calls Neapolis the present Christopolis.

"And sailing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia. "After sailing from Troas, Paul and Silas, walking through some cities, came to Philippi, "which is the chief city of part of Macedonia, a colony." There a certain woman, Lydia, a seller of purple, converted to Christ, and with her entire household obtained the grace of baptism.

and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in this city some days.

And on the day of the Sabbaths we went forth outside the gate by a river, where we were accustomed for prayer to be; and having sat down, we were speaking to the women who had gathered.

See again Paul judaizing. "Where it was thought," it says, both from the time and from the place, "that prayer would be." Out of the city, by a river side: for it is not to be supposed that they prayed only where there was a synagogue; they also prayed out of synagogue, but then for this purpose they set apart, as it were, a certain place, because as Jews they were more corpore…

Not only where the synagogue was, but also outside they prayed, as if separating some particular place for this purpose, namely the Jews being excessively given to bodily things. Or rather, perhaps there was no synagogue there because of the thin population; beside the river outside the city the supposedly pious used to meet secretly. [CHRYSOSTOM]

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.

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, worshiping God, was listening; whose heart the Lord opened to attend to the things being spoken by Paul.

And when she was baptized, and her household, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, having entered into my house, remain.” And she persuaded us.

Observe that instruction came first, and then, after the disciples heard the word, baptism followed. But if someone dares to say, "Behold!

"And when she was baptized," it says, "she and her household" - mark how he persuaded all of them - "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": then look at her wisdom, how she importunes the Apostles, how full of humility her words are, how full of wisdom.

"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.

Paul and Silas Imprisoned

Now it happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain servant girl having a spirit of Python met us, who was bringing much gain to her masters by fortune-telling.

It appears probable enough that this man possesses a demon as his familiar spirit, by means of whom he seems able to prophesy, and also enables as many as he counts worthy to be partakers of his Charis themselves to prophesy.

"And it came to pass," it says, "as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: the same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation." What may be the reason that both the demon spoke these words, and Pau…

What spirit possessed the servant girl? They call it, after the place, the god Python. He wanted to lead the apostles into temptation.

She, having followed after Paul and us, was crying out, saying, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.”

For this reason our Lord Jesus too does not deign to receive testimony from demons, but says: "Be silent and come out of him." His own apostle Paul too, imitating him, "grieving," it says, "turned and said to the spirit of Python: I command you in the name of Jesus Christ; depart from her." In which you may perhaps ask why Paul, grieving, rebukes the spirit of Python.

These men are servants of the Most High God. This is not a confession from the will, followed by a reward for confessing, but compelled by the fear of the Holy Spirit, the lying spirit speaks truth, not daring to hide its darkness any longer in the present light. But God says to the sinner: Why do you recount my statutes?

"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?

And this she was continuing for many days. But Paul, having been distressed and having turned, said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out from her.” And it came out that same hour.

At first then, Paul would not admit it, but scorned it, not wishing to cast himself all at once upon miracles; but when it continued to do this, and pointed to their work "who preach unto us the way of salvation," then he commanded it to come out. For it says, "Paul being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.

I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. Bar-Jesus, who was an adversary of the faith, was struck blind both in physical weakness and loss of his sight. But he managed to deprive this woman, who though perverted in mind, yet spoke the truth, only of her wicked art.

"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.

And when her masters saw that the hope of their profit was gone, having taken hold of Paul and Silas, they dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers,

and having brought them up to the magistrates, they said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city,

and preach customs that it is not lawful for us, being Romans, to accept nor to practise.”

And the crowd rose up together against them, and the magistrates, having torn off their garments, were commanding them to be beaten with rods.

And having laid many blows on them, they cast them into prison, having charged the jailer to keep them strictly;

who, having received such an order, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

The Conversion of the Jailer

And toward midnight Paul and Silas, praying, were singing praises to God; and the prisoners were listening to them.

But how" in every place," since we are prohibited (from praying) in public? In every place, he means, which opportunity or even necessity, may have rendered suitable: for that which was done by the apostles (who, in gaol, in the audience of the prisoners, "began praying and singing to God") is not considered to have been done contrary to the precept; nor yet that which was done…

This let us also do, and we shall open for ourselves - not a prison, but - heaven. If we pray, we shall be able even to open heaven. Elias both shut and opened heaven by prayer. There is a prison in heaven also. Whatsoever, He saith, ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven. Let us pray by night, and we shall loose these bonds.

And at midnight Paul and Silas were worshiping God, saying a hymn, and so forth. The devotion of the apostolic heart and the power of prayer are expressed together, as both they sang hymns in the depth of the prison, and their praise shook the ground of the prison, and struck its foundations, and opened the gates, and finally released the chains of the prisoners themselves.

And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and the chains of all were loosed.

The prison shook to disrupt the mindset of the faithless, to set the prison guard free and to proclaim the word of God.… You see how the nature of shackles destroys the shackles, for just as the death of the Lord put death to death, so also the shackles of Paul set the captives free, shook the prison, opened the doors.

An earthquake struck so great that it awakened the prison guard; indeed the doors were opened, so that he might marvel at what had happened and believe. For these things were not done for display, but for salvation. Were not these seen before by those who were bound? For otherwise certainly all would have fled.

"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.

And the jailer, having been awoken and seeing the doors of the prison opened, having drawn his sword, was about to kill himself, supposing the prisoners to have escaped.

But Paul called out in a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”

And having called for lights, he rushed in, and having become terrified, he fell down before Paul and Silas,

and having brought them out, he was saying, “Sirs, what is it necessary for me to do that I may be saved?”

And they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

And they spoke the word of the Lord to him, along with all those in his house.

And having taken them in that very hour of the night, he washed them from the wounds; and he himself and all his household were baptized immediately.

And having brought them into the house, he laid a table before them and rejoiced with all his household, having believed in God.

An Official Apology

And when day had come, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, “Release those men.”

And the jailer reported these words to Paul: “The captains have sent that you may be let go. Now therefore, having gone out, depart in peace.”

But Paul was saying to them, “Having beaten us publicly uncondemned, men who are Romans, they cast us into prison; and now do they secretly throw us out? No indeed! Instead, having come themselves, let them bring us out.”

And the officers reported these declarations to the magistrates; and they were afraid, having heard that they are Romans.

And having come, they appealed to them; and having brought them out, they were asking them to go out of the city.

And having gone forth out of the prison, they came to Lydia; and having seen them, they encouraged the brothers and departed.

How great was their modesty and charity! Paul and Silas would not have put up with leaving, even though they had been dismissed by the magistrates, if they had not been able to go to the poor woman and the others, whom they called brothers, and made themselves their equals.

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. And they went to the house of Lydia, and having confirmed her, so departed. For it was not right to leave their hostess in distress and anxiety.

"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.