Acts 16:1-40 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:1

Then came he to Derbe and Lystra ,.... Which were cities of Lycaonia, Acts 14:6 after Paul had gone through Syria and Cilicia; in the last of these places, he had been stoned, and yet goes thither again; none of these things moved him from the preaching of the Gospel, and from the care of the churches, such zeal, courage, and intrepidity was he possessed of: and behold a certain disciple was there : a converted person, a believer in Christ, one that had learned to know and deny... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:2

Which was well reported of ,.... Not the father of Timothy, but Timothy himself; to whose piety, virtue, and good conversation witness was borne, by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium ; the members of the churches which were in these places, and which were not far from one another; and as it is necessary that ministers of the Gospel should have a good report of them that are without, so likewise of them that are within; and the testimony of the latter is preferable to that of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:3

Him would Paul have to go forth with him ,.... Perceiving that he was a young man, that not only had the grace of God, but very considerable gifts, and abilities for ministerial service; and having a good testimony of his agreeable life and conversation, the apostle was very desirous he should go along with him, and be his companion in his travels, and be an assistant to him in the work of the ministry; and accordingly he was, and is often spoken of in his epistles, as his fellowlabourer,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:4

And as they went through the cities ,.... Of Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium, and others in Lycaonia, and in Phrygia and Galatia; the Arabic version reads, "they both"; that is, Paul and Barnabas: they delivered them the decrees for to keep ; they gave the churches, in these cities, the sentiments, and determinations to be observed and followed by them: that were ordained of the apostles which were at Jerusalem ; concerning the abstinence of the Gentiles from things offered to idols, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:5

And so were the churches established in the faith ,.... Of Christ, both in the grace and doctrine of faith; and that both by the preaching of the Gospel by the apostle and his companions, and by the decrees of the elders delivered by him: and increased in number daily ; as well as in gifts and grace. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:6

Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia ,.... See Gill on Acts 2:10 To which may be added, that this country had its name either from the river Phryx, as Pliny F23 Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 29. observes, or from the word Phrygios, which signifies "dry"; this being a very dry and sandy country: it was famous for marble stone; hence we read F24 Pausanias, l. 1. sive Attica, p. 32. of Phrygian Stone or marble, of which pillars and statues were made: according to Josephus F25 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:7

After they were come to Mysia ,.... Another country in Asia Minor. It is divided by Ptolomy F1 Geograph. l. 3. c. 9, 10. into two parts; superior Mysia is bounded by Dalmatia on the west, by Macedonia on the south, by part of Thrace on the east, and by part of the river Danube on the north; inferior Mysia is bounded on the west with part of the river Ciaber and the Danube, on the south with part of Thrace, on the north with the turn of the river Tyra, and on the east with the Euxine... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:8

And they passed by Mysia ,.... Without stopping or staying there, though they came to it: came down to Troas ; either the country of Troas, as the Syriac version renders it; which, according to Solinus F13 lb. c. 53. , is bordered on the north part of Galatia, and was near to Lycaonia, Pisidia, and Mygdonia on the south, and to Lydia on the east, and to Mysia and Caria on the north: or rather the city of Troas, which Pliny says F14 Hist. Nat. l. 5. c. 30. , was formerly... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:9

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night ,.... Either in a dream, or, it may be, when he was awake: there stood a man of Macedonia ; an angel in the form of a man; the Syriac version reads, "as a man of Macedonia", and who might appear in a Macedonian habit, or speak in the Macedonian language; or the apostle might conclude him to be so, from his making mention of Macedonia, as the place where he requested him to come, and assist: and prayed him, saying, come over into Macedonia ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:10

And after he had seen the vision ,.... And considered it, and related it to his companions: and when they had well weighed it, and the circumstances of it: immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia ; they determined upon it, and took all the proper methods, and made the necessary provisions for it. Here Luke, the writer of this history, first appears, saying, "we endeavoured"; whether he came with the apostle from Antioch, since he is commonly said to have been a physician of... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:10

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