Acts 16:16-27

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:22

And the multitude rose up together against them ,.... The crowd of people that were gathered together in the court on this occasion; being no doubt spirited up by the proprietors of the maid, out of whom the spirit of divination was cast, and encouraged by the rulers, and being provoked at the hearing of unlawful customs being introduced among them; and the magistrates rent off their clothes ; not their own clothes, as did the high priest, Mark 14:63 but the clothes of Paul and Silas;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:23

And when they had laid many stripes upon them ,.... Even above measure, as in 2 Corinthians 11:35 . They cast them into prison ; designing doubtless to inflict some greater punishment upon them, after they had further examined into their affairs: charging the jailer to keep them safely ; suggesting, that he must be answerable for them, should they escape, either through his favour or his negligence; and they might rather give this strict charge, because they perceived that they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:24

Who having received such a charge ,.... So strict an one from the magistrates, was doubly careful and diligent: thrust them into the inner prison : the innermost part of it, the lowest or furthest part of the prison; so that there were the more doors, bolts, and bars, to break open, and pass through, should they attempt to make their escape: and made their feet fast in the stocks ; or "wood", a wooden machine, in which the feet of prisoners were put for security, and which we call... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:25

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed , When others were asleep, and all things were still and quiet; See Gill on Psalm 119:62 , and they prayed doubtless for themselves, for their deliverance in God's time and way, and for support under their present afflictions; and for supplies of grace, to enable them to bear with patience and cheerfulness, until an issue was put to them; and for their enemies, and, particularly it may be for the jailer, who had used them so ill; and for the churches... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:26

And suddenly there was a great earthquake ,.... An extraordinary and unusual one; which did not arise from natural causes, from wind being pent up in the earth, but from the prayers and praises of the saints, going up to heaven; when God was pleased to testify his presence and power this way; and the effects which followed upon this earthquake, show it to be a supernatural one: so that the foundations of the prison were shaken ; not the roof and walls only, as is common in earthquakes,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:27

And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep ,.... Not so much by the loud voices of Paul and Silas, as by the uncommon motion of the earth, which so shook him, as thoroughly to awake him: and seeing the prison doors open ; which was the first thing in his fright he was looking after, and careful of, and which he might perceive, though it was midnight, and though as yet he had no light: he drew out his sword ; from its scabbard, which was girt about him; for it may be he had... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 16:16

As we went to prayer - Εις προσευχην , Into the proseucha : see on Acts 16:13 ; (note), and on Luke 6:12 ; (note). The article, την , is added here by ABCE, several others, Origen and Theophylact: thus makes the place more emphatic, and seems to determine the above meaning of προσευχην to be right - not the act of prayer or praying to God, but the place, the oratory, in which these proselytes assembled for the purpose of praying, reading the law and the prophets, and such like... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 16:17

These men are the servants, etc. - It is astonishing how such a testimony could be given in such a case; every syllable of it true, and at the same time full, clear, and distinct. But mark the deep design and artifice of this evil spirit: He well knew that the Jewish law abhorred all magic, incantations, magical rites, and dealings with familiar spirits; he therefore bears what was in itself a true testimony to the apostles, that by it he may destroy their credit, and ruin their... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 16:18

Paul, being grieved - Probably for the reasons assigned above. Turned - to the spirit - Not to the woman; she was only the organ by which the spirit acted. I command thee, in the name of Jesus - Jesus is the Savior; Satan is Abaddon and Apollyon, the destroyer. The sovereign Savior says to the destroyer, Come out of her; and he came out in the same hour. Every circumstance of this case proves it to have been a real possession. We have already had several opportunities of remarking... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 16:19

When her masters saw - It appears she was maintained by some men, who received a certain pay from every person whose fortune she told, or to whom she made any discovery of stolen goods, etc., etc. The hope of their gains was gone - Ἡ ελπις , This hope; viz. the spirit. So completely was this spirit cast out that the girl could divine no more; and yet she continued a heathen still, for we do not hear a word of her conversion. Had she been converted, got baptized, and been associated... read more

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