Year of the Bible
Acts of the Apostles 16
Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 16:
Paul is preparing to leave Antioch again and will spend a couple of years away on this missionary trip, mostly in the Aegean Sea area. On the trip he will teach and encourage, providing on-going faith formation to believers (vs. 4-5). Paul asks one of the believers, Timothy, to join him in the missionary ministry, and he does, undergoing circumcision in order to make a better impression with Jews they sought to announce the Gospel to (vs. 3). Paul and his team are open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in their ministry and adjust course based on their sense of where the Spirit is leading them (6-10). Their arrival in Philippi (Greece) marks the first spread of the Gospel beyond Asia and into continental Europe. In this city with so few Jews there is not even a synagogue, a woman named Lydia who is spiritual and interested in God (vs. 14) becomes the first new believer. Amidst local hostility toward Jews, Paul and Silas are jailed (vs. 19-22) which leads to another (5:19-10; 12:6-11) prison-release narrative tied to intercessory prayer! In the end, a local Church begins to grow in Philippi, founded on the conversions of a business woman and a jailer, rather than religious leaders.
The Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 16:
Timothy Accompanies Paul and Silas
1 And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer; but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions which had been reached by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
Paul’s Vision of the Man of Macedonia
6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; 8 so, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
The Conversion of Lydia and Her Household
11 Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is the leading city of the district of Macedonia, and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days; 13 and on the sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named
Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to listen to what was said by Paul. 15 And when she was baptized, with her household, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
Paul and Silas Beaten and Imprisoned
16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by soothsaying. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days. But Paul was annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the rulers; 20 and when they had brought them to the magistrates they said, “These men are Jews and they are disturbing our city. 21 They advocate customs which it is not lawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them; and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one’s chains were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 and brought them out and said, “Men, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house, and set food before them; and he rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God.
35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” 36 And the jailer reported the words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore come out and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now cast us out secretly? No! let them come themselves and take us out.” 38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens; 39 so they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. 40 So they went out of the prison, and visited Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they exhorted them and departed.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
This portion of Acts shows us the apostle's ministry to the gentiles and beyond, even risking persecution and imprisonment. What sacrifices am I willing to make in order to share the gosepl with the people I encounter in my life? Lord, give me courage!
Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan. Join a Catholic Biblical School of Michigan class this September at Holy Family in Grand Blanc or online.
Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
If you're looking for a good Catholic edition of the Bible, look no further.
1 Llegó a Derbe y Listra, donde había
un discípulo que se llamaba Timoteo,
hijo de mujer judía creyente y de padre
griego, 2 que contaba con el testimonio de
los hermanos de Listra e Iconio.
3 Pablo quiso que marchara con él. Se
lo trajo y le circuncidó a causa de los judíos
de aquellos lugares, porque todos
sabían que su padre era griego.
4 Conforme atravesaban las ciudades,
les entregaban, para que las observasen,
las decisiones dictadas por los
apóstoles y los presbíteros de Jerusalén.
5 Las iglesias se robustecían en la fe y aumentaban
en número día a día.
6 Atravesaron Frigia y la región de
Galacia, porque el Espíritu Santo les
había impedido predicar la palabra en
Asia. 7 Llegados cerca de Misia, intentaron
ir a Bitinia, pero el Espíritu de Jesús
no se lo permitió. 8 Entonces atravesaron
Misia y bajaron hasta Tróade. 9 Esa
noche Pablo tuvo una visión: un macedonio
estaba de pie y le suplicaba diciendo:
«Ven a Macedonia y ayúdanos».
10 En cuanto tuvo la visión, intentamos
inmediatamente pasar a Macedonia,
convencidos de que Dios nos había llamado
para anunciarles el Evangelio.
11 Haciéndonos a la mar, fuimos desde
Tróade derechos a Samotracia; al día
siguiente a Neápolis, 12 y de allí a Filipos,
que es la primera ciudad de la región de
Macedonia y colonia romana. En esta
ciudad permanecimos varios días.
13 El sábado salimos fuera de la puerta
de la ciudad, junto al río, donde pensábamos
que se tendría la oración. Nos
sentamos y hablamos a las mujeres que
se habían reunido. 14 Una de ellas, llamada
Lidia, vendedora de púrpura de
la ciudad de Tiatira y temerosa de Dios,
nos escuchaba. El Señor abrió su corazón
para que comprendiese lo que Pablo
decía. 15 Después de haber sido bautizada
ella, y su casa, nos insistía:
–Si juzgáis que soy fiel al Señor, venid
y quedaos en mi casa –y nos obligó. Mientras íbamos a la oración nos
salió al encuentro una joven esclava
que tenía un espíritu pitónico y proporcionaba
como adivina abundantes ganancias
a sus amos. 17 Siguiéndonos a Pablo y a nosotros
gritaba:
–¡Estos hombres son siervos del
Dios Altísimo y os anuncian el camino
de la salvación!
18 Repetía esto muchos días hasta
que Pablo, enfadado, se volvió y le dijo
al espíritu:
–¡En nombre de Jesucristo te mando
que salgas de ella!
Y en ese mismo instante salió. 19 Al
ver sus amos que había desaparecido la
esperanza de su ganancia se apoderaron
de Pablo y de Silas y los arrastraron al
foro ante los magistrados. 20 Los presentaron
a los pretores y dijeron:
–Estos hombres perturban nuestra
ciudad. Son judíos 21 y predican costumbres
que a nosotros los romanos no nos
es lícito aceptar ni practicar.
22 La multitud se alborotó contra ellos
y los pretores les hicieron quitarse la ropa
y mandaron azotarles. 23 Después de haberles
dado numerosos azotes, los arrojaron
en la cárcel y ordenaron al carcelero
custodiarlos con todo cuidado. 24 Éste,
recibida la orden, los metió en el calabozo
interior y les sujetó los pies al cepo.
25 A eso de la medianoche Pablo y Silas
se pusieron a orar y a entonar alabanzas
a Dios, mientras los presos les
escuchaban. 26 De repente se produjo un
terremoto tan fuerte, que se conmovieron
los cimientos de la cárcel, e inmediatamente
se abrieron todas las puertas
y se soltaron las cadenas de todos.
27 Se despertó el jefe de la prisión, y al ver
abiertas las puertas de la cárcel sacó la
espada y quería matarse pensando que
los presos se habían fugado. 28 Pero Pablo
le gritó con fuerte voz:
–¡No te hagas ningún daño, que estamos
todos aquí!
29 El jefe de la prisión pidió una luz,
entró precipitadamente y temblando se
arrojó ante Pablo y Silas. 30 Los sacó fuera
y les dijo:
–Señores, ¿qué debo hacer para salvarme?
31 Ellos le contestaron:
–Cree en el Señor Jesús y te salvarás
tú y tu casa.
32 Le predicaron entonces la palabra
del Señor a él y a todos los de su casa. En aquella hora de la noche los tomó
consigo, les lavó las heridas y acto seguido
se bautizaron él y todos los suyos.
34 Les hizo subir a su casa, les preparó la
mesa y se regocijó con toda su familia
por haber creído en Dios.
35 Al hacerse de día los pretores enviaron
a los lictores para decirle:
–Pon en libertad a esos hombres.
36 El guardián de la cárcel se lo comunicó
a Pablo:
–Los pretores han dado orden de
que se os ponga en libertad. Salid, pues,
ahora y marchad en paz.
37 Pero Pablo les replicó:
–Después de azotarnos públicamente
sin previa condena siendo ciudadanos
romanos, nos han metido en la cárcel,
¿y nos sueltan ahora a escondidas?
Esto no va a ser así. Que vengan ellos a
sacarnos.
38 Los lictores comunicaron estas palabras
a los pretores. Al oír que eran
ciudadanos romanos les entró miedo.
39 Vinieron entonces y les pidieron disculpas,
los sacaron fuera y les rogaron
que abandonaran la ciudad. 40 Al salir de
la cárcel, fueron a casa de Lidia y, después
de haber visto a los hermanos, les
exhortaron y se marcharon.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
Esta parte de los Hechos nos enseña el ministerio del apóstol hacia los gentiles y más allá, incluso arriesgandose a la persecución y el encarcelamiento. ¿Qué sacrificios estoy dispuesto a hacer para compartir el evangelio con las personas que encuentro en mi vida? Señor, ¡dame valor!
La Biblia de Navarra
Permiso para usar esta versión de la primera edición de la Biblia de Navarra
para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).