John Chrysostom — Commentary on Scripture

Acts 16:6

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,

"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. For, it says, "After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not." Wherefore they were forbidden, he does not say, but that they were "forbidden," he does say, teaching us to obey and not ask questions, and showing that they did many things as men.

Acts 16:7 · 2 passages

After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

The text does not say why they were prevented but only that they were prevented. It teaches us that we only have to obey and not to enquire about the reasons, and it shows us that they did many things according to human customs.

"And the Spirit," it says, "suffered them not: but having passed by Mysia they came down to Troas." Wherefore they were forbidden, he does not say, but that they were "forbidden," he does say, teaching us to obey and not ask questions, and showing that they did many things as men.

Acts 16:9 · 2 passages

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

"And a vision appeared unto Paul in the night." Not now by Angels, as to Philip, as to Cornelius, but how? By a vision it is now shown to him: in more human sort, not now as before in more divine manner. For where the compliance is more easy, it is done in more human sort; but where great force was needed, there in more divine. For since he was but urged to preach, to this end it is shown him in a dream: but to forbear preaching, he could not readily endure: to this end the Holy Ghost reveals it to him. Thus also it was then with Peter, "Arise, go down." For of course the Holy Spirit did not work what was otherwise easy: but (here) even a dream sufficed him. And to Joseph also, as being readily moved to compliance, the appearance is in a dream, but to the rest in waking vision. Thus to Cornelius, and to Paul himself.

"And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us." Why a vision, and not the Holy Ghost? because He forbade the other. He would even in this way draw them over: since to the saints also He appeared in a dream, and in the beginning (Paul) himself saw a vision, "a man coming in and laying his hands upon him." In this manner also Christ appears to him, saying, "Thou must stand before Caesar." Then for this reason also He draws him thither, that the preaching may be extended. This is why he was forbidden to tarry long in the other cities, Christ urging him on. For these were to enjoy the benefit of John for a long time, and perhaps did not extremely need him (Paul), but thither he behooved to go. And now he crosses over and goes forth.

Acts 16:10

And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto 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 being on the borders; from all these they gathered.

Acts 16:11-12

Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next 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. "And in this city we were tarrying certain days."

Acts 16:13

And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

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 corporeal - and, "on the sabbath-day," when it was likely that a multitude would come together. "And we sat down, and spake to the women which resorted thither." Mark again the freedom from all pride.

"Out of the city." The place was convenient for hearing the word, aloof from troubles and dangers. "On the sabbath." As there was no work going on, they were more attentive to what was spoken.

Acts 16:14

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

"And a certain woman": a woman and she of low condition, from her trade too: but mark in her a woman of elevated mind. In the first place, the fact of God's calling her bears testimony to her.

"And a certain woman, named Lydia, a seller of purple": observe how the writer of the history is not ashamed of the occupations of the converts: moreover neither was this city of the Philippians a great one. Having learnt these things, let us also be ashamed of no man. Peter abides with a tanner; Paul with a woman who was a seller of purple, and a foreigner. Where is pride? "Whose heart the Lord opened." Therefore we need God, to open the heart: but God opens the hearts that are willing: for there are hardened hearts to be seen. "So that she attended to the things which were spoken of Paul." The opening, then, was God's work, the attending was hers: so that it was both God's doing and man's.

Acts 16:15 · 2 passages

And when she was baptized, and her household, 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.

Notice again the absence of pride. She was a woman, and she was lowly and a manual laborer. Note, however, that the woman was a lover of wisdom. The first evidence of this is her testimony that God called her. See how the writer of the story was not ashamed to report the habits of life.… And as for us, let us not be ashamed of these students or of any student of these things. Peter stays with the tanner, and Paul with the dealer in purple and a foreign one for that matter. Where is their pride? Therefore let us pray to God that he may open our heart. In fact God opens those hearts that want to be opened, as he can see those that are hardened. The opening is God's part, being attentive hers: this is something that is, in fact, both human and divine.

"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 ye have judged me faithful," she says. Nothing could be more persuasive. Who would not have been softened by these words? She did not request, did not entreat simply: but she left them to decide, and yet exceedingly forced them: "And she constrained us," it says, by those words. And again in a different way: for see how she straightway bears fruit, and accounts it a great gain. "If ye have judged me," that is, That ye did judge me is manifest, by your delivering to me such holy mysteries: and she did not dare to invite them before this. And she was baptized, and receives the Apostles with such earnestness of entreaty; with more than that used by Abraham. And she speaks of no other token than that whereby she was saved: she says not, "…

"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 ye have judged me faithful," she says. Nothing could be more persuasive. Who would not have been softened by these words? She did not request, did not entreat simply: but she left them to decide, and yet exceedingly forced them: "And she constrained us," it says, by those words. And again in a different way: for see how she straightway bears fruit, and accounts it a great gain. "If ye have judged me," that is, That ye did judge me is manifest, by your delivering to me such holy mysteries: and she did not dare to invite them before this.

And she was baptized, and receives the Apostles with such earnestness of entreaty; with more than that used by Abraham. And she speaks of no other token than that whereby she was saved: she says not, "If ye have judged me" a great, a devout woman; but what? "faithful to the Lord": if to the Lord, much more to you. "If ye have judged me": if ye do not doubt it. And she says not, Abide with me, but, "Come into my house and abide": with great earnestness she says it. Indeed a faithful woman!

Acts 16:16

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

"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."

"A certain damsel possessed with a spirit of Python." Say, what is this demon? The god, as they call him, Python: from the place he is so called. Do you mark that Apollo also is a demon? And the demon wished to bring them into temptation: therefore to provoke them, "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."

Acts 16:17

The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

What may be the reason that both the demon spoke these words, and Paul forbade him? Both the one acted maliciously, and the other wisely: the demon wished in fact to make himself credible. For if Paul had admitted his testimony, he would have deceived many of the believers, as being received by him: therefore he endures to speak what made against himself, that he may establish what made for himself: and so the demon himself uses accommodation in order to destruction. O thou accursed, thou execrable one! if then thou knowest that it is "His way of salvation" that "they show," why dost thou not come out freely? But just what Simon wished, when he said, "Give me, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost", the same did this demon: since he saw them becoming famous, here also he plays the hypocrite: by this means he thought to be allowed to remain in the body, if he should preach the same things. But if Christ "receive not testimony from man," meaning John, much less from a demon. "Praise is not comely in the mouth of a sinner", much less from a demon. For that th…

What may be the reason that both the demon spoke these words, and Paul forbade him? Both the one acted maliciously, and the other wisely: the demon wished in fact to make himself credible. For if Paul had admitted his testimony, he would have deceived many of the believers, as being received by him: therefore he endures to speak what made against himself, that he may establish what made for himself: and so the demon himself uses accommodation in order to destruction.

O thou accursed, thou execrable one! if then thou knowest that it is "His way of salvation" that "they show," why dost thou not come out freely? But just what Simon wished, when he said, "Give me, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost", the same did this demon: since he saw them becoming famous, here also he plays the hypocrite: by this means he thought to be allowed to remain in the body, if he should preach the same things. But if Christ "receive not testimony from man," meaning John, much less from a demon. "Praise is not comely in the mouth of a sinner", much less from a demon. For that they preach is not of men, but of the Holy Ghost. Because they did not act in a spirit of boasting.

Acts 16:18 · 2 passages

And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the 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. And he came out the same hour."

"And Paul being grieved," etc. By their clamor and shouting they thought to alarm them the magistrates: saying, "These men do exceedingly trouble our city." What sayest thou? Dost thou believe the demon? Why not here also? He saith, They are "servants of the most high God"; thou sayest, "They exceedingly trouble our city": he saith, "They show us the way of salvation"; thou sayest, "They teach customs which are not lawful for us to receive." Observe, how they do not attend even to the demon, but look only to one thing, their covetousness.

In imitation of his teacher; for so too did Christ rebuke. For he did not wish to have testimony from them. And why did the demon do this? Because he wanted to confound the order of things, to snatch away the apostles' dignity and to persuade many to pay attention to him. If that had happened, they would have appeared trustworthy from then on and introduced their own designs. To prevent this and to forestall deceit, [Paul] silences them even though they speak the truth, so that no one should pay any attention to their lies but stop listening altogether to what they say.

Acts 16:19

And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

"And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas." So then Paul did all, both miracles and teaching, but of the dangers Silas also is partaker. "And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone." Everywhere money the cause of evils. O that heathen cruelty! they wished the girl to be still a demoniac, that they might make money by her. "They caught Paul and Silas," it says, "and dragged them into the marketplace unto the rulers, and brought them unto the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city!"

Acts 16:20

And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

"These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city!": by doing what? Then why did you not drag them hither before this? "Being Jews": the name was in bad odor.

Acts 16:21 · 2 passages

And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

What do you say? Do you believe the demon? Does not he say here, "servants of the most high God"? You say, "They are disturbing our city." He says that they proclaim to you a way of salvation. You say, "They are advocating customs that are not lawful for us to adopt"; see how they do not even listen to the demon but are influenced by greed.

"And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans." They made a charge of treason of it. Why did they not say, Because they cast out the demon, they were guilty of impiety against God? For this was a defeat to them: but instead of that, they have recourse to a charge of treason: like the Jews when they said, "We have no king but Caesar: whoso maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar."

Acts 16:22

And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

"And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them." O the irrational conduct! They did not examine, did not allow them to speak. And yet, such a miracle having taken place, ye ought to have worshipped them, ought to have held them as saviors and benefactors. For if money was what ye wished, why, having found so great wealth, did ye not run to it? This makes you more famous, the having power to cast out demons than the obeying them. Lo, even miracles, and yet love of money was mightier.

But observe them, Paul and Silas, how they do not answer, nor plead for themselves; "For when," saith he, "I am weak, then am I strong. My grace is sufficient for thee, for My strength is made perfect in weakness": so that by reason of their gentleness also they should be admired.