Acts 16:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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.

NIV: On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.

NASB: And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were thinking that there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled.

CSB: On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women gathered there.

NLT: On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.

Understandably, the early church is filled with "firsts." The church in Jerusalem was the first church (Acts 2:1–4). Cornelius and his household were the first large group of Gentiles to come to faith in Christ (Acts 10:44–48). The church in Syrian Antioch was the first to be home to large numbers of Gentiles (Acts 11:19–26).

The church in Philippi was the first church in Europe, and the first documented to start with a Gentile household, and the first that began with a woman.

In the time of the early church, Jews were scattered all over the Roman Empire. Some had traveled for business opportunities. Some had been enslaved by conquering armies. Romans quickly found out that as Jews strongly resisted working on the Sabbath and had quirky diets, they didn't make good slaves. Many Jews were freed wherever they happened to be.

Because of this, many cities had synagogues, including Salamis on the island of Cyprus (Acts 13:5), Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:15), Iconium (Acts 14:1), Thessalonica (Acts 17:1), Berea (Acts 17:10), Athens (Acts 17:17), Corinth (Acts 18:4), and Ephesus (Acts 18:19). But not Philippi. It takes ten Jews to establish a synagogue, and the major city must have been content with a handful of women who met by the river to pray.

If Paul had followed his instincts, he would have gone to the district of Asia in the western third of modern-day Asia Minor to visit the great number of Jews in cities like Ephesus and Colossae. Barring that, he would have gone north to Chalcedon and Nicaea, two cities that go on to host councils that make significant contributions to Christian theology.

Instead, the Holy Spirit guides Paul's group to the Roman outpost of Philippi to one woman: Lydia (Acts 16:14). The church in Philippi thrives, becoming a generous partner in the spread of the gospel to other cities (Philippians 4:15–16).

Acts 16:11–15 sees Jesus' offer of salvation come to Macedonia. Paul, Silas, and Timothy have traveled through the province of Galatia, building up the churches. Now they quickly move through the western end of modern-day Asia Minor. They meet with Luke and cross the Aegean Sea. In Philippi, they meet Lydia who helps them plant the first church in Europe: the first predominantly Gentile church. The church in Philippi grows into a strong, generous body that Paul proudly holds up as an example for others.

Acts 16 follows Paul and Silas as they take the letter of Acts 15 into modern-day Asia Minor and Macedonia. They collect Timothy in Lystra and Luke in Troas. In Philippi, they meet Lydia and baptize her family. After expelling a demon from a fortune-telling girl, city officials illegally beat and imprison Paul and Silas. An earthquake frees them of their chains, but they stay and bring the jailer and his family to Christ. The next morning, Paul and Silas refuse to leave quietly, politely insisting that their civil rights have been violated. The officials apologize, and Paul, Silas, and Timothy go to Thessalonica.

Acts 15 ends with Paul and Silas spreading the news that Gentile Christians don't have to be circumcised. Acts 16 begins with Paul circumcising a Jewish man, Timothy, to prevent difficulties in preaching to older Jews as the boy grows into church leadership. Paul's second missionary trip finds the church growing east, into Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth (Acts 16:11—18:18). On his way back to Syrian Antioch, Paul will stop by Ephesus and soften the Jews for the extended ministry of Priscilla, Aquila, and Apollos. During his first trip, Paul planted churches and ordained elders; in his second, he commissions more missionaries.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.