Acts 16:40

New Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Acts 16:40 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And they went out of the prison, and entered into [the house] of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And they went out of the prison, and entered into [the house] of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
Acts 16:40 — American Standard Version

Context — Acts 16

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
40And they went out of the prison, and entered into [the house] of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And they went out of the prison, etc.] In a public manner, with great honour and reputation, at the request of the magistrates that put them there: and entered into [the house] of Lydia; whom Paul had baptized, (<441614>Acts 16:14,15). The word “house” is rightly supplied, for the sense is not, that they went into the country of Lydia, as some have been tempted to think; but they went to the woman Lydia, whose heart the Lord had opened, and was become a disciple and follower of Christ; they went to her house it being in the city of Philippi, where she now abode, and when they had seen the brethren: the men of Lydia’s house, her servants, who were converted, and had been baptized with her,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And they went out of the prison--Having attained their object--to vindicate their civil rights, by the infraction of which in this case the Gospel in their persons had been illegally affronted--they had no mind to carry the matter farther. Their citizenship was valuable to them only as a shield against unnecessary injuries to their Master's cause. What a beautiful mixture of dignity and meekness is this! Nothing secular, which may be turned to the account of the Gospel, is morbidly disregarded; in any other view, nothing of this nature is set store by:--an example this for all ages. and entered into the house of Lydia--as if to show by this leisurely proceeding that they had not been made to…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“They comforted them - They exhorted them, and encouraged them to persevere, notwithstanding the opposition and persecution which they might meet with. And departed - That is, Paul and Silas departed. It would appear probable that Luke and Timothy remained in Philippi, or, at least, did not attend Paul and Silas. For Luke, who, in Acts 16:10, uses the first person, and speaks of himself as with Paul and Silas, speaks of them now in the third person, implying that he was not with them until Paul had arrived at Troas, where Luke joined him from Philippi, Acts 20:5-6. In Acts 17:14, also, Timothy is mentioned as being at Berea in company with Silas, from which it appears that he did not…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“When they had seen the brethren, they comforted them and departed - Though many circumstances now invited their stay, yet they wisely complied with the request of the magistrates, that they might not seem to express any degree of obstinacy or revenge, or give any suspicion of a design to stir up the people. Next: Acts Chapter 17”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“16:40 This meeting in the home of Lydia bolstered the spirits of the Philippian Christians who had to deal with the fallout from the missionaries’ work there.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“and entered: Act 16:14, Act 4:23, Act 12:12-17 they comforted: Act 14:22; Co2 1:3-7, Co2 4:8-12, Co2 4:16-18; Th1 3:2, Th1 3:3 Next: Acts Chapter 17”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification