📖 Acts — Chapter 16 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Red lettering identifies words spoken by Jesus; it is an editorial reading aid. Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Acts 16:1 Then came he Rto Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
Acts 16:2 Which Rwas well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
Acts 16:3 Him Rwould Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
Acts 16:4 And as they went through the cities, Rthey delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
Acts 16:5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and Rincreased in number daily.
Acts 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout RPhrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
Acts 16:7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into RBithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
Acts 16:8 And they passing by Mysia came down to RTroas.
Acts 16:9 And Ra vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
Acts 16:10 And after he had seen the vision, Rimmediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
Acts 16:11 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;
Acts 16:12 And from thence to RPhilippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.
Acts 16:13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, Rwhere prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
Acts 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of RThyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
Acts 16:15 And Rwhen 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.
Acts 16:16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel Rpossessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
Acts 16:17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, RThese men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
Acts 16:18 And this did she many days. But Paul, Rbeing 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.
Acts 16:19 And when her masters saw that Rthe hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
Acts 16:20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, Rbeing Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
Acts 16:21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
Acts 16:22 And Rthe multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
Acts 16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, Rthey cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
Acts 16:24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into Rthe inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
Acts 16:25 And Rat midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
Acts 16:26 And Rsuddenly 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 bands were loosed.
Acts 16:27 And Rthe keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
Acts 16:28 But Paul Rcried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
Acts 16:29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, Rand came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
Acts 16:30 And Rbrought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Acts 16:31 And they said, RBelieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Acts 16:32 And Rthey spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
Acts 16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and Rwashed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
Acts 16:34 And Rwhen he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Acts 16:35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
Acts 16:36 And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, Rand go in peace.
Acts 16:37 But Paul said unto them, RThey have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
Acts 16:38 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: Rand they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
Acts 16:39 And they Rcame and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
Acts 16:40 And they went out of the prison, Rand entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Acts 16:1–10 — Timothy joins and the mission is directed toward Macedonia
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Paul receives Timothy as a companion and delivers the agreed decrees. The churches grow, certain routes are withheld by the Spirit, and a vision leads the company to conclude that God calls them to Macedonia.
Key Truth: Remain responsive when an intended route is redirected.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “… and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the ____ of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; …” (Acts 16:1)
Find it in Acts 16:1 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “Now when they had ____ throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden …” (Acts 16:6)
Find it in Acts 16:6 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “And after he had ____ the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly …” (Acts 16:10)
Find it in Acts 16:10 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Acts 16:11–24 — Lydia receives the word and Paul and Silas are imprisoned
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
At Philippi Lydia’s heart is opened to the message and she offers hospitality. A slave girl is delivered from a spirit of divination; her owners’ lost profit leads to accusations, beating, and imprisonment of the missionaries.
Key Truth: Do not measure a good work by the profit of those who exploit another person.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “Therefore ____ from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, …” (Acts 16:11)
Find it in Acts 16:11 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “… we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a ____ of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain …” (Acts 16:16)
Find it in Acts 16:16 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “Who, ____ received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, …” (Acts 16:24)
Find it in Acts 16:24 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Acts 16:25–40 — The jailer’s household receives the word and release is handled openly
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Prayer and singing precede an earthquake; Paul prevents the jailer’s suicide and proclaims salvation through the Lord Jesus. The household hears and responds, while later Paul requires an open response to the unjust treatment of Roman citizens.
Key Truth: Join witness to the Lord with practical protection and truthful accountability.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “And at ____ Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and …” (Acts 16:25)
Find it in Acts 16:25 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “And he ____ them the same hour of the night, and washed their …” (Acts 16:33)
Find it in Acts 16:33 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “And they ____ out of the prison, and entered into the house of …” (Acts 16:40)
Find it in Acts 16:40 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Psalms 34:1 — Continual praise in the psalm connects with prayer and singing amid imprisonment.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
How can a difficult circumstance become an occasion for truthful witness and compassionate action?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. Which account best distinguishes Acts 16:1–10 (Timothy joins and the mission is directed toward Macedonia) from the other movements of this chapter?
2. Which account best distinguishes Acts 16:11–24 (Lydia receives the word and Paul and Silas are imprisoned) from the other movements of this chapter?
3. Which account best distinguishes Acts 16:25–40 (The jailer’s household receives the word and release is handled openly) from the other movements of this chapter?
4. What enables Lydia's attentive response to Paul's words?
5. What response answers the jailer's question concerning salvation?
Notes
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