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Author: Ron Graham

Book of Acts

Acts 16:16-40
—Verse by verse

This page is a verse by verse study of Acts 16:16-40. These verses describe Paul's experiences and work with Silas in Philippi, including the conversion of the Philippian jailer.

Adventures in Philippi.

Acts 16:16-40

¶“16As we were going to prayer, it happened that a certain slave girl met us. She was possessed by a spirit of divination. This girl had brought her masters much gain by fortune telling. 17She followed Paul and us, crying out, 'These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of salvation!' 18She continued doing this for several days. Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, 'I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!' The demon came out that very hour. 19Now when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them to the marketplace to face the rulers.” (Acts 16:16-19).

¶“20When the slave girl’s masters had brought Paul and Silas to the magistrates, they said, 'These men, who are Jews, are confusing our city, 21proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us Romans to accept or to observe'. 22The crowd rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore the clothes off Paul and Silas, and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23When they had laid many blows on Paul and Silas, they threw them into prison. They charged the jailer to keep them safely. 24Having received such a command, the jailer threw Paul and Silas into the inner prison, and secured their feet in the stocks.” (Acts 16:20-24).

¶“25About midnight Paul and Silas, in jail, were praying and singing hymns to God. The other prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was a great earthquake which shook the prison to its foundations. Immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were loosed. 27The jailer, roused out of sleep, saw the prison doors open. He drew his sword and was about to kill himself, assuming that the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, 'Don't harm yourself: we are all here!' ” (Acts 16:25-28).

¶“29The jailer called for lights and rushed in to the prison. He fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30Then he brought them out and said, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' 31They answered, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.' 32They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house. 33He took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household. 34The jailer then brought Paul and Silas up into his house, and set food before them. The jailer rejoiced greatly, with all his household, having believed in God.” (Acts 16:29-34).

¶“35When it was day, the magistrates sent the police with this message: 'Release those men!' 36The jailer reported these words to Paul: 'The magistrates have sent a message for your release; therefore come out now, and go in peace.' 37But Paul replied with this message for the magistrates: 'They have flogged us publicly, without a trial, men who are Romans, and have cast us into prison. Do they now release us secretly? Most certainly not! Let them come themselves and release us.' ” (Acts 16:35-37).

¶“38The sergeants reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. 39So the magistrates came begging to Paul and Silas. When they had brought them out of the prison, they continued pleading with them to leave the city. 40So Paul and Silas went out of the prison, and entered into Lydia’s house to see and encourage the brethren; then Paul and Silas departed.” (Acts 16:38-40).

1 Slave Girl with a Demon

Verses 16-19

¶ "As we were going to prayer, it happened that a certain slave girl met us. She was possessed by a spirit of divination. This girl had brought her masters much gain by fortune telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of salvation!” She continued doing this for several days. Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” The demon came out that very hour. Now when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them to the marketplace to face the rulers." (Acts 16:16-19).

2 Paul and Silas in Prison

Verses 20-24

¶ "When the slave girl’s masters had brought Paul and Silas to the magistrates, they said, “These men, who are Jews, are confusing our city, proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us Romans to accept or to observe. The crowd rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore the clothes off Paul and Silas, and commanded them to be beaten with rods. When they had laid many blows on Paul and Silas, they threw them into prison. They charged the jailer to keep them safely. Having received such a command, the jailer threw Paul and Silas into the inner prison, and secured their feet in the stocks." (Acts 16:20-24).

Verses 25-28

¶ "About midnight Paul and Silas, in jail, were praying and singing hymns to God. The other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake which shook the prison to its foundations. Immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were loosed. The jailer, roused out of sleep, saw the prison doors open. He drew his sword and was about to kill himself, assuming that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, “Don't harm yourself: we are all here!” " (Acts 16:25-28).

3 The Jailor Converted in Philippi

Verses 29-34

¶ "The jailer called for lights and rushed in to the prison. He fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house. He took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household. The jailer then brought Paul and Silas up into his house, and set food before them. The jailer rejoiced greatly, with all his household, having believed in God." (Acts 16:29-34).

Verses 35-37

¶ "When it was day, the magistrates sent the police with this message: “Release those men!” The jailer reported these words to Paul: “The magistrates have sent a message for your release; therefore come out now, and go in peace.” But Paul replied with this message for the magistrates: “They have flogged us publicly, without a trial, men who are Romans, and have cast us into prison. Do they now release us secretly? Most certainly not! Let them come themselves and release us.”  " (Acts 16:35-37).

Verses 38-40

¶ "The sergeants reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. So the magistrates came begging to Paul and Silas. When they had brought them out of the prison, they continued pleading with them to leave the city. So Paul and Silas went out of the prison, and entered into Lydia’s house to see and encourage the brethren; then Paul and Silas departed." (Acts 16:38-40).


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