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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Acts 16:12 Context: and from there to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the foremost of the district, a Roman colony. We were staying some days in this city.</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/5001a.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 4800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 4800px)" href="/4801a.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1550px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1550px)" href="/1551a.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1250px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1250px)" href="/1251a.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1050px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1050px)" href="/1051a.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 900px), only screen and (max-device-width: 900px)" href="/901a.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 800px)" href="/801a.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 575px), only screen and (max-device-width: 575px)" href="/501a.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-height: 450px), only screen and (max-device-height: 450px)" href="/h451a.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../vmenus/acts/16-12.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/acts/16-12.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="//biblehub.com/crossref/">Cross Refs</a> > Acts 16:12</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../acts/16-11.htm" title="Acts 16:11">◄</a> Acts 16:12 <a href="../acts/16-13.htm" title="Acts 16:13">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Context</div><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-12.htm" target="_top"><b>12</b></a></span>and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a <i>Roman</i> colony; and we were staying in this city for some days. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-13.htm" target="_top"><b>13</b></a></span>And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled. <p><font color="#000000"><b><i>First Convert in Europe</i></b></font><p>      <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-14.htm" target="_top"><b>14</b></a></span>A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-15.htm" target="_top"><b>15</b></a></span>And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay. And she prevailed upon us. <p>      <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-16.htm" target="_top"><b>16</b></a></span>It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-17.htm" target="_top"><b>17</b></a></span>Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-18.htm" target="_top"><b>18</b></a></span>She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! And it came out at that very moment. <p>      <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-19.htm" target="_top"><b>19</b></a></span>But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the authorities, <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-20.htm" target="_top"><b>20</b></a></span>and when they had brought them to the chief magistrates, they said, These men are throwing our city into confusion, being Jews, <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-21.htm" target="_top"><b>21</b></a></span>and are proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans. <p><font color="#000000"><b><i>Paul and Silas Imprisoned</i></b></font><p>      <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-22.htm" target="_top"><b>22</b></a></span>The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order <i>them</i> to be beaten with rods. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-23.htm" target="_top"><b>23</b></a></span>When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-24.htm" target="_top"><b>24</b></a></span>and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. <p>      <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-25.htm" target="_top"><b>25</b></a></span>But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-26.htm" target="_top"><b>26</b></a></span>and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyones chains were unfastened. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-27.htm" target="_top"><b>27</b></a></span>When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-28.htm" target="_top"><b>28</b></a></span>But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, Do not harm yourself, for we are all here! <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-29.htm" target="_top"><b>29</b></a></span>And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-30.htm" target="_top"><b>30</b></a></span>and after he brought them out, he said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? <p><font color="#000000"><b><i>The Jailer Converted</i></b></font><p>      <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-31.htm" target="_top"><b>31</b></a></span>They said, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-32.htm" target="_top"><b>32</b></a></span>And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-33.htm" target="_top"><b>33</b></a></span>And he took them that <i>very</i> hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his <i>household.</i> <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-34.htm" target="_top"><b>34</b></a></span>And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household. <p>      <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-35.htm" target="_top"><b>35</b></a></span>Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their policemen, saying, Release those men. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-36.htm" target="_top"><b>36</b></a></span>And the jailer reported these words to Paul, <i>saying,</i> The chief magistrates have sent to release you. Therefore come out now and go in peace. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-37.htm" target="_top"><b>37</b></a></span>But Paul said to them, They have beaten us in public without trial, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they sending us away secretly? No indeed! But let them come themselves and bring us out. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-38.htm" target="_top"><b>38</b></a></span>The policemen reported these words to the chief magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that they were Romans, <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-39.htm" target="_top"><b>39</b></a></span>and they came and appealed to them, and when they had brought them out, they kept begging them to leave the city. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/16-40.htm" target="_top"><b>40</b></a></span>They went out of the prison and entered <i>the house of</i> Lydia, and when they saw the brethren, they encouraged them and departed. <p><br /><br /><a href="//www.lockman.org" target="_top">NASB ©1995</a><div class="vheading2">Parallel Verses</div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/acts/16.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />and from thence to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the first of the district, a Roman colony: and we were in this city tarrying certain days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/acts/16.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were in this city some days conferring together. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/dbt/acts/16.htm">Darby Bible Translation</a></span><br />and thence to Philippi, which is the first city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city certain days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/acts/16.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />and from thence to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the first of the district, a Roman colony: and we were in this city tarrying certain days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/acts/16.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/acts/16.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />and thence to Philippi, which is a city in Macedonia, the first in its district, a Roman colony. And there we stayed some little time.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/acts/16.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />and from there to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the foremost of the district, a Roman colony. We were staying some days in this city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/acts/16.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> thence also to Philippi, which is a principal city of the part of Macedonia -- a colony. And we were in this city abiding certain days,<div class="vheading2">Library</div><span class="headingtext"><a href="//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions_of_holy_scripture_the_acts/paul_at_philippi.htm">Paul at Philippi</a><br></span><span class="snippet">'And on the sabbath day we went forth without the gate, by a river side, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which were come together.' --ACTS xvi. 13 (R.V.). This is the first record of the preaching of the Gospel in Europe, and probably the first instance of it. The fact that the vision of the man of Macedonia was needed in order to draw the Apostle across the straits into Macedonia, and the great length at which the incidents at Philippi are <a href="//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions_of_holy_scripture_the_acts/paul_at_philippi.htm" title="continued">…</a><br></span><span class="citation">Alexander Maclaren—</span><span class="citation2">Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts</span><p><span class="headingtext"><a href="//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions_of_holy_scripture_the_acts/how_to_secure_a_prosperous.htm">How to Secure a Prosperous Voyage</a><br></span><span class="snippet">'And after [Paul] 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. 11. Therefore ... we came with a straight course.'--ACTS xvi. 10, 11. This book of the Acts is careful to point out how each fresh step in the extension of the Church's work was directed and commanded by Jesus Christ Himself. Thus Philip was sent by specific injunction to 'join himself' to the chariot of the Ethiopian statesman. <a href="//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions_of_holy_scripture_the_acts/how_to_secure_a_prosperous.htm" title="continued">…</a><br></span><span class="citation">Alexander Maclaren—</span><span class="citation2">Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts</span><p><span class="headingtext"><a href="//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions_of_holy_scripture_the_acts/the_riot_at_philippi.htm">The Riot at Philippi</a><br></span><span class="snippet">'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, 20. And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21. And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. 22. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23. And when they had laid many <a href="//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions_of_holy_scripture_the_acts/the_riot_at_philippi.htm" title="continued">…</a><br></span><span class="citation">Alexander Maclaren—</span><span class="citation2">Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts</span><p><span class="headingtext"><a href="//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions_of_holy_scripture_the_acts/the_great_question_and_the.htm">The Great Question and the Plain Answer</a><br></span><span class="snippet">'He brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shall be saved.'--ACTS xvi. 30, 31. The keeper of a Macedonian jail was not likely to be a very nervous or susceptible person. And so the extraordinary state of agitation and panic into which this rough jailer was cast needs some kind of explanation. There had been, as you will all remember, an earthquake of a strange kind, for it not only opened the prison doors, but shook <a href="//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions_of_holy_scripture_the_acts/the_great_question_and_the.htm" title="continued">…</a><br></span><span class="citation">Alexander Maclaren—</span><span class="citation2">Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts</span><p><span class="headingtext"><a href="//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons_sermons_volume_17_1871/household_salvation.htm">Household Salvation</a><br></span><span class="snippet">To allure and encourage you to long for family religion, I have selected this text this morning. God grant it may answer the purpose designed. May many here have a spiritual hunger and thirst, that they may receive the blessing which so largely rested upon the Philippian jailer. Note in our text five things. We have a whole household hearing the word, a whole household believing it, a whole household baptized, a whole household working for God, and then, a whole household rejoicing. I. Observe, first, <a href="//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons_sermons_volume_17_1871/household_salvation.htm" title="continued">…</a><br></span><span class="citation">Charles Haddon Spurgeon—</span><span class="citation2">Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871</span><p><span class="headingtext"><a href="//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons_sermons_volume_37_1891/lydia_the_first_european_convert.htm">Lydia, the First European Convert</a><br></span><span class="snippet">WE MAY LAUDABLY EXERCISE CURIOSITY with regard to the first proclamation of the gospel in our own quarter of the globe. We are happy that history so accurately tells us, by the pen of Luke, when first the gospel was preached in Europe, and by whom, and who was the first convert brought by that preaching to the Savior's feet. I half envy Lydia that she should be the leader of the European band; yet I feel right glad that a woman led the van, and that her household followed so closely in the rear. <a href="//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons_sermons_volume_37_1891/lydia_the_first_european_convert.htm" title="continued">…</a><br></span><span class="citation">Charles Haddon Spurgeon—</span><span class="citation2">Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891</span><p><span class="headingtext"><a href="//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons_sermons_volume_4_1858/the_cry_of_the_heathen.htm">The Cry of the Heathen</a><br></span><span class="snippet">And now, beloved, having thus prefaced our discourse, we have another observation to make before we proceed to a full discussion of the text. What an instance of Divine sovereignty we have in our text! He who is wise can see sovereignty everywhere in the work of salvation, but how clearly is it present here. Bithynia must not hear the gospel; the apostle desires to go and preach it there; but as yet, it seems, God does not intend that Bithynia should be evangelised. He desires to tarry in Asia, and <a href="//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons_sermons_volume_4_1858/the_cry_of_the_heathen.htm" title="continued">…</a><br></span><span class="citation">Charles Haddon Spurgeon—</span><span class="citation2">Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 4: 1858</span><p><span class="headingtext"><a href="//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/the_good_news_of_god/sermon_xxvi_the_heavenly_father.htm">The Heavenly Father</a><br></span><span class="snippet">ACTS xvi. 24-28. God that made the world, and all that therein is, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands . . . For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. I told you last Sunday of the meaning of the days of the week; but one day I left out--namely, Tuesday. I did so on purpose. I wish to speak of that day by itself in this sermon. I told you how our forefathers worshipped <a href="//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/the_good_news_of_god/sermon_xxvi_the_heavenly_father.htm" title="continued">…</a><br></span><span class="citation">Charles Kingsley—</span><span class="citation2">The Good News of God</span><p><span class="headingtext"><a href="//christianbookshelf.org/ryle/the_upper_room_being_a_few_truths_for_the_times/note.htm">Note</a><br></span><span class="snippet">THERE is a passage in an old writer which throws so much light on some points mentioned in this paper, that I make no excuse for giving it to the reader in its entirety. It comes from a work which is little known and less read. It has done me good, and I think it may do good to others. "When a man is awakened, and brought to that, that all must be brought to, or to worse,' What shall I do to be saved!' (Acts 16:30-31), we have the apostolic answer to it: ' Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou <a href="//christianbookshelf.org/ryle/the_upper_room_being_a_few_truths_for_the_times/note.htm" title="continued">…</a><br></span><span class="citation">John Charles Ryle—</span><span class="citation2">The Upper Room: Being a Few Truths for the Times</span><p><span class="headingtext"><a href="//christianbookshelf.org/booth/godliness/chapter_ii_saving_faith.htm">Saving Faith. </a><br></span><span class="snippet">And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.--ACTS xvi. 30,31. This is one of the most abused texts in the Bible, and one which, perhaps, has been made to do quite as much work for the devil as for God. Let every saint present, ask in faith for the light of the Holy Ghost, while we try rightly to apply it. Let us enquire:-- 1. Who are to believe? 2. When are they to believe? 3. How are <a href="//christianbookshelf.org/booth/godliness/chapter_ii_saving_faith.htm" title="continued">…</a><br></span><span class="citation">Catherine Booth—</span><span class="citation2">Godliness</span><p><span class="headingtext"><a href="//christianbookshelf.org/finney/lectures_on_revivals_of_religion/lecture_xviii_directions_to_sinners.htm">Directions to Sinners. </a><br></span><span class="snippet">Text--What shall I do to be saved.--Acts xvi. 30. THESE are the words of the jailor at Philippi, the question which he put to Paul and Silas, who were then under his care as prisoners. Satan had, in many ways, opposed these servants of God in their work of preaching the Gospel, and had been as often defeated and disgraced. But here, at Philippi, he devised a new and peculiar project for frustrating their labors. There was a certain woman at Philippi, who was possessed with a spirit of divination, <a href="//christianbookshelf.org/finney/lectures_on_revivals_of_religion/lecture_xviii_directions_to_sinners.htm" title="continued">…</a><br></span><span class="citation">Charles Grandison Finney—</span><span class="citation2">Lectures on Revivals of Religion</span><p><div class="vheading2">Links</div><a href="/niv/acts/16-12.htm">Acts 16:12 NIV</a> • <a href="/nlt/acts/16-12.htm">Acts 16:12 NLT</a> • <a href="/esv/acts/16-12.htm">Acts 16:12 ESV</a> • <a href="/nasb/acts/16-12.htm">Acts 16:12 NASB</a> • <a href="/kjv/acts/16-12.htm">Acts 16:12 KJV</a> • <a href="//bibleapps.com/acts/16-12.htm">Acts 16:12 Bible Apps</a> • <a href="/acts/16-12.htm">Acts 16:12 Parallel</a> • <a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../acts/16-11.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Acts 16:11"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Acts 16:11" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../acts/16-13.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Acts 16:13"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Acts 16:13" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mp/acts/16-12.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /><iframe src="//biblemenus.com/adframebhbl.htm" width="122" height="250" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div> <div id="bot"><div align="center"><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /></div><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhparnew.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></body></html>