Acts 16 Summary

Paul and Barnabas come to Derbe and Lystra where a disciple named Timotheus, son of a believing Jewess and Greek father, is well reported of by the brethren. Paul has him circumcised because of the Jews in those quarters. As they journey through cities, they deliver the decrees ordained by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. The churches are established in faith and increase daily. The Holy Ghost forbids them to preach in Asia, and the Spirit suffers them not to go into Bithynia, so they pass by Mysia and come down to Troas. A vision appears to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia stands and prays, saying, Come over into Macedonia and help us. After the vision, they endeavor to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord has called them. They sail from Troas to Samothracia and come to Neapolis and Philippi, chief city of that part of Macedonia. On the sabbath by a river side, they speak to women gathering for prayer, and Lydia, a seller of purple who worships God, hears them. The Lord opens her heart to attend to Paul's words. She is baptized with her household and constrained them to abide in her house.