Albert Barnes

And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely.

“And when they had laid many stripes on them - The Jews were by law prohibited from inflicting more than 40 stripes, and usually inflicted but 39, 2Co 11:24. But there was no such law among the Romans.”

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

“And at midnight - Probably their painful posture, and the sufferings of their recent scourging, prevented their. sleeping. Yet, though they had no repose, they had a quiet conscience, and the supports of religion.”

When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, presuming that the prisoners had escaped.

“Would have killed himself - This was done in the midst of agitation and alarm. He supposed that the prisoners had fled. He presumed that their escape would be charged on him.”

Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.

“Then he called for a light - Greek: lights, in the plural. Probably several torches were brought by his attendants.”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ - This was a simple, a plain, and an effectual direction. They did not direct him to use the means of grace, to pray, or to continue to seek for salvation.”

At that hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed their wounds. And without delay, he and all his household were baptized.

“And he took them - To a convenient place for washing. It is evident from this that, though the apostles had the gift of miracles, they did not exercise it in regard to their own sufferings or to heal their own wounds.”

When daylight came, the magistrates sent their officers with the order: “Release those men.”

“And when it was day ... - It is evident from the narrative that it was not contemplated at first to release them so soon, Act 16:22-24. But it is not known what produced this change of purpose in the magistrates.”

But Paul said to the officers, “They beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison, even though we are Roman citizens.

“They have beaten us openly uncondemned - There are three aggravating circumstances mentioned, of which Paul complains: (1) That they had been beaten contrary to the Roman laws.”

They came to appease them and led them out, requesting that they leave the city.

“And they came and besought them - A most humiliating act for Roman magistrates, but in this case it was unavoidable. The apostles had them completely in their power, and could easily effect their disgrace and ruin.”

When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.

“Amphipolis - This was the capital of the eastern province of Macedonia. It was originally a colony of the Athenians, but under the Romans it was made the capital of that part of Macedonia.”

explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he declared.

“Opening - διανοίγων dianoigōn. See Luk 24:32. The word means to explain or to unfold. It is usually applied to what is shut, as the eye, etc. Then it means to explain what is concealed or obscure.”

The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar.

“Moved with envy - That they made so many converts, and met with such success. Certain lewd fellows of the baser sort - This is an unhappy translation. The word “lewd” is not in the original.”

and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, named Jesus!”

“Whom Jason hath received - Has received into his house, and entertained kindly. These all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar - The charge against them was that of sedition and rebellion against the Roman emperor.”

And they collected bond from Jason and the others, and then released them.

“And when they had taken security of Jason - This is an expression taken from courts, and means that Jason and the other gave satisfaction to the magistrates for the good conduct of Paul and Silas, or became responsible for it.”

Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.

“These were more noble - εὐγενέστεροι eugenesteroi. This literally means more noble by birth; descended from more illustrious ancestors. But here the word is used to denote a quality of mind and heart.”

But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that Paul was also proclaiming the word of God in Berea, they went there themselves to incite and agitate the crowds.

“Stirred up the people - The word used here σαλεύειν saleuein denotes properly “to agitate” or “excite,” as the waves of the sea are agitated by the wind.”

Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.

“Unto Athens - This was the first visit of Paul to this celebrated city; and perhaps the first visit of a Christian minister. His success in this city, for some cause, was not great, but his preaching was attended with the conversion of some individuals.”

So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace with those he met each day.

“Therefore disputed he - Or reasoned. He engaged in an argument with them. With the devout persons - Those worshipping God after the manner of the Jews.”

So they took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus, where they asked him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?

“And brought him unto Areopagus - Margin, or “Mars’ hill.” This was the place or court in which the Areopagites, the celebrated supreme judges of Athens, assembled.”

Now all the Athenians and foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing more than hearing and articulating new ideas.

“For all the Athenians - This was their general character. And strangers which were there - Athens was greatly distinguished for the celebrity of its schools of philosophy. It was at that time at the head of the literary world.”

For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.

“For as I passed by - Greek: “For I, coming through, and seeing, etc.” And beheld - Diligently contemplated; attentively considered ἀναθεωρῶν anatheōrōn. The worship of an idolatrous people will be an object of intense and painful interest to a Christian.”

Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.

“Neither is worshipped with men’s hands - The word here rendered “worshipped” (θεραπέυεται therapeuetai) denotes to “serve”; to wait upon; and then to render religious service or homage.”

God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.

“That they should seek the Lord - Greek: to seek the Lord. The design of thus placing them on the earth - of gang them their habitation among his works - was, that they should contemplate his wisdom in his works, and thus come to…”

Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.

“Forasmuch then - Admitting or assuming this to be true. The argument which follows is drawn from the concessions of their own writers. We ought not to think - It is absurd to suppose.”

For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed.

“Because he hath appointed a day - This is given as a reason why God commands people to repent. They must be judged; and if they are not penitent and pardoned, they must be condemned. See the notes on Rom 2:16.”