Acts 16:40 Meaning and Explanation
“And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Leaving the prison, Paul and Silas gather the believers at Lydia's house, encourage them, and then depart.
What Does Acts 16:40 Mean?
Vindicated and free, they do not hurry away. They return to Lydia's house, already the meeting place of the new congregation, and see the brethren: Lydia's household, the jailer's family, and whoever else has believed. Then they go, while the story's 'we' falls silent until Acts 20:5-6, a hint that Luke remained behind in Philippi.
Notice who comforts whom: the men with the wounded backs strengthen the church. From a riverside prayer meeting, a delivered girl, and a shaken prison, God has built a congregation that will become Paul's 'joy and crown' (Philippians 4:1). What began in chains ends in encouragement, the pattern of the gospel ever since the cross.
Acts 16:40 in the Original Language
parakaleo (παρακαλέω), 'comforted' -- to call alongside, to encourage and strengthen.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 16:40
What does Acts 16:40 mean?
Leaving the prison, Paul and Silas gather the believers at Lydia's house, encourage them, and then depart.