Acts 16:13

King James Version (KJV)

And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

By a river side, where prayer was wont to be made - Οὑ ενομιζετο προσευχη ειναι, where it was said there was a proseucha . The proseucha was a place of prayer, or a place used for worship, where there was no synagogue. It was a large building uncovered, with seats, as in an amphitheatre. Buildings of this sort the Jews had by the sea side, and by the sides of rivers. See this subject considered at large in the note on Luke 6:12; (note). It appears that the apostles had heard from some of the Gentiles, or from some of the Jews themselves, that there was a place of prayer by the river side; and they went out in quest of it, knowing that, as it was the Sabbath, they should find some Jews there.

Spake unto the women - Probably this was before the time of their public worship, and while they were waiting for the assembling of the people in general; and Paul improved the opportunity to speak concerning Christ and salvation to the women that resorted thither.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

And on the sabbath - There is no doubt that in this city there were Jews; In the time of the apostles they were scattered extensively throughout the known world.

By a river side - What river this was is not known. It is known, however, that the Jews were accustomed to provide water, or to build their synagogues and oratories near water, for the convenience of the numerous washings before and during their religious services.

Where prayer - Where there was a place of prayer, or where prayer was commonly offered. The Greek will bear either, but the sense is the same. Places for prayer were erected by the Jews in the vicinity of cities and towns, and particularly where there were not Jewish families enough, or where they were forbidden by the magistrate to erect a synagogue. These proseuchoe, or places of prayer, were simple enclosures made of stones, in a grove or under a tree, where there would be a retired and convenient place for worship.

Was wont - Was accustomed to be offered, or where it was established by custom.

And spake unto the women … - This was probably before the regular service of the place commenced.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

The removals of ministers, and the dispensing the means of grace by them, are in particular under Divine conduct and direction. We must follow Providence: and whatever we seek to do, if that suffer us not, we ought to submit and believe to be for the best. People greatly need help for their souls, it is their duty to look out for it, and to invite those among them who can help them. And God's calls must be complied with readily. A solemn assembly the worshippers of God must have, if possible, upon the sabbath day. If we have not synagogues, we must be thankful for more private places, and resort to them; not forsaking the assembling together, as our opportunities are. Among the hearers of Paul was a woman, named Lydia. She had an honest calling, which the historian notices to her praise. Yet though she had a calling to mind, she found time to improve advantages for her soul. It will not excuse us from religious duties, to say, We have a trade to mind; for have not we also a God to serve, and souls to look after? Religion does not call us from our business in the world, but directs us in it. Pride, prejudice, and sin shut out the truths of God, till his grace makes way for them into the understanding and affections; and the Lord alone can open the heart to receive and believe his word. We must believe in Jesus Christ; there is no coming to God as a Father, but by the Son as Mediator.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

13. On the sabbath. Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke were in a strange city in a strange land. They had been there some days, but when the Sabbath came they would naturally long to be with fellow Jews with whom they could worship and to whom they could impart their good news of salvation (see on ch. 13:14).

Out of the city. Rather, “outside of the gate.” They possibly searched the city for a synagogue, and finding none, went to seek a temporary place of worship by the riverside. Alternatively, they may have known that the synagogue or meeting place lay outside the city wall.

By a river side. Gr. para potamon, “beside a river,” that is, doubtless, by the stream Gangites, which ran into the river Strymon.

Prayer. Gr. proseuchÃ„â€œ, “prayer,” or probably here, “place of prayer” (see 3 Macc. 7:20; cf. on Acts 1:14; 16:16). If there were no synagogues in Philippi, the few Jews may have established a meeting place on the riverbank, where they could perform their ceremonial washings (cf. Ezra 8:15, 21; Ps. 137:1). Juvenal (Satires iii. 13, 14; Loeb ed., p. 33) notes this as one of the instances of the decay of the old religion of Rome: “The holy fount and grove and shrine are let out to Jews.” A relevant application is seen in another line from the same writer (ibid. 296; Loeb ed., p. 55): “‘Say, where is your stand? In what prayer-shop [proseuchÃ„â€œ] shall I find you?’” Such enclosures or oratories were frequently circular, and without a roof. The practice of having such places continued into the time of Tertullian, who speaks of the waterside prayers (orationes litorales) of the Jews (Ad Nationes i. 13).

Was wont to be made. Important textual evidence may be cited (cf. p. 10) for the reading, “where there was supposed to be a prayer [place]” (see above under “prayer”).

Sat down. A common custom of Jewish teachers (see Vol. V, pp. 57, 58).

Spake. Or, “began speaking.” The form of the Greek verb suggests that all four of the apostles addressed the group.

Women which resorted thither. The phrase might be better translated, “women who had come together,” or “assembled women.” Someone has observed that the “man of Macedonia” (v. 9) proved to be a devout group of Jewish women. Some preachers would have found in this an excuse for neglecting their commission, but Paul and his companions were not so easily dissuaded from their task. That there were only women gathered at the place of prayer points to an almost entire absence of Jewish men in the local population. This would account for the probable lack of a synagogue, since none could be established without a minimum membership of ten men. Some of the women whom the missionaries found may have been proselytes, like Lydia (see on v. 14). Such women would naturally welcome Jewish strangers who came to give instruction. In Macedonia women seem to have enjoyed greater freedom than was usual to their sex at the time.

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Ellen G. White
The Acts of the Apostles, 211-20

This chapter is based on Acts 16:7-40.

The time had come for the gospel to be proclaimed beyond the confines of Asia Minor. The way was preparing for Paul and his fellow workers to cross over into Europe. At Troas, on the borders of the Mediterranean Sea, “a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.” AA 211.1

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Ellen G. White
Education, 70

Yet there is a future joy to which Paul looked forward as the recompense of his labors—the same joy for the sake of which Christ endured the cross and despised the shame—the joy of seeing the fruition of his work. “What is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?” he wrote to the Thessalonian converts. “Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For ye are our glory and joy.” 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 20. Ed 70.1

Who can measure the results to the world of Paul's lifework? Of all those beneficent influences that alleviate suffering, that comfort sorrow, that restrain evil, that uplift life from the selfish and the sensual, and glorify it with the hope of immortality, how much is due to the labors of Paul and his fellow workers, as with the gospel of the Son of God they made their unnoticed journey from Asia to the shores of Europe? Ed 70.2

What is it worth to any life to have been God's instrument in setting in motion such influences of blessing? What will it be worth in eternity to witness the results of such a lifework? Ed 70.3

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Ellen G. White
In Heavenly Places, 84.5

We must not have a religion that is retained only in favorable circumstances. A religion dependent on circumstances will surely fail when it is most needed, in the most difficult surroundings. The religion of the Bible will require the gospel lamp to be kept burning brightly in unfavorable surroundings—in the market place, in the workshop—just as verily as in the place where prayer is wont to be made. Purest Christian principles may be preserved in every place. Loving and believing in Christ as our personal Saviour, we can claim His grace and His guardian care wherever we may be. HP 84.5

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Ellen G. White
Selected Messages Book 3, 400.1

When profligacy and heresy and infidelity fill the land, there will be many humble homes where prayer, sincere and contrite prayer, will be offered from those who have never heard the truth, and there will be many hearts that will carry a weight of oppression for the dishonor done to God. We are too narrow in our ideas, we are poor judges, for many of these will be accepted of God because they cherish every ray of light that shone upon them.—Manuscript 6, 1889. 3SM 400.1

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