Acts 16:15

Baptism Generosity The stranger and outcast

¹³ 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.

¹⁴ And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

¹⁶ And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

¹⁷ The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
KJV: And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
WEB: When she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.
ASV: And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide [there]. And she constrained us.
DARBY: And when she had been baptised and her house, she besought [us], saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide [there]. And she constrained us.
BLB: And when she was baptized, and her house, she begged, saying, “If you⁺ have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, having entered into my house, abide.” And she persuaded us.

ÅB: Da nå hun og hennes hus var blitt døpt, ba hun oss og sa: Så sant dere holder meg for å være en som tror på Herren, så kom inn i mitt hus og ta opphold der! Og hun nødde oss.
OTB: Da hun og hennes husstand ble døpt, ba hun oss og sa: "Hvis dere anser meg trofast mot Herren, kom og bo i mitt hus." Hun overtalte oss.
B1930: Da nu hun og hennes hus var blitt døpt, bad hun oss og sa: Så sant I holder mig for å være en som tror på Herren, så kom inn i mitt hus og ta ophold der! Og hun nødde oss.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Acts 11:14
Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
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Hebrews 13:2
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
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Acts 16:33
And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
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Luke 24:29
But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
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Genesis 19:3
And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
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1 Peter 5:12
By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
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1 Corinthians 1:13–16
Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
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3 John 1:5
Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;
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