Acts 16:40

They went out. When once they had achieved their purpose of showing the magistrates their serious error and vindicating the gospel publicly, the missionaries showed exemplary magnanimity. They made no self-important, embarrassing demands, but quietly acceded to the officials’ request.

Into the house of Lydia. It would appear that Lydia’s house was a meeting place for the brethren, as well as a lodging place for the missionaries. They probably stayed with her until they were fit to travel farther.

Brethren. These included the household of Lydia and that of the jailer.

Comforted. Or, ”exhorted." In the midst of their own suffering and convalescence their chief concern was still with the Christians whom they had brought into the church.

And departed. Since the narrative is closed in the third person, it is evident that Luke remained at Philippi. What Timothy did is not specifically mentioned. He may have stayed with Luke, since he does not reappear until ch. 17:14, when he is seen in Beroea with Silas. On the other hand, he may have accompanied Paul and Silas in their further travels.

Luke again brings himself into the picture in ch. 20:5, where the second ”we“ section begins (see on ch. 16:10). It seems probable that he remained in the vicinity of Philippi (ch. 20:6) until Paul again passed through Macedonia during his Third Missionary Journey. The two Christian workers would thus be separated for some six years (see p. 102). We may well believe that Luke used those years for spreading the gospel in needy Macedonia, and that he gave strong leadership to the church in Philippi. The quality of the Philippian church is beyond reproach, judging from the letter Paul wrote to its members. The church certainly was grateful for Paul’s ministry and did its best to repay the apostle by hospitable acts (Phil. 4:14-18, and possibly 2 Cor. 11:9).

[Additional Note on Chapter 16 omitted as it does not correspond to a specific verse.]