Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 16:40

"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." — Acts 16:40 (ASV)

After leaving the prison, Paul and Silas met with the small body of Christians at the house of Lydia and encouraged them in their new faith. Then they left with Timothy to go westward toward Thessalonica. Apparently, Luke stayed behind at Philippi, for only later (20:5) does the second “we” section begin—again at Philippi. By that time the little congregation that had begun so modestly had grown in size and spirituality; for in the letter Paul later wrote them, he speaks of their “overseers and deacons” , counsels them as believers growing in maturity, and commends them for their continuing concern for him (cf. Php 2:25–30; 4:10–19).