John Calvin Commentary Acts 16:13

"And on the sabbath day we went forth without the gate by a river side, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down, and spake unto the women that were come together." — Acts 16:13 (ASV)

In the day of the Sabbaths. No doubt the Jews sought some place that was solitary and out of the way when they were inclined to pray, because their religion was then everywhere greatly detested. And God, by their example, intended to teach us how highly we ought to value the profession of faith, so that we do not abandon it either for fear of envy or of dangers.

They had, indeed, synagogues in many places, but it was not lawful for them to assemble publicly at Philippi, which was a free city of Rome. Therefore, they withdrew to a secret corner so that they might pray to God where they could not be seen. And yet, there were those who resented even this, so that they might well expect it to cause both trouble and danger; but they preferred the worship of God over their own peace and convenience.

Furthermore, we may gather from this word Sabbath that Luke is speaking of the Jews. Secondly, since he commends the godliness of Lydia, she must have been a Jewess—a matter that needs no long discussion, since we know that it was a heinous offense for the Greeks and Romans to celebrate the Sabbath or to adopt Jewish rites.

Now, we understand that the Jews chose the river’s bank simply because they shunned the company of men and the sight of the people. If anyone objects, asking, “Why did not everyone pray in their own house privately?” the answer is ready: that this was a solemn rite of prayer, to testify to their godliness; that, being far from the superstitions of the Gentiles, they might exhort one another to worship God alone; and that they might nurture the religion received from their fathers among themselves.

Regarding Paul and his companions who had recently arrived, we may suppose that they came there not only to pray but also because they hoped to do some good. For it was a suitable place for them to teach, being far from noise; and it was fitting that those who came there to pray would be more attentive to hear the word.

Luke uses “the day of the Sabbaths” instead of “the Sabbath”; where, following Erasmus, I have translated it as, There was wont to be prayer; the old interpreter has, did seem. And the word [νομίζεσθαι] has both meanings among the Greeks. Yet this meaning is more suitable for this present passage: that it was their common practice to have prayer there.

We spake to the women. Either that place was appointed for the gatherings of women, or else religious fervor was weak among men, so that they came more slowly. Whatever the case, we see that the holy men overlooked no occasion or opportunity, because they willingly offered the gospel even to women alone. Furthermore, since it seems likely to me that men and women made their prayers there together, I suppose that Luke omitted the men either because they would not listen, or else because they profited nothing from hearing.