(16-40). The incident in Philippi took place probably in the fall of A.D. 50, and so anti-Jewish sentiment was running high. We are studying the story of Lydia, recorded in Acts 16:11-15 and :40, for Sunday, February 28. As well, this may have even been the same guard who beat them a few hours earlier. They were all saved because they all trusted the word of God and the Jesus revealed to us through the word. Acts 16:11-15 Samothrace, Neapolis, Philippi. Acts 16:1-18 Saving, Guiding, Empowering. They were biased because of their Jewish appearance, and because they assumed Paul and Silas were not Roman citizens. At the beginning of Paul's second mission, the Lord directed him to people who were prepared to hear the gospel. One thing I really want to talk about is the best way to use Bible commentaries so you are actually learning how to study the Book for yourself, and not just memorizing the thoughts of the . Conversion of the Philippian jailer. Paul and Silas travel to Derbe and Lystra, where they meet Timothy 2. ACTS 16:16 pu,qwna 6. Luke notes that the prisoners were listening to them (16:25). i. b. Clarke's Commentary. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. That convicts me of my lack of joy and my grumbling over the minor irritations in my life! There is perhaps no example of this more remarkable than that which It is false teaching that Christians are exempt from the common trials that come upon the entire human race: sickness, poverty, tragedies, and death. | List Acts 16:13). A spirit pretending to divination, to tell i. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. Acts 12:13. But Paul, greatly annoyed: Paul was greatly annoyed, and he did not appreciate the free advertising from the demon. He drew his sword and was about to kill himself, assuming that the prisoners had escaped. b. I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her: Jesus cast out demons with His own authority. _Vulg_. Read Acts 16 again and ask God to reveal and emphasize truths from this chapter that He wants you to see. which Paul witnessed. a. The words, literally, are as in the margin, a spirit of Python, or, as In a vision, Paul was invited to the region of Macedonia, westward across the Agean Sea. Our lives back up the reality of the message. Come on, Paul, get realistic! The jailer rejoiced greatly, with all his household, having believed in God." Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. THESE MEN ARE SERVANTS. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you . b. I could handle, Try not to grumble too much. Rejoice always; In everything give thanks; for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thess. They have violated our rights as Roman citizens. He fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Verse Acts 16:16. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. 19. This should be rendered as in above 29The jailer called for lights and rushed in to the prison. Now when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them to the marketplace to face the rulers." oracles met us. He was a believer. From there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia: Paul here followed a plan to plant churches in the major cities. a. Then he brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? They answered, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household. They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house. They trusted that He had another purpose in mind, and so He did, namely, the conversion of the jailer and his family. Timothy had a believing mother with a Jewish background (son of a certain Jewish woman who believed), and a (presumably) unbelieving Greek father. As I mentioned last week, any time that your rights have been violated and you have been mistreated, you are probably looking at a wonderful opportunity for bearing witness of Christ. In Derbe and Lystra again. We have four men who are under a vow. They charged the jailer to keep them safely. a. So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed. Those who are prisoners in Satans domain of darkness are always listening to and watching the Lords people, especially in times of trial. Paul and Silas went to the house of Lydia, saw the brethren, comforted them, and departed. iii. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. Lydias heart was gently opened; the guards heart was violently confronted. (temp. Do they now release us secretly? A verse by verse study of Acts 17:1-15. The jailer then brought Paul and Silas up into his house, and set food before them. Such people had to be taught to know their proper place and not trouble their betters. (Bruce). Were out of here! And they would have run for their lives. Then he came to Derbe and Lystra: Paul (and Silas) arrived in Derbe, where he had great success on his first missionary journey (Acts 14:20-21), and in Lystra, where a crowd tried to honor Paul and Barnabas as pagan gods on the first missionary journey (Acts 14:8-20). In line with that, Pauls action showed the entire city, which would have heard about this incident, the spirit of Jesus Christ. (16) "_And it came to pass, The jailer, roused out of sleep, saw the prison doors open. The Holy Spirit used the courageous praise of Paul and Silas in their terrible adversity. Others refuse to preach repentance, claiming that this text says that it is not necessary. Commentary on Acts 16 16 34. ACTS 16:35-40. This is how God wants our lives to be: Natural magnets drawing people to Him. The late Romanian pastor, Richard Wurmbrand, spent 14 years in prison for preaching the gospel, three in solitary confinement in a dark cell. God still calls people to the mission field, and He may call through unusual ways. Acts 15:36-18: . It is possible that they didnt have the opportunity, but it is more likely that the Holy Spirit directed them to not reveal it until a certain time. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out that very hour. The Midnight Miracles Acts 16:16-40; F B MEYER. i. Paul began this missionary journey having come from Antioch. We simply know Paul and Silas were severely beaten. Some have worried that Pauls invitation to salvation here is too easy, and would promote a too-easy faith or a cheap grace. When they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them: Only after this did they agree to go. Oxford University Press. Paul and Silas show us four aspects of a right response to wrong treatment. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. a. 31They answered, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.' How to Turn Persecution into Production. Summary. Their work was successful because their first interest was in strengthening the churches. But it was the Holy Spirits plan to lead him there. 19Now when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them to the marketplace to face the rulers. (Acts 16:16-19). If they couldnt do it within three minutes, they werent fit for the chaplains service. The places specially mentioned are Samaria, Azotus, Caesarea, Lydda, the Sharon valley, and Joppa. So many professing Christians are grumbling, discontented people. In Acts 15, Paul argued strongly that it was not necessary for Gentile converts to come under the Law of Moses for salvation (Acts 15:2 and 15:12). Ministry at Philippi (Acts 16:12-40) The conversion of Lydia (Acts 16:12-15) The demon possessed slave girl (Acts 16:16-18) The imprisonment of Paul and Silas (Acts 16:19-25) The release of Paul and Silas (Acts 16:26-27) The conversion of the jailor (Acts 16:28-34) The departure from the city (Acts 16:35-40) The ministry in Thessalonica (Acts . So Paul went to bring Macedonia the gospel the best possible help. masters much gai AS WE WENT TO PRAYER, Or, _To the oratory._ The manner in which St. i. He testified, Alone in my cell, cold, hungry, and in rags, I danced for joy every night. During this time he asked a fellow prisoner, whom he had led to Christ before they were both arrested, Have you any resentment against me that I brought you to Christ? The man responded, I have no words to express my thankfulness that you brought me to the wonderful Savior. His collection of works is called Thiruvachakam. The size of this file is 8.8 megabytes. It was at least the third choice for him. The conversion of the Jailer in Philippi Acts 16:16-40: At a place of prayer in Philippi Paul and Silas came across a girl that had a spirit of divination. A jailer was charged to watch them. Ephesus would come later, not now. med. By Dr. Philip W. McLarty. Paul is accompanied by Silas (15:37-38), and they are later joined by young Mark (16:1). i. Paul knew that a man will be identified by both his friends and his enemies, and could do without a demonic letter of reference. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 1 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. Introduction. All of the ambiguity that this character radiates has an . GAIN THEREBY. 4:12). Immediately all the doors were opened, and everyones bonds were loosed. He knew that it was easier for the gospel to spread from these cities than to these cities. 16. He has a greater purpose that we often do not understand. c. You and your household: This seems to be a specific promise for that Philippian jailer. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. a. Paul wanted to have him go on with him: Paul was impressed enough with Timothy to ask him to join their missionary team. This girl had brought her masters much gain by fortune telling. As you know, when he later wrote to this Philippian church from a prison cell in Rome, the major theme of that letter was joy in the Lord in spite of our circumstances. Paul trusted God to work for His purpose and glory, whether Paul got delivered or whether he died in the process. So the first lesson is: As Peter tells his persecuted readers, Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you (1 Pet. Paul does with regard to Timothy. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. ii. ⤓(4) Acts 16:16 to 28:31 (pdf). . And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. But Paul wrote Second Corinthians to defend his character and his apostolic ministry. b. 16 Paul[ a] came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And he brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? So they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household. Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. Let them come themselves and release us.' When that happens, its important to respond the way Paul and his team did. ii. 16-30, Ezekiel 37:21-28). the place of prayer, Acts 16:13. Paul and Silas in Prison. William Carey wanted to go to Polynesia, but God sent him to India. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek. _for _Lystra, _A.V._; Timothy _for _Timotheus, _A.V._; of a Jewess 26Suddenly there was a great earthquake which shook the prison to its foundations. a. And fifty days after the Passover, the second major Jewish feast, the Feast of Pentecost, or the Feast of Ingathering. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. As John Piper rightly states, God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. i. They were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia: After strengthening the churches in the region, Paul sought to go next to the south-west, towards the important city of Ephesus. iii. The Key teachings of Jesus Christ are focused on Faith and Love. EPILOGUE. Have students review Acts 16:1-5 and look for answers to the following: Like the children of Israel in the wilderness, they think that they would be happier back in slavery in Egypt than to be with God and His provision in the wilderness. When a Barnabas leaves (for whatever reason), God has a Timothy to go on with him. As a result of the numerous miracles performed through Paul and Peter, the church grows daily. What's more, Paul and Barnabus have traveled . The jailer rejoiced greatly, with all his household, having believed in God. see critical note, a spirit, a Python, margin, _i.e._, a Acts 21:23-26 23So do what we tell you. Therefore, a most important element in evangelism is asking God through prayer to open hearts, for without this there can be no genuine conversion. Her masters made a lot of money from her power. The crowd rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore the clothes off Paul and Silas, and commanded them to be beaten with rods. There was great indignation that Roman citizens should be molested by strolling peddlers of an outlandish religion. DAMSEL POSSESSED MET US. Acts does not say. 3:1). And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. Thus Paul could say that the life he now lived in the flesh, he lived by faith in the Son of God who loved him and gave Himself for him (Gal. Due to the sweetness and greatness of this work, there is a proverb in Tamil which says, "Thiruvasagathukku . She was possessed by a spirit of divination. But when it is true and has a supernatural origin (as opposed to clever, insightful guessing), there is no doubt that it is inspired by demons. He comments: The words had scarcely left his lips when she was released from its power.. Those charges were simply not true. certain slave-girl who had a spirit which made her able to give We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. In this, Paul was like Jesus, who often told demons to be silent, even when they told the truth about Him (Matthew 8:28-34, Mark 3:11-12). They comforted them, and departed. At Lystra This was an epoch-making moment, but how quietly it is recorded. The encounter with the spirit of divination: Coming to Derbe and Lystra, where he and Barnabas had been persecuted Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyones chains were loosed. of prayer._ (See Note on Acts 16:13.) 2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.