This is how God wants our lives to be: Natural magnets drawing people to Him. Chapter 2Now when the day of Pentecost ( Acts 2:1 )This would be feast day following the Passover, of which Jesus was crucified. Posted: February 16, 2023. 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. Timothy lived there. 31They answered, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.' This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation. The demon-possessed slave girl preached for Paul, giving a demonic testimony to their divine credentials and their message. 326 1837 vg arm), which has been replaced in some manuscripts (45 C3 PDF Bible Discussion Group Study Questions The masters of the demon possessed girl cared nothing for the girl herself, only for their ability to exploit her demonic possession for money. i. As well, the multitude and the magistrates felt free to abuse Paul and Silas because they assumed they were not Roman citizens. The spirit of Christ is to forgive those who sin against us, while at the same time holding them accountable to change their behavior. i. Bruce translates the phrase, It came out there and then. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. What does Acts 16:40 mean? | BibleRef.com a. 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. It is wrong to act out of personal vengeance, greed, or other selfish motives. The decrees i. The words, literally, are as in the margin, a spirit of Python, or, as The demon came out that very hour. A cheerful, joyous spirit does not depend on having wonderful, trouble-free circumstances. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God: Though they were arrested, beaten, and imprisoned for doing good, Paul and Silas were filled with joy, and sang praises to God. | Next The jailer rejoiced greatly, with all his household, having believed in God. Tell students that Acts 16-20 contains an account of Paul's second and third missions (the account of Paul's second mission actually begins in Acts 15:40). If they had been praying that way, as soon as God sent the powerful earthquake, they would have said, All right! O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. Doug Bratt. Because God said no to Paul these two times, we have a gospel and a Book of Acts written by Doctor Luke. The demonic spirit knows that the presence and power of God is with the missionaries. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. i. And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. It was actually reasonable for them to wonder when the rest of the New Covenant would be fulfilled. 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. ii. thin A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger, Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary, College Press Bible Study Textbook Series, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch, G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible, George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly, John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible, Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments, Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851), Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible, Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible, Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament, Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611), Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible, Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible, NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers, Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols), Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament, Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments, The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary, Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith, Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set). 33He took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household. Acts 16:40 Commentaries: They went out of the prison and entered the The next time, they would follow the Roman law! It is very doubtful whether, ac AND IT CAME TO PASS AS WE WENT TO PRAYER,. That is, to the house of In their former So Paul took Timothy and . As we come to the 16 th chapter of Acts we are coming, really, to a chapter that is going to, I think, leave an impression on all of us. Praise the Lord is not a nice suggestion; its a command! Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 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. _Possessed with a spirit, &c._] _As we went to prayer_ Or to the place of prayer, mentioned before; _a Journey into Europe, Philippi. "As we were going to prayer, it happened that a certain slave girl met us. 17She followed Paul and us, crying out, 'These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of salvation!' There But Paul wrote Second Corinthians to defend his character and his apostolic ministry. Having received such a command, the jailer threw Paul and Silas into the inner prison, and secured their feet in the stocks." d. She begged us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay. Immediately, Lydia set about doing good. Commentary on Acts 8:26-40 - Working Preacher This title, it is generally said, was given to Apollo, on account of his having destroyed a monstrous serpent that . iii. So perfect were the winds that they sailed 156 miles in just two days, whereas returning the other way at a later time (Acts 20:6) it took five days. (Hughes). Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2001, All Rights Reserved. They comforted them, and departed. Acts 16:16-40 Verse by Verse - Paul and Silas in Philippi Was he a masochist, or what? They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans: Because Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they had recognized civil rights, which were violated by the Philippian magistrates. Hand-drawn illustrations based on sermons by Kevin DeYoung guide you through the book of Acts helping to communicate truths in a unique, compelling way. There is joy in obedience to God's sovereign call to proclaim the gospel. " 1 Paul came to Derbe and Lystra. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. 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. Timothy Joins Paul and Silas. On the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made: The fact that the Jews of Philippi had no synagogue and met by the river means that there were not many Jewish men in Philippi. The other prisoners were listening to them. Although I have not verified it, I have heard that the most frequent command in the entire Bible is, Sing! And you cant rightly obey the command to praise God and sing for joy unless your heart is full of joy in Him. i. 25About midnight Paul and Silas, in jail, were praying and singing hymns to God. c. Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go: Paul did not hesitate to answer the call of the Macedonian man. The content of the joint AAR/SBL annual meetings, which attract upwards of 11,000 attendees, is very revealing. 16-30, Ezekiel 37:21-28). 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who . As Paul later wrote to the Philippians, his aim was that with all boldness, Christ would even now, as always, be exalted in his body, whether by life or by death (Phil. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great (Matt. Later, there was a church in Thyatira also, and it was one of the seven churches addressed in Revelation (Revelation 2:18-29). Paul trusted God to work for His purpose and glory, whether Paul got delivered or whether he died in the process. The phrase, being Jews, was no doubt said with a slur. He sang because prison did not matter (The Westminster Pulpit [Baker], 9:314-315). i. What does Acts 16:16-40 mean? 4:13). Their response teaches us how to be right when we are wronged. And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain We demand that they personally come and bring us out (16:37). It is good for us to bring other help along with the gospel, but without the gospel, little real help is given. Others refuse to preach repentance, claiming that this text says that it is not necessary. 16. give it, a Python spirit. He has a greater purpose that we often do not understand. Acts 16:11-15 Samothrace, Neapolis, Philippi. i. Philippi was the place where the armies of Mark Antony and Octavian defeated Brutus and Cassius in the decisive battle of the second Roman civil war in 42 B.C. (Hughes) Because of this, many Roman soldiers retired in the area, and Philippi was proud of its Roman connection. A slave Introduction. Acts 16:1 - Timotheus; Acts 16:10 - we Lord had . King Charles's reign 'won't be long' as Crown 'may be passed onto William' psychic claims , . ANGER OF THOSE WHO MADE As George Muller put it, the chief business of every day is first of all to seek to be truly at rest and happy in God (A. T. Pierson, George Muller of Bristol [Revell], p. 257). O taste and see that the Lord is good (Ps. Verse Acts 16:40. The accusing and abusing of Paul and Silas for it, their imprisonment, and the indignities done them (v. 19-24). between Paul and Barnabas who had been close companions on the first Tertullian said, The legs feel nothing in the stocks when the heart is in heaven.. First, he did the work of strengthening the churches through the regions of Syria and Cilicia (Acts 15:40-41). And the prisoners were listening to them: What a strange sound this was to the other prisoners! The jailer, roused out of sleep, saw the prison doors open. Increasingly, our religious rights are being violated in the interest of so-called neutrality. Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that nude dancing was entitled to considerable legal protection as expressive behavior, but they struck down student elections permitting speech that might be used for prayer prior to high school football games. 16:7. David Livingstone wanted to go to China, but God sent him to Africa. apostles went towards the forementioned place of prayer,. What does Acts chapter 16 mean? | BibleRef.com 10/13/22. Acts 16:16. _praes. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. Natural selection acts on phenotypic variation in a population. John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 8:4-18. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. On his first trip, he had come to the towns of Derbe and Lystra; and evidently a young fellow come to Christ. a. damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her In Derbe and Lystra again. And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. 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. V. The casing of an evil spirit out of a damsel (v. 16-18). And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. Now therefore depart, and go in peace, They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, They came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city, When they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them, Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . For the Philippian jailer, Paul did not direct him to counseling. If our rights are violated, we dont take it sitting down. masters much gain by the giving of oracles.' Do they now release us secretly? They were singing because their hearts were full of praise toward God and the joy of His salvation. CHAPTER 16 The late Romanian pastor, Richard Wurmbrand, spent 14 years in prison for preaching the gospel, three in solitary confinement in a dark cell. Paul does with regard to Timothy. This woman was the first convert in Europe, and one might say that the Macedonian man turned out to be a woman. ventriloquist (Ramsay). They were assumed guilty without a hearing or trial. 1. There were at least two reasons. Acts 16 Bible Study Questions (Handout) ACTS 16:1 1 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, Do yourself no harm, for we are all here. Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. If you do, then the next issue is to pray, Lord, use this difficult situation for Your glory to further Your purpose. Whenever Paul wrote as a prisoner, he never said, Paul, a prisoner of that scoundrel Caesar who has unjustly put me in prison! No, it was always, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus. He trusted in the sovereign and all-powerful God, who easily could overrule Caesar if He so chose. Have students review Acts 16:1-5 and look for answers to the following: 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. This commentary on Acts 16 treats the missionary journey of Paul and SIlas through Asia Minor to Philippi, where they were imprisoned. We do not know firsthand the true meaning of the word persecution. Perhaps some of you may have felt ostracized at work or have been passed over for a promotion because you are a Christian. 2. D-Day at Philippi | Acts 16:11-40 | RayStedman.org Paul and Silas beaten. So he stood on his rights in order to protect the church and the cause of Christ in that city. Let those men go: In societies that recognize few rights for their citizens it is common for one to be arrested, beaten, imprisoned and then quickly and unexpectedly released. Because of Deuteronomy 23:1 (see also Leviticus 21:16-23) some assume that the eunuch would have been forbidden from doing in Jerusalem what Acts says he came to do: worship. This shows how repentant he was and how he followed the example of love shown by Paul and Silas. 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. The other prisoners were listening to them. The last time Paul was in Lystra, they first worshipped him as a god and then tried to kill him by stoning (Acts 14:11-20). This was an epoch-making moment, but how quietly it is recorded. A verse by verse study of Acts 17:1-15. Authors Vern and Bonnie Bullough write in The care of the sick: the emergence of modern nursing, that this is seen as an aspect of following Jesus' example, since so much of his public . And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. It is false teaching that Christians are exempt from the common trials that come upon the entire human race: sickness, poverty, tragedies, and death. In times of trial, Satan tempts us to think things like, If God exists and if He is good, why didnt He protect you from this extreme situation? As Peter goes on to show, and as Paul and Silas here exemplify, the solution is to resist the devil by being firm in our faith in the Almighty God. Demons cast out of a damsel. Acts does not say. A CERTAIN DAMSEL POSSESSED WITH A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION MET US. We Americans have a thing about standing up for our rights. And these disciples expected God to do something! Yet they returned to the prison willingly to spare the jailer certain death. And now do they put us out secretly? We are next introduced to an incident which led to a decided And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes: The same jailer who had punished them now cared for Paul and Silas, caring for their wounds and he set food before them. If anyone had a right to be angry, they did. (16) "_And it came to pass, About midnight they were singing and praying in the hearing of the other prisoners. Full-Time. [1965-73], 2:149). They charged the jailer to keep them safely. They encouraged them and departed: In Philippi, Paul and Silas left behind two notable converts: Lydia and the prison guard. Explanation - The following list includes not only commentaries but other Christian works by well known evangelical writers.Most of the resources below are newer works (written after 1970) which previously were available only for purchase in book form . 35When it was day, the magistrates sent the police with this message: 'Release those men!' Why did Paul do that? AND IT CAME TO PASS, AND WE WENT TO PRA 40 Silas was almost necessary as a companion for Paul. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." 18 She kept this up for many days. Sailing from Troas: Paul and his missionary team (now including Luke) had to sail across the Agean Sea, from the continent of Asia to the continent of Europe. Intro: Having lost in a fire virtually everything they owned, the Spafford family made new plans, including a move from Chicago to France.Horatio Spafford planned the trip for his wife and four daughters to be as trouble-free as possible. Some have worried that Pauls invitation to salvation here is too easy, and would promote a too-easy faith or a cheap grace. The Prison Experiences Of The Bible. Paul later wrote of his life: In labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. It would have been easy for Paul and Silas to escape thinking God provided another miraculous jailbreak. You can check these in your browser security settings. If they couldnt do it within three minutes, they werent fit for the chaplains service. a. A. Timothy (16:1-10) As Paul and Silas go through Derbe and Lystra, they come across a disciple named Timothy who was spoken highly of by the brethren. with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much 18She continued doing this for several days. As this story continues through the end of chapter 16, the . Her hospitality was touching and a wonderful example. FORTUNE-TELLING was forbidden in the OT _CRITICAL REMARKS_ Paul and Silas would not have been rejoicing in the Lord in the dungeon at midnight under these awful circumstances if it had not been a regular part of their everyday lives. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. Paul was guided by hindrance. Summary. (Acts 16:38-40). We are next introduced to an incident which led to a decided c. You and your household: This seems to be a specific promise for that Philippian jailer. c. And he came out that very hour: The idea behind that very hour is that the demon came out immediately. If Paul and Silas had been having a pity party because their rights had been violated and they had been treated wrongly when they were just trying to serve the Lord, they would have been depressed and complaining. 24Having received such a command, the jailer threw Paul and Silas into the inner prison, and secured their feet in the stocks. (Acts 16:20-24). The Roman emperor Claudius had expelled the Jews from Rome in A.D. 49. After learning how to become a Christians the jailer and his family were all baptized immediately. The safety Trainer in partnership with management and Human . You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. They may each have carried a copy of his professio or registration of birth, in which his Roman status would have been recorded. ACTS 16 COMMENTARY. Dont be surprised! Acts 16:1-15. a. There was certainly nothing wrong with Pauls desire to preach the word in Asia; but it wasnt Gods timing, so this was forbidden by the Holy Spirit. 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. Lesson 41: How to be Right When You're Wronged (Acts 16: 16-40) i. Paul began this missionary journey having come from Antioch. The Oxford Bible Commentary (first (paperback) ed.). _Vulg_. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. He took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household. ACTS 16:35-40. The encounter with the spirit of divination: Coming to Derbe and Lystra, where he and Barnabas had been persecuted When a Barnabas leaves (for whatever reason), God has a Timothy to go on with him. _AS WE WENT TO PRAYER_] , 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. The walk to the place of prayer is made As WE went to prayer - This i "And it came to pass, as we were going to the place of prayer, that. Let them come themselves and get us out. And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. The main application of this story for me is to work on having joy in the Lord in every situation. It seemed as if nothing would make them stop praising God. Acts 16:16. i. He took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household.