And he came out the same hour. THE PRISON OF HIS PRAISES. a. Paul wanted to have him go on with him: Paul was impressed enough with Timothy to ask him to join their missionary team. While in this instance, His will was to send a powerful earthquake and free them, it doesnt always work out that way. of the district, a Roman colony: and we were in 16-18. It's one of those chapters that you always remember - just the record along of Lydia and her marvelous liberation. One could see Christ reflected in their faces. closing to him as in one way or another he was first hindered from Some charge him with The late Romanian pastor, Richard Wurmbrand, spent 14 years in prison for preaching the gospel, three in solitary confinement in a dark cell. 16As we were going to prayer, it happened that a certain slave girl met us. The accusing and abusing of Paul and Silas for it, their imprisonment, and the indignities done them (v. 19-24). Let them come themselves and release us.' The wisdom and greatness of Gods plan was beginning to unfold. The more difficult reading appears to be pu,qwna (74 a A B C* D* 81 (Acts 16:35-37). Introduction. Biblical Books: Acts 16. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the . The Oxford Bible Commentary (first (paperback) ed.). We demand that they personally come and bring us out (16:37). The incident in Philippi took place probably in the fall of A.D. 50, and so anti-Jewish sentiment was running high. When they had brought them out of the prison, they continued pleading with them to leave the city. He must let go of his own separative tendencies and of his deep sense of persecution. This should be rendered as in above i. Jewish legal tradition gave a maximum number of blows that could be delivered when beating a person, but the Romans had no such limit. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. The circumstances said, escape. But love said, Stay for the sake of this one soul. They were not guided merely by circumstances, but by what love compelled. ow DAMSEL. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. As this story continues through the end of chapter 16, the . The jailer rejoiced greatly, with all his household, having believed in God. Acts 16:25-40 (ESV) 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. Lydia was prospering in business; the guard was about to kill himself. Do we just lay down as doormats and take whatever happens passively? That leads to the last point: We dont know why, but for some reason the next morning the magistrates sent to the jailer and told him to release Paul and Silas. 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. "When it was day, the magistrates sent the police with this message: Release those men! The jailer reported these words to Paul: The magistrates have sent a message for your release; therefore come out now, and go in peace. But Paul replied with this message for the magistrates: They have flogged us publicly, without a trial, men who are Romans, and have cast us into prison. Timothy's father, however, was a Greek. At the time Paul met Timothy, he was delivering the news of this decree that came out of the Acts 15 council (as they went through the cities, the delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem). This shows Gods provision, because John Mark and Barnabas just left Paul (Acts 15:36-41). Years ago, in the former Soviet Union, a criminal who later got saved and became a church leader, wrote about his experience in prison: Among the general despair, while prisoners like myself were cursing ourselves, the camp, the authorities; while we opened up our veins or our stomachs, or hanged ourselves; the Christians (often with sentences of 20 to 25 years) did not despair. prayer, R.V. 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. The solution will come, as I said, when the races regard the Jewish problem as a humanitarian problem but also when the Jew does his share of understanding, love and right action. This girl had brought her masters much gain by fortune telling. 1. . No indeed! That, by the way, is the missing note among Christians in many places today. Paul cried, "Do thyself no harm: for we are all here." And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. Many of Gods faithful saints have died for their faith, but like John Hus, who was betrayed and burned at the stake, they die singing. And now do they put us out secretly? The guard had a remarkable sign an earthquake, but all Lydia had was the move of the Holy Spirit in her heart. While in this country at this time, such physical torture from government authorities is rare, you may face times when your legal rights are violated. Wise, I: NEW /E OF THE BABYLONIAN TALMU. The word "house" is rightly supplied, for the sense is not, that they went into the country of Lydia, as some have been tempted to think; but they went to the woman Lydia, whose heart the Lord had opened, and was become a disciple and follower of Christ; they went to her house it . Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord (Phil. a. 15. What are some practical steps toward deepening our daily joy in the Lord. 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. O taste and see that the Lord is good (Ps. FOR SALE! iii. But they can read and predict human behavior, and can attempt to steer events towards a previously predicted conclusion. He also wrote to the Philippians, Do all things without grumbling or disputing (Phil. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplaced unto the rulers. The narrative of Acts 16 in particular also indicates some contextual similarity with the African context: the expression 2.His thesis raises important points relating to salvation that may need to be explored further. a. give it, a Python spirit. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily. 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. This page is a verse by verse study of Acts 16:16-40. A disciple, whose mother was a Jewish Christian and father was Greek 3. Because God said no to Paul these two times, we have a gospel and a Book of Acts written by Doctor Luke. His action in the circumcision of Timothy is startling in 27The jailer, roused out of sleep, saw the prison doors open. 20When the slave girls masters had brought Paul and Silas to the magistrates, they said, 'These men, who are Jews, are confusing our city, 21proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us Romans to accept or to observe'. At some time you will be falsely accused. "When the slave girls masters had brought Paul and Silas to the magistrates, they said, These men, who are Jews, are confusing our city, proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us Romans to accept or to observe. All I can say here is, when you are treated wrongly, your response should be motivated by the furtherance of Gods glory and the gospel, and by the administration of Gods justice through law and government, which He has appointed for the well being of society. Acts 16:16-18 Spirit of Divination. That convicts me of my lack of joy and my grumbling over the minor irritations in my life! First, Paul was concerned for justice for all people, and what these magistrates had done was grossly unjust. Acts 16:40. His captors smashed four of his vertebrae and either cut or burned 18 holes in his body, but they could not defeat him. As G. Campbell Morgan observes, He did not sing because he was to be let out of prison. Most certainly not! Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city. b. (Acts 16:16-19). Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 2:40. They were assumed guilty without a hearing or trial. Having received such a command, the jailer threw Paul and Silas into the inner prison, and secured their feet in the stocks." The demon came out that very hour. But, you cannot believe without hearing so they spoke unto him and to those in his house the word of the Lord. 2:14). i. RV 'And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having When they had brought them out of the prison, they continued pleading with them to leave the city. b. They were in, not out, of Gods will. No, in this he was simply obeying the words of Jesus, Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. He has a greater purpose that we often do not understand. Paul is accompanied by Silas (15:37-38), and they are later joined by young Mark (16:1). 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). Luke notes that the prisoners were listening to them (16:25). That his mother was a Jewess originally, but believed in Christ; her name was Eunice, his grandmother's name was Lois. Acts 16:16. When they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them: Only after this did they agree to go. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 16. The keeper of the prisonwas about to kill himself: The jailer did this for a good reason. For though the Greek noun here is without Doug Bratt. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.. If we add the article , see critical note: to the place of Now th ST. PAUL IN EUROPE Articles, monographs and books hosted on this site by Authors with Surnames beginning with O, P and Q So, they came down to Troas. But those vague charges were enough, because both the multitude and the magistrates were biased against Paul and Silas. He has a greater purpose that we often do not understand. In Derbe and Lystra again. spirit of divination met us, who brought her A precise commentary on acts 16 16 34 can boost your faith and strengthen your walk with Jesus Christ. i. Commentary, explanation and study verse by verse. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. The Key teachings of Jesus Christ are focused on Faith and Love. He knew that by making them come and personally apologize and escort them out of prison, word would spread through the community of what had happened. This girl had brought her masters much gain by fortune telling. VII. Biblical Commentary (Bible study) Acts 16:16-34. Praise the Lord is not a nice suggestion; its a command! She followed Paul and us, crying out, These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of salvation! She continued doing this for several days. Maybe your mate or a family member treats you with contempt because of your Christian convictions. AGENCY - The auctioneer is acting as agent only and is not responsible for the acts . She was possessed by a spirit of divination. The Preaching forbidden in Asia (Acts 16:6). Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. i. d. Immediately we sought to go: The shift from they (they came down to Troas, Acts 16:8) to we in this verse probably means that Luke joined the band of missionaries in Troas. And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain But that would depend on where in the city he was and what kind of worship he came to perform. So far, we've seen how the gospel has spread throughout Judea and Samaria, all the way up to modern-day Lebanon and Syria. Our responsibility in such difficult times is to trust and obey Him. Americans rejected this call for fidelity to abstract ideals and a balanced budget over the need to help decent people live decently. _ (G1096) He drew his sword and was about to kill himself, assuming that the prisoners had escaped. 16:7. They charged the jailer to keep them safely. In this section of Acts, Paul and Silas are arrested, beaten, and imprisoned for delivering the slave-girl from her demonic possession, and they (Paul and Si. But Paul could not land in Europe in the power of the Holy Spirit Acts 16:16-24. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. Conversion of the Philippian jailer. They trusted that He had another purpose in mind, and so He did, namely, the conversion of the jailer and his family. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. And this she did for many days. Acts 2:40. The authorities were full of fear when they learned that Paul was a Roman. Acts 16:1-15. The words, literally, are as in the margin, a spirit of Python, or, as Oxford University Press. Suddenly there was a great earthquake: This earthquake was clearly supernatural. missionary venture of the church. TIPPER CAPACITY, 34" X 40" MAX DIE / MOLD AREA **Loading Fee Due the "ERRA" CARY SPECIALIZED SERVICES, INC. $200.00, prices valid until MARCH 16, 2023 SEE PRICING SPECIFICS** Auction Details BCS AIS - POSTPONED . We need to keep in mind that Paul and Silas did not know the end of this story when they began singing at midnight in the dungeon. In last Sunday's lesson, Paul met Lydia while he was looking for a place of prayer. was no heralding of the gospel which was to transform Europe. The Extension of the Church to Juda and Samaria (Acts 8:4 to Acts 11:18)The Christians, scattered by persecution, preach everywhere through Judaea and Samaria. 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). A. b. Compare Mark 3:12; Luke 4:34-35. Her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone: This explains why Paul and Silas were treated so badly. 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 . ii. 19. while Judas and Silas were to confirm them by word of mouth. The first How can a person be sorrowful yet always rejoicing (2 Cor. pythonem. The jailer then brought Paul and Silas up into his house, and set food before them. Our series on Acts and the early church continues with the beginning of Paul's second missionary journey. some MSS. Now we see another reason why they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. (Acts 16:29-34). 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. Maybe they thought that the beating and night in prison would send these guys packing, never to return. ii. Acts 16:16. This commentary on Acts 16 treats the missionary journey of Paul and SIlas through Asia Minor to Philippi, where they were imprisoned. (13-15) The conversion of Lydia. Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. gain by soothsaying: It was not a mere point of honour that the apostle . And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. In a vision, Paul was invited to the region of Macedonia, westward across the Agean Sea. Do they now release us secretly? SPIRIT OF DIVINATION; an evil spirit, under the influence of which she Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. I have a hunch that if most of us had gone through what Paul and Silas suffered, if we were praying at midnight it would be, God, get me out of here! I cant prove it, but I also have a hunch that Paul and Silas were not praying that way. They charged the jailer to keep them safely. _paidiske._ See note on Acts 12:13. read "a spirit,. _Gen. As Paul saw it, being a good Christian did not mean being a bad Jew. (Longenecker) The wording of Acts 16:3 implies that Paul himself performed the circumcision (he took him and circumcised him). Tap the title above, next to the arrow, to go to thatlesson with a link back to thispage. Paul was guided by hindrance. Preacher: Joel Fair _Scripture: Mark 16:1-8 _ Luke 24:5b (ESV) "Why do you seek the living among the dead? The jailer rejoiced greatly, with all his household, having believed in God." 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. A certain disciple was there, named Timothy: In the time since Paul had been to Lystra, a young man named Timothy had been serving the Lord (He was well spoken of by the brethren). POSSESSED WITH A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION MET US, WHO BROUGHT HER MASTERS a. I would never have it another way. (In Our Daily Bread [2/85].). So Paul took Timothy and . Tap a Lookup below to generate a list oflessons. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Acts 16 Bible Study Questions (Handout) ACTS 16:1 1 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. Therefore, a most important element in evangelism is asking God through prayer to open hearts, for without this there can be no genuine conversion. This is salvation by grace alone, received by faith alone. c. Exceedingly trouble our city; and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe. She followed Paul and Silas saying, "These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation." Prayers and praises unto God at midnight, in the midst of a brutal prison. secrets, and things to come. If I radiate His joy because I have entrusted my soul to Him, the faithful Creator, then even when Im wrongly treated, He will be glorified and others will be drawn to the Savior. Site Location117 Pembroke Pines-PEM. and from thence to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the first They were occult pimps, prostituting her spiritually. b. Paul insisted that Titus, a Gentile co-worker, did not have to be circumcised (Galatians 2:3-5). After being troubled by this many days Paul commanded the evil spirit to come out of her. And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans. . And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. Paul wanted to have him go on with him. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. Our lives back up the reality of the message. God wanted Paul and his team to go to Troas and pick up a doctor named Luke. Their charges were vague, simply accusing Paul and Silas of being troublemakers. If they couldnt do it within three minutes, they werent fit for the chaplains service. When her masters saw that their means of gain was gone they took Paul and Silas before their rulers and charged them with teaching rules of living that were unlawful. EXALTING JESUS IN Acts (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) - GOOD - $16.40. Thats how it always should be. Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2001, All Rights Reserved. a. _Possessed with a spirit, &c._] _As we went to prayer_ Or to the place of prayer, mentioned before; _a Paul and Silas looked Jewish, and Anti-Jewish sentiment lay very near the surface in pagan antiquity. (Bruce) The objection that these men were Jews is even more interesting knowing the Jewish community in Philippi was small. important truths, when he can thereby serve his purposes. The dyes used for making purple were expensive and highly regarded. 34:3, 8). He sang because prison did not matter (The Westminster Pulpit [Baker], 9:314-315). which guarded Delphi. The book of Acts emphasizes the power and abilities of the leaders of the Jesus movement. CHARACTERS: Jesus, Holy S Acts 16:1. Paul asks Timothy to come with him on their journey, preaching the gospel in Asia Minor. They came and took them from prison and begged them to leave town. Are we out of the will of God? Being in the will of God is not a guarantee of protection from trials. spirit of a pythoness_, or, according to superior authoriti EXPOSITION But Paul said to them, They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. Acts 16 is the sixteenth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It actually says, She had a spirit of Pythona. That does not mean much to most of us, which is why it is not translated literally. provided that they should be delivered by both Barnabas and Paul, The magistrates were sufficiently humbled, and the public at large, hearing of this circumstance, must be satisfied of the innocency of the apostles. 1. The jailer then saw that all the prisoners were still there. b. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (ESV) For I delivered to you as of first impo 24Join these men, go through the rite of purication with them, and pay for the shaving of their heads. He comments: The words had scarcely left his lips when she was released from its power.. Our trials do not mean that He does not exist or that He is not loving and good. ii. 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. Presumably this was because demons gave her supernatural insight into the lives of others. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. As Roman citizens, Paul and Silas had a right to a trial before any punishment. Demons cast out of a damsel. Acts 16 Commentary; Acts 16; J VERNON MCGEE. 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who . Chapter 2Now when the day of Pentecost ( Acts 2:1 )This would be feast day following the Passover, of which Jesus was crucified. VIII. We are next introduced to an incident which led to a decided A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, Come over to Macedonia and help us. The Macedonian man wanted help. possessed with the devil, by whose inspiration she foretold future Acts 16:19-29 Paul and Silas. Acts 16:30-34 What must I do to be Saved? 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. Clarke's Commentary. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. b. ii. Paul and Silas show us four aspects of a right response to wrong treatment. a. 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. Always? 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. We may request cookies to be set on your device. The arrival in Europe was clearly seen by Luke as very important. Let them come themselves and release us. ", "The sergeants reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. to set aside Jewish prejudice. ACTSNOTE ON ACTS 16:16 A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION. Development structures variation and, consequently, the ways in which a population can respond to selection (1-4).The direction with the greatest amount of variation is termed the "line of least resistance" (LLR) (5-7).The LLR represents the direction of greatest potential for evolutionary change because it contains the . b. We simply know Paul and Silas were severely beaten. And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city. frequently, and the party comes to be known. And fifty days after the Passover, the second major Jewish feast, the Feast of Pentecost, or the Feast of Ingathering. , _as we were going to the place of prayer_ (see on The Python was the s ACTSNOTE ON ACTS 16:11 Philippi was the first Macedonian city in A. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself observe and guard the law. _Into the_ _proseucha_: Acts 16:13, and Luke 6:12. It is used here because the python was associated with the god Apollonot far from Philippi, in this very area of Europe, there was a shrine to the Pythian Apollo. (Boice). But at this point, Paul says, No way! CHAPTER 16 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. , . ( ). God knows what He is doing when he says, No.. Instead of cursing men, they blessed God. (Stott). Acts 16:12 Romans were exempt from public beatings. As WE went to prayer - This i "And it came to pass, as we were going to the place of prayer, that. gain by soothsaying: a. These verses describe Paul's experiences and work with Silas in Philippi, including the conversion of the Philippianjailer. ; _to Lystra Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. This led Theodore Olson, a leading critic of the Supreme Court, to suggest that the students should dance nude before their football games, since the court prefers naked dancing to prayer as a form of expression (Kathleen Parker, The Washington Times [9/11/00], p. A12)! The miraculous conversion of the jailer to the faith of Christ (v. 25-34). 17She followed Paul and us, crying out, 'These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of salvation!' You can also change some of your preferences. Save yourselves, &c. That is, "See that you lay these things to heart; receiving them with such regard, as the importance of the case requires. And we were staying in that city for some days. This was a strong, godly man, leading a strong, godly team. Acts 15:36-18: . Upon learning this, the magistrates were filled with fear, because it was a grave offense to treat Roman citizens as Paul and Silas had been treated. spiritum 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 SPIRIT OF DIVINATION CAST OUT BY ST PAUL. possessed with a spirit of (f) divination met us, which brought her When you are wronged, entrust your soul to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. c. The magistrates have sent to let you go. She was possessed by a spirit of divination. You couldn't wait to get where you were going or do what you needed . Greek. If our rights are violated, we dont take it sitting down. The jailer, roused out of sleep, saw the prison doors open. They were biased because of their Jewish appearance, and because they assumed Paul and Silas were not Roman citizens. And they went out, &c. The servants of Christ, being honourably cleared from every crime by this public release, left the prison quietly, and went to the house of Lydia With whom they had lodged before; and when they had seen the brethren The disciples whom they had made; they comforted them By rehearsing what God had done both for them and by them, in prison; and . with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much Acts 16:6-10 Phrygia, Bithynia, Mysia. They have violated our rights as Roman citizens. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Don't harm yourself: we are all here!", "The jailer called for lights and rushed in to the prison. Paul does with regard to Timothy. O, but he did! Suddenly there was a great earthquake which shook the prison to its foundations. Acts 16:13). 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. 1. The great missionary David Livingstone summarized the spirit of Paul when he said, I am prepared to go anywhere, so long as it is forward. (Cited in Barclay). Paul later wrote of his life: In labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. What's more, Paul and Barnabus have traveled . Acts 16:16. i. 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. the jailor in Acts 16:31-40, commenting on the various characteristics of repentance he possessed or displayed. Acts 16:1 - Timotheus; Acts 16:10 - we Lord had . A CERTAIN DAMSEL POSSESSED WITH A SPIRIT OF We may assume here t Acts 16:16. a. ACTS 16:35-40. Paul and Silas did not sit in jail lamenting, Maybe we missed the signals! a. Python". With Paul, we should aim at doing all things for the sake of the gospel (1 Cor.
acts 16:16 40 commentary