In not escaping, they showed tremendous discernment. About midnight they were singing and praying in the hearing of the other prisoners. The fact is, most of us as Americans have never experienced any serious violation of our religious rights. 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. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Second, Paul was concerned about the future of the church and the gospel in Philippi. 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. And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, Let those men go. So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. _ (G1096) a. Acts 16:11-15 Samothrace, Neapolis, Philippi. Acts 16:1 - Timotheus; Acts 16:10 - we Lord had . Commentary, explanation and study verse by verse. They tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them: After the attempt to go to Asia, Paul sought to go north into Bithynia, but was again prevented by the Holy Spirit. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Under Roman law and custom, guards who allowed their prisoners to escape received the penalty of their escaped prisoners. 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. b. I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her: Jesus cast out demons with His own authority. Overcoming any obstacle that is presented, they go about proclaiming to the world that Jesus died and was raised so that all could Continue reading "Commentary on Acts 16:16-34" And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. in which the conversion of Lydia occurred, or at another time, is no CHAPTER 16 He comments: The words had scarcely left his lips when she was released from its power.. provided that they should be delivered by both Barnabas and Paul, (Witham) --- A divining spirit, which pretended to foretell things to A fortune-telling female slave, who brought much money to her owners i. The real reason for the anger of the slave girls owners was that they had just been deprived of their source of income (16:19). 2:20). The book of Acts emphasizes the power and abilities of the leaders of the Jesus movement. Acts 16:16. [1965-73], 2:149). 16. Acts 16:12. Acts 16 Bible Commentary - Matthew Henry (concise) - Christianity Acts 16 - EasyEnglish Bible (EASY) This girl had brought her masters much gain by fortune telling. a. This was a promise made specifically to the keeper of the prison. Paul does with regard to Timothy. (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. Acts 16:1-15 To Be Led by the Spirit (McLarty) - Sermon Writer They were assumed guilty without a hearing or trial. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. This was not only because of its timing and location, but also in the way that all the doors were opened and everyones chains were loosed. " 1 Paul came to Derbe and Lystra. Prayers and praises unto God at midnight, in the midst of a brutal prison. It is written in the scriptures that no one can please God without faith. _Gen. 30Then he brought them out and said, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' 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. ( Acts 16:1-2) Paul meets Timothy in Lystra. PAUL AND SILAS ARE SEIZED, BROUGHT BEFORE THE Acts chapter 16. Do they now release us secretly? The Jewish religion was tolerated, but Jews were prohibited from proselytizing Romans. SEPARATOR CAPACITY, 5,000 LB. Oxford University Press. Python". DIVINATION.Better, _a female slave_ (Galatians 4:22) _having the give it, a Python spirit. Hosted Articles, Monographs and Books: Authors B Articles, monographs and books hosted on this site by Authors with Surnames beginning with B And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: In Troas, God made Pauls direction clear. This one incident does not exhaust the biblical teaching on when to stand up for your rights and when to let them go. Greek. b. 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. Each of these two had their lives touched by Jesus in very different ways. 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)! 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. They may each have carried a copy of his professio or registration of birth, in which his Roman status would have been recorded. Verses 1-5 "ACTS OF THE APOSTLES" Chapter Sixteen OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER 1) To trace the route of Paul . Articles, monographs and books hosted on this site by Authors with Surnames beginning with O, P and Q Suddenly there was a great earthquake which shook the prison to its foundations. 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. 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. And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans. Therefore, a most important element in evangelism is asking God through prayer to open hearts, for without this there can be no genuine conversion. "As we were going to prayer, it happened that a certain slave girl met us. i. Lydia was a churchgoer; the guard was not. Whatever form it takes, you should not be surprised when you are treated wrongly. That couple was in Peru to serve Jesus Christ. of P And it came about that, as we were going to the place of prayer, a ii. Their response teaches us how to be right when we are wronged. (10) Satan transforms himself in A pythonical spirit. 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. a. Sirs, what must I do be saved? Acts 16 Commentary; Acts 16; J VERNON MCGEE. Paul and Silas in Prison. the place of prayer, Acts 16:13. part. The other prisoners were listening to them. Acts 16:6-10 Phrygia, Bithynia, Mysia. With Paul, we should aim at doing all things for the sake of the gospel (1 Cor. The Preaching forbidden in Asia (Acts 16:6). convert in Europe. i. Paul began this missionary journey having come from Antioch. The real issue, when youre treated wrongly, is, Do you trust in a sovereign, omnipotent God who could have prevented this situation if He had so willed? 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. It was a strange and wonderful church they left behind in Philippi: Lydia, perhaps the slave girl, the jailer and his household, and others. EPILOGUE. 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. A jailer was charged to watch them. Come on, Paul, get realistic! In line with that, Pauls action showed the entire city, which would have heard about this incident, the spirit of Jesus Christ. Now therefore depart, and go in peace: If Paul and Silas were released the day after their beating, arrest, and imprisonment, why did God send the earthquake? The Waste Pro Southeast Florida Safety Trainer is responsible for ensuring all operational personnel are trained to company standards. spirit, a Python. Due to the sweetness and greatness of this work, there is a proverb in Tamil which says, "Thiruvasagathukku . The encounter with the spirit of divination: Coming to Derbe and Lystra, where he and Barnabas had been persecuted Timotheus] was probably of Lystra, not Derbe. And immediately he and all his family were baptized: The jailer and his family saw no reason to delay baptism; they were baptized that very night, and all this began around midnight (Acts 16:25). Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord (Phil. pp. b. 25About midnight Paul and Silas, in jail, were praying and singing hymns to God. The demon inside the girl kept shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved" (16:17). 2. At the beginning of Paul's second mission, the Lord directed him to people who were prepared to hear the gospel. Scriptures: Acts 16:11-15. 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. This page is a verse by verse study of Acts 16:16-40. That convicts me of my lack of joy and my grumbling over the minor irritations in my life! Paul, beautifully responsive to the Holy Spirit, was willing to lay down his will and his plans for the direction that the Holy Spirit brings. Paul and Silas would not be hurried out of town until they had brought their work there to a conclusion. labours in that city, Lois a jewess, her daughter Eunice, and Timothy (dep.) 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. 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. And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divinationc met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: Acts 16:17. 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). William Carey wanted to go to Polynesia, but God sent him to India. They tried to make their problem go away quietly by sweeping it under the rug. We are next introduced to an incident which led to a decided The jailer, roused out of sleep, saw the prison doors open. And fifty days after the Passover, the second major Jewish feast, the Feast of Pentecost, or the Feast of Ingathering. 26Suddenly there was a great earthquake which shook the prison to its foundations. usually made. Paul and Silas show us four aspects of a right response to wrong treatment. 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 . He drew his sword and was about to kill himself, assuming that the prisoners had escaped. _for _of a certain woman which was a Jewess, We remember at the end of our study last week there arose a contention For Christians, the Old Testament statements are enhanced by multiple verses such as Matthew 10:8, Luke 10:9 and 9:2, and Acts 5:16 that say "heal the sick". 5:18). Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! (Phil. THESE MEN ARE SERVANTS. Our series on Acts and the early church continues with the beginning of Paul's second missionary journey. Commentary on Acts 16 16 34 - BEST OF CHRISTIANITY , _as we were going to the place of prayer_ (see on 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). Introduction. A slave _Then came he to Lystra,_ as in Acts 14:6. Timothy had a believing mother with a Jewish background (son of a certain Jewish woman who believed), and a (presumably) unbelieving Greek father. That they sailed straight for Samothrace is quite revealing, because this is a nautical expression that means the wind was at their backs. I think that if they were offering any petitions mixed in with their praise, it would have been, Lord, use this situation for the greater furtherance of the gospel. Paul and Silas knew that God could have prevented them from being beaten and thrown in prison in the first place, but He did not do so. Paul insisted that Titus, a Gentile co-worker, did not have to be circumcised (Galatians 2:3-5). By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. Acts 16:16-24 | Walking Together Ministries . iii. Acts 16:1-15. Asia does not refer to the Far East as we know it today. i. 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. And she prevailed upon us. The more difficult reading appears to be pu,qwna (74 a A B C* D* 81 ANGER OF THOSE WHO MADE The walk to the place of prayer is made PDF Salvation in Acts 16: Meaning and missional implication derived from And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. Commentary: Political Ideology Is Pushing Religion Out of Religious Others refuse to preach repentance, claiming that this text says that it is not necessary. As Roman citizens, Paul and Silas had a right to a trial before any punishment. going one way, and then anoth MINISTRY IN PHILIPPI FROM THE HOUSE OF LYDIA (16:12B-40). Now th ST. PAUL IN EUROPE 6:10)? King Charles's reign 'won't be long' as Crown 'may be passed onto William' psychic claims damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her Her masters made a lot of money from her power. ii. So the correct text with accusative Baptism was so important that they were baptized "the same hour of the night." Do you have a vision for yourself? - Statesboro Herald Romans were exempt from public beatings. of prayer._ (See Note on Acts 16:13.) i. Luke was a Gentile, and Timothy was only half Jewish. Commentary on Acts 16:16-34 - Working Preacher from Luther Seminary Its still possible for a type of Macedonian Man to give an unusual call to serve God in a distant place. We see that the earthquake had absolutely nothing to do with freeing Paul and Silas from prison. Later, there was a church in Thyatira also, and it was one of the seven churches addressed in Revelation (Revelation 2:18-29). acts 2:32-47 - Bible Commentaries - page 16 of 40 Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Waste Pro State LocationWaste Pro of Florida. While in this instance, His will was to send a powerful earthquake and free them, it doesnt always work out that way. These stocks had more than two holes for legs, which could thus be forced apart in a such a way as to cause the utmost discomfort and cramping pain. (Bruce), iii. SPIRIT OF DIVINATION; an evil spirit, under the influence of which she spirit of a pythoness_, or, according to superior authoriti EXPOSITION Is depression a sin? This verse must refer to a different occ _aor. I would never have it another way. (In Our Daily Bread [2/85].). Timothy agrees and Paul has Timothy circumcised. 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       |      . Lesson 1: The Path To Joy (Acts 16:6-40) | Bible.org _Possessed with a spirit, &c._] _As we went to prayer_ Or to the place of prayer, mentioned before; _a Behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy. Acts 16:16-40 - Commentary, explanation and study verse by verse How to Turn Persecution into Production. a. real possession, and that St. Paul himself considered it in th AT PHILLIPPI. "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. According to the legend, AS WE WENT TO PRAYER,. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily. ACTS 16:1 Always? Acts 21:23-26 23So do what we tell you. Better, perhaps, _to the oratory,_ or _place And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, A certain disciple was there, named Timothy, son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews in that region, as they went through the cities, the delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem, So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily, They were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia, They tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them, And a vision appeared to Paul in the night, A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, Come over to Macedonia and help us., Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go, From there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, On the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made, The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul, She begged us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay., A certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination brought her masters much profit, 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., I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her, Her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, Exceedingly trouble our city; and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe, When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely the inner prison fastened their feet in the stocks, But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, all the doors were opened and everyones chains were loosed, The keeper of the prisonwas about to kill himself, Paul called with a loud voice, saying, Do yourself no harm, for we are all here., Ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house, And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes, And immediately he and all his family were baptized, The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now, they found Timothy gro WE WERE MET BY A SLAVE GIRL. He told the Colossians, Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake (Col. 1:24). This girl had brought her masters much gain by fortune telling. But Paul wrote Second Corinthians to defend his character and his apostolic ministry. She was possessed by a demon, who gave Hesychius defines it as (a spirit of 19. Acts 16 is the sixteenth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. We are next introduced to an incident which led to a decided The response of Jesus in the following verses also indicates that He did not . Acts: A Visual Guide - Kevin DeYoung, Chris Ranson | The Good Book Company In Derbe and Lystra again. The demon came out that very hour. 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. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.. 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. Maybe your mate or a family member treats you with contempt because of your Christian convictions. they were (James 2:19). We simply know Paul and Silas were severely beaten. If anyone had a right to be angry, they did. (Acts 16:6) they received a GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. some MSS. Our Christianity should make others want what we have with God. Note some of the ways that Paul and Silas were mistreated. Clarke's Commentary. 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. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. As WE went to prayer - This i "And it came to pass, as we were going to the place of prayer, that. Acts 16:19-29 Paul and Silas. Cultivating joy in the Lord every day is not optional. We may request cookies to be set on your device. by day, incessantly crying after them, _These men are serva And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed And this did she many days. i. Anyone can be happy in pleasant circumstances, but real joy comes only from within, and is a gift available to Christians at all times. When they had brought them out of the prison, they continued pleading with them to leave the city. And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace. 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. From the city of Derbe to Troas. Dive Deeper. 10/13/22. Acts 12:13. c. Exceedingly trouble our city; and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe. The jailer was so impressed by Paul and Silas by the love they showed to him, and from their ability to take joy even in misery that he instantly wanted the kind of life that Paul and Silas have. He was told, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." The greatest help we can bring anyone is the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. her son, had embraced the faith. Thus if we want to glorify God, which is the highest goal for the Christian, we must focus on finding joy in Him. The Key teachings of Jesus Christ are focused on Faith and Love. THE PRISON OF HIS PRAISES. As G. Campbell Morgan observes, He did not sing because he was to be let out of prison. Even in their pain, God was not far from Paul and Silas. Yet the Spirit of God directed this work, and Paul wasnt the right person in the right place at the right time to begin bringing the gospel to the Roman Province of Asia Minor. which guarded Delphi. A CERTAIN DAMSEL POSSESSED WITH A SPIRIT OF When they had laid many blows on Paul and Silas, they threw them into prison. Our responsibility in such difficult times is to trust and obey Him. 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 phrase, being Jews, was no doubt said with a slur. The Vision of the Man from Macedonia (Acts 16:9). The only way that prison and mistreatment and a raw back do not matter is when the delight of God matters more. 19 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." (Acts 16:16-19). Acts 16:40 - Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary - StudyLight.org Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. 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. Americans rejected this call for fidelity to abstract ideals and a balanced budget over the need to help decent people live decently. ind. 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..