Acts 16:16-40 - BibleStudy.ph

These are the original teaching notes from this passage.

Led by the Spirit…
- Closed doors…
  - Having delivered the LETTER from Jerusalem – strengthening the churches by Grace…
  - The question became – where did they to go NEXT…
  - They were FORBIDDEN by the Holy Spirit to preach the Word in Asia [Ephesus]
  - The Spirit would also NOT permit [imperfect] them to go north into Bithynia…
  - But Paul kept stepping out in faith – he just kept trying!
- Open doors…
  - When they came to Troas – Paul had a dream of a MAN from Macedonia [Philippi]
  - They [including Luke] reasoned this was the Lord leading them into Europe…
  - It made sense [roads – language – Jews] – but it also seemed to be how God was directing!
- Being Flexible…
  - When they got to Philippi there was NO synagogue…
  - But they found some women meeting at the river on the Sabbath [to worship]
  - A woman named Lydia received the Gospel – and begged [παρακαλέω] Paul to stay in her house…
  - She was NOT a man [vision] – but she was the one God used…
  - The result of stepping out in faith – and being flexible – was the FAVORITE church of Paul!
  - Philippians 4:1 – “My beloved and longed for brethren – my joy and crown.”
1^st – Know the enemy… vs. 16-18
- 1^st – Going to pray… vs. 16
  - Now it happened as we went to prayer!
  - It HAPPENED [γίνομαι] that as they were on their way [present] to PRAY [προσευχή]!
  - Why is it that Sunday mornings seem to be the time when everything goes wrong…
  - The one morning when PROBLEMS are almost guaranteed…
  - It is the same reason why cell phones go off while we are reading our Bible – praying!
  - Spending time with God is EXTREMELY important – and our ENEMY knows it…
  - So he does anything and everything he can to distract us from spending time with the Lord!
- 2^nd – Slave girl… vs. 16-17
  - Fortune telling… vs. 16
  - A certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us.
  - Who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling!
  - A young woman who had [present] a spirit [demon] came to CONFRONT them [ἀπαντάω]
  - She made her masters a LOT [πολύς] of money by fortune-telling…
  - Fortune-telling [μαντεύομαι] – only here NT – from root [μαίνομαι] to talk CRAZY…
  - People would come to see the slave girl – and she would tell them things…
  - Perhaps she read their palms – or cards – or the position of the stars…
  - The bottom line is it was the demon in her who was giving the answers!
  - Demons having lived for ages – and have seen many things…
  - They have watched SIX thousand years of history – and taken notes [we are predictable]
  - So they know things about our past – and can sometimes accurately guess our future…
  - Yet they do NOT know – they are NOT omniscient [only God is] – Isaiah 46:9-10
  - They are just lying spirits deceiving those who are foolish enough to listen!
  - A way… vs. 17
  - 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 girl followed Paul and his companions continually [imperfect] yelling out [κράζω]
  - These SERVANTS [δοῦλος] of the HIGHEST God [τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ὑψίστου]
  - Are [present] giving us a message about [a] way of salvation…
  - There is no article [ὁ] before the word SALVATION [σωτηρία]
  - She was NOT confirming the preaching of Paul – she was saying it was A way [one of many]!
  - The Gospel message is ABSOLUTE – there is only ONE way to heaven – John 14:6
  - Meaning it is either RIGHT or it is WRONG [it cannot be a way]
  - The world wants to embrace the idea that ALL roads lead to heaven…
  - That as longs as someone is SINCERE in their FAITH – surely God will accept them…
  - But if ALL roads lead to heaven – then Jesus suffered and died for NO reason!
  - Galatians 2:21 – “If we could be saved [another way] there was no need for Christ to die.”
- 3^rd – The Puppet… vs. 18
  - The Spirit…
  - This she did for many days. But Paul greatly annoyed – turned and said to the spirit:
  - The woman did [imperfect] this for MANY [πολύς] days irritating Paul…
  - Therefore he turned and said to this spirit of DIVINATION…
  - DIVINATION [πύθων] – only here in NT – where we get the word PYTHON!
  - [πύθων] was a giant serpent [dragon] who guarded the Oracles of Delphi – Genesis 3:1
  - People would come there to seek wisdom from the Pythia [priestess]
  - The Pythia would be possessed – and the spirit would speak through them…
  - Much like VENTRILOQUISM – the person was a PUPPET for the spirit!
  - We often miss who the real enemy is – we get caught up looking at the people…
  - But they are just PUPPETS – being told what to say and do by the God of this world [snake]
  - If we get ARGUE with them – we are arguing with a PUPPET…
  - Rather than get upset with the people – pray for them to believe in Jesus Christ!
  - Ephesians 6:12 – “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood.”
  - Authority…
  - I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.
  - And he came out that very hour!
  - Paul commanded the spirit to come out of the girl in the name of Jesus Christ…
  - He knew who his enemy really was – and it was NOT this slave girl…
  - The real enemy was the spiritual power – the demonic influence behind her…
  - So Paul went after the source – and the spirit [snake] left her!
  - Only when we recognize the BATTLE we are fighting [spiritual not physical]
  - Do we find we are VICTORIOUS – as Jesus sets those who are PUPPETS free!
  - I John 4:4 – “Because He who is in [us] is greater than he who is in the world.”
2^nd – Prison ministry… vs. 19-34
- 1^st – Arrested… vs. 19-21
  - No profit… vs. 19
  - When her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone.
  - They seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities!
  - When the MASTERS saw what happened – they were UPSET…
  - Not because of the MESSAGE that Paul and Silas were preaching…
  - But because their HOPE of making LOTS of money was gone [no more fortune telling]
  - People often profit from the misfortune of others…
  - Men take advantage of people by selling them alcohol – other things they do NOT need…
  - They are willing to DESTROY lives – just to make themselves RICH!
  - Accusation… vs. 20-21
  - They brought them to the magistrates and said:
  - These men – being Jews – exceedingly trouble our city.
  - They teach customs which are not lawful for us – being Romans – to receive or observe!
  - The MASTERS brought Paul and Silas to the LEADERS of the city [στρατηγός]
  - Arguing that they caused a LOT of trouble in the city because they were JEWS…
  - And their MESSAGE was NOT lawful for ROMANS to do [ποιέω]
  - This was NOT true – all Paul and Silas had done was save a poor slave girl…
  - But a few years earlier [49 A.D.] – Emperor Claudius kicked all JEWS out of ROME – Acts 18:2
  - It is likely the MASTERS were using this an excuse to get them ARRESTED!
  - In the early 1600s Christianity made widespread gains in Japan…
  - But the Shoguns argued – that like a seed from a faraway country…
  - Their culture was NOT compatible with a European religion…
  - The result was that to this day Japanese see Christianity as FOREIGN!
  - The Gospel message is NOT cultural – it is NOT limited to a particular people…
  - We are ALL created by the same God – ALL descended from Adam – Romans 5:12
  - And the ONLY way for ANYONE to be saved is through faith in Jesus!
- 2^nd – Abused… vs. 22-24
  - Beaten… vs. 22
  - Then the multitude rose up together against them.
  - And the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods!
  - The PEOPLE from the city rose up AGAINST Paul and Silas [a riot]
  - And the LEADERS tore their clothes – and commanded [imperfect] they be BEATEN…
  - This may seem EXTREME – but the history of Jews being expelled from Rome help explain it!
  - Prison… vs. 23-24
  - When they had laid many stripes on them they threw them into prison.
  - Commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge.
  - He put them into the inner prison – fastened their feet in the stocks!
  - After they had beaten them MANY [πολύς] times – they threw them into PRISON…
  - Jews had a tradition of ONLY beaten someone 39 times – Deuteronomy 25:3
  - But the Romans had no such limitation – and were often more brutal…
  - Having received the COMMAND to keep them SECURE [as if they were a threat]
  - The JAILER threw them into INNER prison – and put their feet in STOCKS…
  - All because Paul and Silas stood up for the TRUTH – and helped a poor slave girl!
  - People assume that if they do the right thing in life – they will be blessed…
  - But doing the right thing is NOT a guarantee things will go well for us – II Corinthians 11:23
  - Often just the opposite – we will SUFFER for doing good – John 16:33
  - But those trials have a purpose – God uses them to draw us to Him and spread the Gospel!
  - Philippians 1:12 – “Everything that has happened to me… helped spread the Good News.” [NLT]
- 3^rd – Praising God… vs. 25-26
  - Perspective… vs. 25
  - But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God!
  - But in the MIDDLE [μέσος] of the NIGHT [νύξ] – wounded and in stocks…
  - Paul and Silas were [present] PRAYING and SINGING [ὑμνέω] to God…
  - They were NOT looking at their problems – they were looking to Jesus!
  - II Corinthians 4:17 – “Our light affliction which is but for a moment – is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
  - I love that Paul called his trials [beaten – in prison] LIGHT afflictions…
  - Because we think our problems are the WORSE than anyone else…
  - But none of us have been beaten and thrown into a dungeon…
  - So it turns out – our problems are also just LITTLE problems – in the light of eternity!
  - When we chose to praise God – no matter what our circumstances…
  - Our perspective changes – we see our trials in a new light…
  - We NOT longer see problems – instead our God who is greater than ANY problem…
  - Our challenges become the opportunity for us to see God do something amazing!
  - Listening… vs. 25
  - And the prisoners were listening to them!
  - The other PRISONERS were [imperfect] LISTENING [only here NT]
  - They were in the same situation – but they were certainly NOT singing…
  - So they were CURIOUS as to what Paul and Silas had they did not have!
  - It is one thing to praise Jesus in the good times – but try praising Him in the trials…
  - It shows others we have faith – the Lord will take care of all of our needs…
  - And as the world watches – the get to see God work in our lives!
  - Freedom… vs. 26
  - Suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken.
  - And immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed!
  - SUDDENLY [ἄφνω] – three times in the NT – on the day of PENTECOST – Acts 2:2
  - As well as when Paul was bitten by a venomous snake – Acts 28:6
  - Carrying the idea of ANTICIPATION – but unsure of WHEN…
  - There was a MEGA [μέγας] earthquake – that shook the foundations of the PRISON…
  - And ALL [πᾶς] the doors were [passive] opened – and EVERYONES [πᾶς] chains fell off!
  - Paul and Silas were PRAYING and PRAISING because they KNEW something would happen…
  - They did NOT know WHEN – they did NOT know HOW…
  - But they did believe that God was going to do something AMAZING…
  - Therefore even though they were in CHAINS – they knew God would set them FREE!
  - FREEDOM does NOT come through our circumstances…
  - It is about our PERSPECTIVE – if we are looking to Jesus then we are FREE!
  - John 8:36 – “If the Son makes you free you shall be free indeed.”
- 4^th – Death to life… vs. 27-33
  - No harm… vs. 27-28
  - The keeper of the prison awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open.
  - Supposing the prisoners had fled – drew his sword and was about to kill himself.
  - But Paul called with a loud voice saying: Do yourself no harm for we are all here!
  - The JAILER woke up from his sleep [ἔξυπνος] and saw doors open [passive]
  - He assumed all of the PRISONER had escaped – and would [imperfect] have killed himself…
  - Because if the prisoners had escaped it would have been the death penalty for him…
  - But Paul SHOUTED [φωνῇ μεγάλῃ] they were ALL [πᾶς] still there!
  - The Light… vs. 29-30
  - Then he called for a light – ran in – and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.
  - And he brought them out and said: Sirs what must I do to be saved?
  - The JAILER asked for a LIGHT [so he could see] – and he RAN into the cell…
  - Trembling – he fell down before Paul and Silas…
  - He kept asking [imperfect] them: lords [Κύριοι] what must I do to be SAVED [σῴζω]
  - No doubt the JAILER knew Paul could tell him how to be saved…
  - Because Paul and Silas had shared the Gospel when they were thrown into prison [their crime]
  - Although he had not received it then – now he was open!
  - I had a friend in high school who my father shared the Gospel with…
  - He rejected the message – had NO interest in hearing about Jesus…
  - But he got into trouble [stole and crashed a car]
  - Once he got out of the hospital – he showed up at our door asking for my dad…
  - His words were simple – tell me more about Jesus!
  - When we first share the Gospel with someone – they might NOT listen…
  - But like a seed planted – it just needs time to GROW…
  - When the moment is RIGHT – usually when things go WRONG…
  - They will call for the LIGHT – come asking again about Jesus!
  - The Word… vs. 31-32
  - 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!
  - The answer was SIMPLE – believe [imperative] on the Lord Jesus Christ…
  - If he did – he would be SAVED [indicative] – him and his WHOLE house!
  - If we throw a stone into a pond – the ripple quickly SPREADS outwards…
  - In the same way when we share the Gospel with others – it SPREADS!
  - The person we shared Jesus with – goes and tells their family or friends…
  - It is NOT just one person who comes to Jesus – it RIPPLES out into the whole family!
  - Rejoicing… vs. 33-34
  - He took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes.
  - And immediately he and all his family were baptized.
  - Now when he had brought them into his house he set food before them.
  - And he rejoiced – having believed in God with all his household!
  - That VERY hour [middle of the night] the JAILER took them to his house…
  - He washed their WOUNDS – which were likely SEVERE…
  - And since they were already around WATER – they had a BAPTISM…
  - No doubt Paul shared the importance of confessing their FAITH – Acts 2:38
  - And the JAILER – along with his family – all went into the water…
  - Then he fed them – REJOICING [overflowing with joy] having believed with his whole family!
  - Only the Gospel can turn enemies into friends…
  - Because the people who IRRITATE us [fortune teller] – the ones who HURT us [jailer]
  - These are NOT our enemies – they are our MISSION field…
  - They are the ones who are BLIND – the ones who are in PRISON…
  - And as we worship Jesus – they get to see in us the answer they need!
3^rd – Roman citizen… vs. 35-40
- 1^st – Uncondemned… vs. 35-37
  - Let go… vs. 35-36
  - 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. Now therefore depart – and go in peace!
  - The next day the LEADERS [στρατηγός] went word to the OFFICERS [have the stick]
  - They were commanded [imperative] to let Paul and Silas go…
  - The earthquake may have caused the sudden change of heart on the part of the LEADERS…
  - The JAILER delivered the message – telling Paul he was FREE to go in peace!
  - Roman… vs. 36
  - But Paul said to them: They have beaten us openly – uncondemned Romans.
  - And have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly?
  - No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out!
  - But Paul would NOT leave the prison…
  - They had been publicly BEATEN [flayed skin] – and thrown into prison…
  - Yet they were ROMAN citizens who had NOT been judged [ἀκατάκριτος]
  - He would not be SECRETLY cast out of the city [hide their crime]
  - The LEADERS needed [imperative] to come and personally get them out!
  - This does bring up an interesting dilemma – why reveal his citizenship NOW…
  - It would seem to have been better to tell them BEFORE being beaten and throw into PRISON…
  - He would do just that to avoid being beaten in Jerusalem – Acts 22:25
  - Paul could NOT have known about the EARTHQUAKE – and salvation of the JAILER…
  - So why WAIT to tell the LEADERS about his CITIZENSHIP!
  - Though we cannot say for sure [speculation]
  - It was either the leading of God – who did KNOW what would take place [earthquake – jailer]
  - Or it could have been a decision on the part of Paul to help protect Jews…
  - As the embarrassment and public humiliation he brought to the LEADERS…
  - Might have served to make them more careful the next time they came against believers!
- 2^nd – Alongside… vs. 38-40
  - Afraid… vs. 38-39
  - The officers told these words to the magistrates.
  - And they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans.
  - Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out.
  - And asked them to depart from the city!
  - When the OFFICERS told the LEADERS these words – they were AFRAID [φοβέω]
  - Roman citizenship came with legal protections…
  - Their crime could have meant removal from office – or even something more severe…
  - So they came and PLEADED [παρακαλέω] with them to LEAVE them city!
  - Encouraged… vs. 40
  - 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!
  - After leading the prison – they made sure to stop by and see Lydia…
  - And once they had ENCOURAGED [παρακαλέω] the brothers – they left Philippi!
  - People have TWO reaction to the Gospel…
  - When the Spirit comes along side [παρακαλέω] – John 14:16
  - There are those who PLEAD [παρακαλέω] with us to go away – they do NOT want Jesus…
  - While others are ENCOURAGED [παρακαλέω] when because of the Good news…
  - We are going to find BOTH responses – and we do NOT know which we will get…
  - But our job is to give them the CHOICE – share the HOPE…
  - Because we never know when we might find a LYDIA – a SLAVE girl – or a JAILER!