acts 16:16 40 commentary

i. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. 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. How to Turn Persecution into Production. That, by the way, is the missing note among Christians in many places today. If they couldnt do it within three minutes, they werent fit for the chaplains service. FORTUNE-TELLING was forbidden in the OT _CRITICAL REMARKS_ "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. to set aside Jewish prejudice. By her soothsaying she provided much gain for her This commentary on Acts 16 treats the missionary journey of Paul and SIlas through Asia Minor to Philippi, where they were imprisoned. First, he did the work of strengthening the churches through the regions of Syria and Cilicia (Acts 15:40-41). In a vision, Paul was invited to the region of Macedonia, westward across the Agean Sea. We're also studying 1 Corinthians 1:26-30, an entirely different text, which seems to have been chosen as the capstone of our five weeks of thinking about women in the New Testament. Peter echoes this: But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation (1 Pet. Those who are prisoners in Satans domain of darkness are always listening to and watching the Lords people, especially in times of trial. And 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. 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." A. Acts 16:35-40. Let them come themselves and release us.' Do they now release us secretly? King Charles's reign 'won't be long' as Crown 'may be passed onto William' psychic claims i. i. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. Their work was successful because their first interest was in strengthening the churches. Why didnt Paul and Silas reveal their Roman citizenship earlier? It is wrong to act out of personal vengeance, greed, or other selfish motives. in which the conversion of Lydia occurred, or at another time, is no CHAPTER 16 Scripture commands us, Delight yourself in the Lord (Ps. _for _Lystra, _A.V._; Timothy _for _Timotheus, _A.V._; of a Jewess The jailer thought the prisoners had escaped. Suddenly there was a great earthquake which shook the prison to its foundations. Strong churches will naturally increase in number daily, without relying on man-centered and manipulative methods. VI. oracles met us. Peter warns those going through suffering to be on the alert, since the devil prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour us in such times (1 Pet. The late Romanian pastor, Richard Wurmbrand, spent 14 years in prison for preaching the gospel, three in solitary confinement in a dark cell. Under Roman law and custom, guards who allowed their prisoners to escape received the penalty of their escaped prisoners. 1. And we were staying in that city for some days. RV 'And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having Doug Bratt. The jailer rejoiced greatly, with all his household, having believed in God." 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. That couple was in Peru to serve Jesus Christ. It depends on daily cultivating joy in the Lord. usually made. VIII. The demon came out that very hour. And fifty days after the Passover, the second major Jewish feast, the Feast of Pentecost, or the Feast of Ingathering. Acts 16:12-40 Maybe youre wondering, Does trusting God mean that we should never stand up for our rights? secrets, and things to come. 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. " 20 When the slave girl's masters had brought Paul and Silas to the magistrates, they said, 'These men, who are Jews, are confusing . Her hospitality was touching and a wonderful example. 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.. her son, had embraced the faith. 1. 326 1837 vg arm), which has been replaced in some manuscripts (45 C3 Paul and Silas, their rights having been violated and their backs torn open, their feet in the stocks and locked in the dark inner prison, were praying and singing hymns of praise to God at midnight (16:25)! Perhaps he even came as Pauls personal doctor. 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. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: In Troas, God made Pauls direction clear. They would have missed this great opportunity for witness. (Witham) --- A divining spirit, which pretended to foretell things to A fortune-telling female slave, who brought much money to her owners As well, this may have even been the same guard who beat them a few hours earlier. ii. DAY 6 - ASK FOR INSIGHT READ THE PASSAGE Think back through what you have learned each day this week. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. So Paul went to bring Macedonia the gospel the best possible help. We are studying the story of Lydia, recorded in Acts 16:11-15 and :40, for Sunday, February 28. We Americans have a thing about standing up for our rights. They were physically attacked in an inhumane way. PAUL AND SILAS ARE SEIZED, BROUGHT BEFORE THE Lord. 19. This was a strong, godly man, leading a strong, godly team. labours in that city, Lois a jewess, her daughter Eunice, and Timothy You can download/save a pdf document with all the verse by verse lessons in ActsFacts PartFour, from the middle of chapter to the endofActs. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and Califo More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. 16:7. Clarke's Commentary. c. And he rejoiced: This man was carried from suicidal fear to abounding joy in just a few minutes. The magistrates were sufficiently humbled, and the public at large, hearing of this circumstance, must be satisfied of the innocency of the apostles. a. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas. 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). IN T _A certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination._ Commentary on the Book of Acts Paul and Silas: Acts 16. by Ed Rickard. This was an epoch-making moment, but how quietly it is recorded. If they had been praying that way, as soon as God sent the powerful earthquake, they would have said, All right! Whatever form it takes, you should not be surprised when you are treated wrongly. The honourable discharge of Paul and Silas by the magistrates (v. 35-40). He comments: The words had scarcely left his lips when she was released from its power.. 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. ; _to Lystra ii. 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" 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. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. They were occult pimps, prostituting her spiritually. The places specially mentioned are Samaria, Azotus, Caesarea, Lydda, the Sharon valley, and Joppa. The demon knew who Acts 16:40, ESV: So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia.And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed. His captors smashed four of his vertebrae and either cut or burned 18 holes in his body, but they could not defeat him. iii. 2:20). WENT TO PRAYER; went towards the place where their public prayers were This is a work God must do in all who believe, because as Jesus said, no one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him (John 6:44). We are next introduced to an incident which led to a decided VII. 36The jailer reported these words to Paul: 'The magistrates have sent a message for your release; therefore come out now, and go in peace.' 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. When they had brought them out of the prison, they continued pleading with them to leave the city. But God wanted to give Paul a continent to win for Jesus Christ. ", "About midnight Paul and Silas, in jail, were praying and singing hymns to God. | Next a. The dyes used for making purple were expensive and highly regarded. Dive Deeper. _paidiske._ See note on Acts 12:13. read "a spirit,. As well, the multitude and the magistrates felt free to abuse Paul and Silas because they assumed they were not Roman citizens. 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). That convicts me of my lack of joy and my grumbling over the minor irritations in my life! Maybe your mate or a family member treats you with contempt because of your Christian convictions. They always are, of course! By rights, Paul could have had their heads if he had taken his case to a higher authority. masters much gai AS WE WENT TO PRAYER, Or, _To the oratory._ The manner in which St. i. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (ESV) For I delivered to you as of first impo He did not give him a lecture on theology. Even in their pain, God was not far from Paul and Silas. The size of this file is 8.8 megabytes. 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. David Guzik commentary on Acts 1 describes the ascension of Jesus into heaven and the appointing of Matthias as a replacement for Judas. _praes. ( ). 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". His mother was a Jew who had become a believer in Jesus. 1 Paul travelled to Derbe and then he arrived in Lystra. a. i. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. 26Suddenly there was a great earthquake which shook the prison to its foundations. From the city of Derbe to Troas. Biblical Commentary (Bible study) Acts 16:16-34. VI. We may assume here t Acts 16:16. But Paul, greatly annoyed: Paul was greatly annoyed, and he did not appreciate the free advertising from the demon. This Week: John 17:20-26. This shows Gods provision, because John Mark and Barnabas just left Paul (Acts 15:36-41). 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). . 4:12). 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. closing to him as in one way or another he was first hindered from When that happens, its important to respond the way Paul and his team did. Our rights are not as important as our obedience to the will of God. 10/13/22. ANGER OF THOSE WHO MADE 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you . Acts 16:1-15To Be Led by the Spirit. b. I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her: Jesus cast out demons with His own authority. 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. i. Acts 16:35-40 Magistrates. 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. ii. 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 . Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. Acts 16:19-29 Paul and Silas. ii. b. Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2001, All Rights Reserved. view of the recent decision of the council. Presumably this was because demons gave her supernatural insight into the lives of others. 18She continued doing this for several days. Behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy. 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). So the correct text with accusative This is salvation by grace alone, received by faith alone. They were in, not out, of Gods will. 17She followed Paul and us, crying out, 'These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of salvation!' Bibliografische Daten. In everything? You can check these in your browser security settings. God may ask us to lay down our rights for the good of another (in this case, for the good of the Philippian jailer). On the morning after "a great earthquake" (v. 26) strikes a city, there is much turmoil, as people assess . c. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul: Before Lydia was converted (as demonstrated by her baptism), the Lord opened her heart. had evidently been converted through Paul on his first visit NOW IT HAPPENED, AS WE WENT TO PRAYER, THAT A CERTAIN SLAVE GIRL They were whipped and put in the inner prison with chains on their feet. iii. AS WE WENT TO PRAYER. He told the Colossians, Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake (Col. 1:24). A verse by verse study of Acts 17:1-15. gain by soothsaying: Her masters made a lot of money from her power. Paul does with regard to Timothy. prayer, or to the oratory, as they were in the way to it; for this is He uses circumcision in all liberty masters much gain by soothsaying: 3:1). The world should see (or hear) our joy in the Lord from the dungeon and ask, Whats with these people, anyway? Then we tell them. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." 18 And this she kept doing for many days. ACTS 16:35-40. _Then came he to Lystra,_ as in Acts 14:6. The conversion of the Jailer in Philippi Acts 16:16-40: At a place of prayer in Philippi Paul and Silas came across a girl that had a spirit of divination. Tertullian said, The legs feel nothing in the stocks when the heart is in heaven.. Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! The demon came out that very hour. Acts 16:11-15 Samothrace, Neapolis, Philippi. 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? Ephesus would come later, not now. _ 1. Acts 16:1-18 Saving, Guiding, Empowering. Natural selection acts on phenotypic variation in a population. a. Thus if we want to glorify God, which is the highest goal for the Christian, we must focus on finding joy in Him. 30Then he brought them out and said, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' was a female slave possessed A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION Introduction. with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much Acts 15:36-18: . The jailer then saw that all the prisoners were still there. When they had laid many blows on Paul and Silas, they threw them into prison. Commentary on Acts 16:35-40 (Read Acts 16:35-40) Paul, though willing to suffer for the cause of Christ, and without any desire to avenge himself, did not choose to depart under the charge of having deserved wrongful punishment, and therefore required to be dismissed in an honourable manner. 23When they had laid many blows on Paul and Silas, they threw them into prison. 5:3-5). 16. ACTS Immediately all the doors were opened, and everyones bonds were loosed. She didnt do this only once, but for many days (Acts 16:18). without expecting opposition. Exalting Jesus in Acts (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) - GOOD Product Id:1433647095 Condition:USEDGOOD 255947117284 Chuck Smith Bible Commentary - Acts 2:1-47. 2. This sort of treatment effectively terrorizes the population into submission. 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. Now we see another reason why they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. The first a. When a Barnabas leaves (for whatever reason), God has a Timothy to go on with him. The next time, they would follow the Roman law! 31They answered, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.' God still calls people to the mission field, and He may call through unusual ways. What does Acts 16:16-40 mean? c. The magistrates have sent to let you go. I'll try to post some notes on that . This was as dramatic as it sounds. No indeed! with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much some MSS. Timothy had a believing mother with a Jewish background (son of a certain Jewish woman who believed), and a (presumably) unbelieving Greek father. THE HEALING OF THE GIRL POSSESSED WITH THE PYTHON SPIRIT (16:16-18). 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. b. 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. i. Some have worried that Pauls invitation to salvation here is too easy, and would promote a too-easy faith or a cheap grace. i. But Timothy's father was a Gentile who came from Greece. i. 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. This was a big step, perhaps bigger than Paul even knew. Lit., a Paul and Silas went to the house of Lydia, saw the brethren, comforted them, and departed. He fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 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. PRAYER, see on Acts 16:13. The miraculous conversion of the jailer to the faith of Christ (v. 25-34). It is mandatory for all who know His salvation. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. Paul was anxious to see for himself how the work of the Lord continued among these churches he founded five years before. And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. For though the Greek noun here is without Psalm 97 . see critical note, a spirit, a Python, margin, _i.e._, a Acts 16 Bible Study Questions (Handout) ACTS 16:1 1 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. iv. 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. ACTS 16:1 i. You couldn't wait to get where you were going or do what you needed . But he let their wrong go unpunished and by his actions showed that Christians are not out for personal vengeance. They came and took them from prison and begged them to leave town. He did not appreciate the source of the recommendation, and he didnt need demonic approval of his work. Studying the book of Acts 16; shows a significant summary of the history, time and relevant details according to the bible's acts based onBenson Joseph - Bible Commentary and reading parallely the bible's version Legacy Standard Bible. His action in the circumcision of Timothy is startling in Acts 16:16-40. Its still possible for a type of Macedonian Man to give an unusual call to serve God in a distant place. All doors seemed to be (Acts 16:29-34). He has a greater purpose that we often do not understand. The book of Acts emphasizes the power and abilities of the leaders of the Jesus movement. At the beginning of Paul's second mission, the Lord directed him to people who were prepared to hear the gospel. And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? THE PYTHONESS By making these officials realize that they had committed a serious offense against Roman citizens, Paul insured that they would not trouble the Christians in Philippi. 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. He wrote, We exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Rom. Their response teaches us how to be right when we are wronged. 5:18). Tap the title above, next to the arrow, to go to thatpage. So Paul took Timothy and . Both heard the gospel and believed, and through each of them their whole families were touched! Mythology, by Apollo, who was hence called Pythius, and the priestess _as we went to prayer_ Better, AS WE WERE GOING TO THE PLACE OF TIMOTHY WORKS WITH PAUL AND SILAS, 16:1-5 i. _Gen. Acts 16:40. whom Paul had baptized, ( Acts 16:14 Acts 16:15 ) . Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord (Phil. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. It is difficult to say exactly how the Holy Spirit said no; it may have been through a word of prophecy, or by an inward speaking of the Holy Spirit, or by circumstances. a. Paul wanted to have him go on with him: Paul was impressed enough with Timothy to ask him to join their missionary team. And the prisoners were listening to them: What a strange sound this was to the other prisoners! These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. A certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination brought her masters much profit: This girl, though demon possessed, was a source of money for her owners as a fortune teller. When you are wronged, entrust your soul to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. Pauls missionary team did not hesitate to follow him on the basis of this call. Tap the title above, next to the arrow, to go to thatlesson with a link back to thispage. (p.40-42, 1998 edition, Lucis Trust) The use of they here suggests that Luke stayed behind in Philippi for at least a while, perhaps to care for this new congregation. He pointed this obviously repentant man to faith in Jesus Christ. How could Paul and Silas prove their Roman citizenship? Paul refused to go because he knew his rights as a Roman citizen and knew that their treatment of him was unjust. 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. Th WELCOMED; ATTESTED; IMPRISONED serpent destroyed, according to Greek THESE MEN ARE SERVANTS. Because demons are created beings, not gods themselves, we suppose that they cannot read minds, nor actually foretell the future. What's more, Paul and Barnabus have traveled . Paul and Silas would not be hurried out of town until they had brought their work there to a conclusion. Commentary, explanation and study verse by verse. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. They came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city: The magistrates acted as politicians often act by instinct. verse, to the place of prayer.' They were singing because their hearts were full of praise toward God and the joy of His salvation. This was a promise made specifically to the keeper of the prison. Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. He was a believer. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Don't harm yourself: we are all here!" (Acts 16:25-28). After learning how to become a Christians the jailer and his family were all baptized immediately. c. Ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas: This hardened keeper of the prison fell down trembling. Paul and Silas show us four aspects of a right response to wrong treatment. We are next introduced to an incident which led to a decided What should a Christian do when his life has been a poor testimony to those without Christ? In Pauls mind, he wanted to reach a few cities in his region. spirit of divination met us, who brought her The keeper of the prisonwas about to kill himself: The jailer did this for a good reason. 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).