Acts 16

 Good morning!  Another exciting chapter today!

The chapter begins with Paul's second missionary journey (see map below). Most commentaries put this chapter about four or five years after the last chapter. Paul goes back to revisit some of the churches he started. I could imagine his excitement at seeing how they have progressed!

Paul's Second missionary journey

His trip begins at Derbe (very successful the first time he was there) and Lystra (that's where the people though Paul and Barnabas were gods). Paul meets Timothy in Lystra- his mother was a believer (a Jew) his father was not (a Greek). Paul "adopts" Timothy as a replacement for John Mark- it is tough to do ministry alone. Paul circumcised Timothy- not as a sign of salvation (they argued that point at the Jerusalem Council) but so he would be accepted by Jews. By Jewish law, Timothy was a Jew, but because he was uncircumcised, he was considered an apostate Jew (translation- a heretic to the Jewish faith). If Paul wanted to maintain his status with the synagogue- he had to have Timothy circumcised- even though Timothy was a believer (some of the laws are tough to forget)! Do we do that in our church- carry on traditions or ideas so we can be "accepted"?

We come now to a confusing point. The Holy Spirit doesn't want Paul to visit some places to start churches there (vv 6-8)! Confusing in that why would the Holy Spirit not want the message of Jesus spread to Asia? The best explanation is Paul wasn't the right person in the right place at the right time to begin bringing the gospel to the Roman Province of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) We often use the phrase, "in God's time" and this just wasn't the time. We don't have any indication how the Spirit stopped them, but they just kept going. Does it surprise you that the Holy Spirit stops us from doing some things we think might be good? The Holy Spirit closes some doors and opens others. While in Troas, Paul gets a vision to go to Macedonia.

In the vision, Paul is "invited" to the region of Macedonia by a man, westward across the Agean Sea.This moves Paul and his missionary team from the continent of Asia to the continent of Europe; this was the first missionary endeavor to Europe. Rather than establishing a few churches in Asia Minor, God opens the continent of Europe to God's churches! Paul did not hesitate to answer the call of the Macedonian man. Paul's missionary team did not hesitate to follow him on the basis of this call. Have you ever met a "Macedonian man" that has called you to mission? Notice the word change in v 8 ("They passed by and went to Troas) to v 10 ("We immediately prepared to leave for Macedonia..."). A possible signal that Luke joined the trip for a while? Maybe he was the teams personal physician (remember, Luke was likely a physician).

While in Philippi, they go to the river to pray. The fact that there was no synagogue in Philippi meant that there were not many Jewish men in the town. There had to be at least ten Jewish men available to have a synagogue (doesn't matter the number of women). Enter Lydia (v 14). She opened her heart and her mind to hear Paul and was eventually converted (evidenced by her baptism in v 15). I think this is the first story I remember of a woman being converted to Christianity.

While still in Philippi, a demon possessed girl seemed to be hanging around Paul and Timothy, almost to the point of annoyance (v 18). She was a source of profit for her owners as a fortune teller, because demons would give her supernatural insight into the lives of others. An interesting point is that the demon-possessed slave girl "preaches" for Paul, giving a demonic "testimony" to their divine credentials and the message that they preach, as she commented "These men are servants of the Most High God..." (v 17). Even the demons knew God. Paul, not wanting to be associated with a demon (we are identified by the company we keep) cast out the demon from the girl (v 18) being sure to use the "the power of Jesus Christ."

The owners of the slave girl get angry as their source of income was gone (vv 19-20)! The masters care nothing for the girl herself, only for their ability to exploit her demonic possession for money. They were "pimps," prostituting her spiritually. Note that Paul and Silas were grabbed- not Timothy or Luke (v 19). Luke was a gentile, Timothy was only part-Jew so neither of them "dressed" the part of being a Jew; Paul and Silas were fully Jewish and they looked it- so they were the blame! Do we "blame" others because of how they look?

Their charges are vague, simply accusing Paul and Silas of being troublemakers (v 20). But those vague charges were enough, because "the crowd" (v 22) joined in the attack! Since they assumed Paul and Barnabas were not Roman citizens, they were offended that these obviously Jewish men would harass Roman citizens with their strange religion of a crucified Savior. After being severely beaten (v 22), Paul and Silas are imprisoned in maximum-security conditions. Though they have been arrested, beaten, and imprisoned for doing good, Paul and Silas are filled with joy and sing praises to God (v 25). What will it take to make us stop praising God?

God intervenes with a sudden earthquake (v 26) and all the doors were opened and all the chains were loosed. The jailer's reaction (v 27) had good reason behind it. Guards who allowed their prisoners to escape had to bear the penalty of their escaped prisoners! Paul talks with the guard (v 28). It would have been easy for Paul and Silas to escape thinking God had instigated another miraculous jailbreak. But to them, the lives of others were more important than their own personal freedom and comfort. Do we feel that same way-- the lives of others are more important than our comfort?

The jailer (who was probably one of the men that beat them so harshly just a few hours ago) 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 wants the kind of life that Paul and Silas have (v 30). Paul comments (v 31), "Believe- and you will be saved." Is this too easy? The same jailer who had been punishing them was now ministering to Paul and Silas, caring for their wounds and providing them food (v 34).

The next day brings an interesting twist. Paul and Silas did leave the prison (in the protective custody of the jailer) to minister to the jailer's household. But Paul and Silas returned to the prison willingly to spare the jailer certain death (vv 35- 36). Because Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they had recognized civil rights, which were ignored by the Philippian magistrates.  Upon learning this, the magistrates are filled with fear, because it was a terrible offense to treat Roman citizens as Paul and Silas had been treated. The magistrates act like any politicians act by instinct. They try to make their problem go away quietly by sweeping them under the rug (v 39). Paul and Silas agreed to go, but on their terms of returning to Lydia's home to do a check-in.  In Philippi, Paul and Silas left behind two notable converts: Lydia and the prison guard. Each of these two had their lives touched by Jesus in very different ways. Lydia was a churchgoer; the guard was not. Lydia had a great business; the guard was about to kill himself. Lydia's heart was gently opened; the guard's heart was violently confronted. Both heard the gospel and believed, and through each of them their whole families were touched! The Holy Spirit works in many different ways!

Have a great weekend. Reminder that we will have a Good Friday worship tonight at 7PM.

Enjoy Easter with family and friends- if possible!

Monday I will likely be late with commentary. I have a doctor appointment at 8AM. Will try to get it done as soon as I can when I return home!

Shalom+
Pastor Paul