August 10, 2014
Morning Service

Acts 16:1-15

 

            In  chapter 15 we saw the first council meeting of the church.  Some of the Jewish Christians were saying that you could not be saved except you were circumcised, and keep the law of Moses.  Paul and Barnabas argued against this teaching, but finally had to take it before the Apostles, and elders in Jerusalem.  The decision that they made sets Christians free from the law of Moses. 

This was their decision:  Act 15:28-29  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;  (29)  That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

This will not be the last time that questions, and conflicts will arise, but we will see them answered as we continue to study our Bibles.

 

This morning we are ready for chapter 16, let’s begin:

 

Judas, and Silas delivered the letter to Antioch, and the people rejoiced over the decision of the council.  They stayed there and taught for some time, and then Paul arose, and told Barnabas that they should go back through the places they had been, and see how the people were doing.  Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them again, but Paul said no.  The reason being John Mark left them before their trip was finished last time.  The contention was so great that Paul, and Barnabas split company, Paul taking Silas with him, and Barnabas taking John Mark with him.

 

Act 16:1-15  Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:  (2)  Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.  (3)  Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek. 

·         We might wonder why the Apostle had Timothy circumcised, when this was one of the topics that they were now delivering to the churches.  It was not necessary for salvation.

·         1Co 9:19-22  For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.  (20)  And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;  (21)  To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.  (22)  To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

 

(4)  And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.  (5)  And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.  (6)  Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,  (7)  After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.  (8)  And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 

·         Telling them of the decision concerning circumcision, and the four things that Christians were to abstain from.

·         And were forbidden by the Holy Ghost?   As we will see, He is going to send them somewhere else.

·         Troas is on the western coastline of Turkey.

(9)  And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.  (10)  And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. 

·         You will notice that Luke, the writer of this epistle begins using the personal pronouns of we, and us.  Luke is with Paul, and his company.

·         Upon seeing this vision, Luke states, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

·         This was one of the things that Joel said in his prophecy, Act 2:17  And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

·         If you are studying your Bible, praying, with God on your mind a lot, you to will come to dreams, and visions.  But your dreams, and visions should never contradict the Bible, or attempt to add to the Bible.

 

(11)  Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;  (12)  And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.  (13)  And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. 

·         The Sabbath:  this is the day you find the Jews worshipping God.  Paul on many occasions went into the synagogues on the Sabbath, and preached to the Jews.

·         Must’ve been a women’s prayer group.

(14)  And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.  (15)  And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

·         First of all Lydia worshipped God.  She was a religious person.  Doing all she knew to do to please God.

·         Secondly, the Lord opened her heart to accept the gospel message.  The Word of God was falling on fertile ground.  Lydia was receiving what she was hearing.

·         When you have the desire to please God, He will open your heart to receive His Word.  He will lead you into a closer, and more meaningful relationship with Him.

·         And we notice that part of the gospel included being baptized.  Lydia received the Word, and was baptized, and all her family.

Now, she doesn’t want to let them go.  She wants to hear more of what God is doing, and how she can be more pleasing to Him. 

 

Hopefully you can relate to how Lydia is feeling right now.  She is excited, she is full of joy, love, and peace.  Wanting to know more about Jesus.  I know the morning I was converted, everything became new.  I had received the engrafted Word that would save my soul.  My sins were forgiven, not washed away, but would soon be.  Everything had a new look, and I wanted to linger in this feeling for a long time. 

 

Almighty God, open our hearts to receive Your will for our lives.