June 10, 2022
Evening Service

Last Sunday evening Sam brought to us the first council meeting of the Church. Acts 15.  This evening we want to look at chapter 16, and see what it holds for us.  Also, Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch, along with Judas, and Silas. Here is the reaction of the saints in Antioch to the letter from the Apostles in Jerusalem.

(Act 15:31)  When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.

Why wouldn’t they rejoice?  It was short and freed everyone from the bondage of the law.  You will notice it says nothing of keeping the Sabbath, or of a Triune God, known as the Trinity, also, circumcision is not mentioned.  Yes, the church is in its early stages, and there will be some clarification on things as it grows.  But just as the early church had the Apostles, who sat the feet of Jesus, we also have the Apostles, and Jesus’ teachings, and we need to read them.    Let’s look at chapter 16.

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

(Act 16:1)  Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. (Act 16:2)  He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. (Act 16:3)  Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek. (Act 16:4)  And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. (Act 16:5)  So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

·        Now Paul and Barnabas have parted company, Barnabas takes John Mark, who penned the Gospel of Mark, for Peter, and Paul takes Silas as his partner.

·        Also, Luke chooses to follow Paul’s journeys rather than Barnabas’.  This is way God wanted it to be.

·        Paul and Silas go to Lystra, and Iconium, in which they meet a young man that is well spoken of by the brethren, Timothy. And Paul asks him to travel with them.

·        Now Paul has Timothy circumcised just to keep arguments down. Here is a sum of his thoughts on circumcision; (1Co 7:19)  Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.

·        And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.

The Macedonian Call

(Act 16:6)  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. (Act 16:7)  After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. (Act 16:8)  So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. (Act 16:9)  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."

(Act 16:10)  Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

·        This is self explaining.  Look at the map and you will see where all this is taking place.

The Conversion of Lydia

(Act 16:11)  Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, (Act 16:12)  and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. (Act 16:13)  And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. (Act 16:14)  Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. (Act 16:15)  And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." So she persuaded us.

·        A couple of things stand out here.  1.  These women were having a prayer meeting on the Sabbath, this was customary.  2.  This Lydia was not Jewish, but a proselyte. That’s someone other than a Jew that accepts Judaism as their way of worship.  Lydia was also from Thyatira, a city in Asia (Turkey), and one of the 7 churches in Revelations, to whom the Spirit speaks.

·        And a very important notice is when she believed what Paul was saying the first thing she wants to do is be baptized, her, and her whole household.  You will find this pattern throughout the New Testament.  They heard, they believed, and they were baptized.

Paul and Silas in Prison

(Act 16:16)  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. (Act 16:17)  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." (Act 16:18)  And this she did for many days. 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. (Act 16:19)  But 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. (Act 16:20)  And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, "These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city;

(Act 16:21)  and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe." (Act 16:22)  Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. (Act 16:23)  And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. (Act 16:24)  Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

·        It’s acknowledged that this slave girl has a spirit of divination.  This tells me that this spirit is around, but the admonition to us is to stay away from it.

·        Every species and degree of this superstition was strictly forbidden by the law of Moses (Exo_22:18; Lev_19:26, Lev_19:31; Lev_20:27; Deu_18:10, Deu_18:11).

·        Paul, and Silas beaten, and thrown into prison.  This will open the door for another example of someone obeying the message of salvation.

The Philippian Jailer Converted

(Act 16:25)  But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. (Act 16:26)  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.

(Act 16:27)  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. (Act 16:28)  But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here."

(Act 16:29)  Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. (Act 16:30)  And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (Act 16:31)  So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." (Act 16:32)  Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.

·        Notice how it happens, they say Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, then they spoke the words of salvation to him, and he believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, then notice what happens next.

(Act 16:33)  And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.

·        The jailer took Paul, and Silas, and cleaned them up, and then he and his family were baptized.

(Act 16:34)  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.

·        It is a time of rejoicing.  I’ll never forget when I first came to the Lord.

(Act 16:35)  And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, "Let those men go." (Act 16:36)  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." (Act 16:37)  But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us openly, condemned 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." (Act 16:38)  And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. (Act 16:39)  Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city. (Act 16:40)  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.

·        I think Paul shows a little bit of righteous indignation, and pride here, but he got his point across.

·        Two examples of how to be saved in this chapter.  Lydia, and the jailer.  Examples for all who follow the teachings of our Lord.

Next week, Lord willing Bro. Andy will have chapter 17.