January 7, 2018 A Changed Family Background: Acts 16:16-17:15 Lesson: Acts 16:22-34

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1 January 7, 2018 A Changed Family Background: Acts 16:16-17:15 Lesson: Acts 16:22-34 Motivation: The Philippian jailer asked Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And this plaintive question echoes down the millennia with answers ranging from Be good to Ignore the question. In our culture, we must be equipped to answer this timeless question of all humanity. I. Persecution in Philippi (16:16-21) A. Possessed a slave girl met us who had a spirit of prediction. (16:16) HCSB: 1894: 16:16 That the slave girl had a spirit of prediction implies demonic possession. The ancients were very interested in oracles and prophecies, hence the girl earned income for her owners. B. Proclaimed These men, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation, are the slaves of the Most High God. (16:17) Here s a reminder that even the demons believe and tremble (James 2:19) When Jesus confronted the Gadarene demoniac, the Legion cried out What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? (Mark 5:7) C. Perturbed But Paul was greatly aggravated and turning to the spirit said, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! And it came out right away. (16:18) Whether Paul felt sympathy for the slave girl or anger at the demon (or both), he performed an exorcism on the spot. HCSB: p. 1894: 16:17-18 Though the girl cri ed out 1 / 10

2 truth about Paul and his companions, Paul was greatly aggravated. Luke does not say why, but presumably Paul was irritated at the wild and distracting manner in which the girl carried on. Her manner would repel rather than attract crowds. D. Protested When the owners saw that their hope of profit was gone (16:19a) Jesus often taught about being properly related to possessions; over half his parables related to money. However, outrage over the loss of possessions is a theme of an unbelieving world: the owners of the pigs in Gadara, the sellers of idols in Ephesus, and the owners of this unfortunate slave girl all valued the temporal and material over the spiritual and eternal. E. Prosecuted they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities (19) Timothy and Luke are not mentioned; we presume they were ministering elsewhere. The charges appealed to anti-semitism and Roman loyalty. HCSB: p. 1894: 16:20-21 Paul and Silas were accused of causing civil disorder and promoting customs that were not legal among Romans. The practice of variant religion was not illegal in the Roman Empire, but any activity (religious or otherwise) that risked sparking civil unrest was frowned upon. II. The Situation Then the mob joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23 After they had inflicted many blows on them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to keep them securely guarded. 24 Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks. (16:22-24) 2 / 10

3 A. Pressure Then the mob joined in the attack against them (16:22) Because of the pressure from the mob, the magistrates acted in an unjust manner. In a repeat of Pilate s scourging of Jesus to appease the Passover crowd, these judges stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. Bullying, whether on social media or in person, has become a serious problem where this same mob mentality creates great destruction. B. Prison he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks (24) Anytime Christians are put in prison, the reader of Acts can anticipate a jailbreak. Perhaps rumors of prior escapes led to the maximum security treatment. III. The Opportunity About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone s chains came loose. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul called out in a loud voice, Don t harm yourself, because all of us are here! (16:25-28) A. Praise Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God (25) The spontaneous praise service is all the more remarkable in light of their physical condition, they had been beaten with rods (22). Believer s Study Bible, p.1572: 16:25 The Greek word for singing is from humneo, from which we get our word hymn. The prisoners and the guards undoubtedly heard much about Christ and His saving gospel through the hymns of Paul and Silas, as well as through their testimony of rejoicing in the midst of suffering. 3 / 10

4 B. Phenomena violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone s chains came loose. (16:26) A miracle from God is distinct in its timing, magnitude and impact. The timing of God s miracle was immediately followed by praise to Him. The magnitude is reflected in the foundations of the jailed being shaken. And the impact was the freeing of all the prisoners. The jailer s response in verse 29 f ell down trembling before Paul and Silas indicates that he sensed that the earthquake was of supernatural origin. C. Pledge all of us are here! (16:28) A guard who allowed prisoners to escape was forced to serve their sentences. Given the maximum security treatment for Paul and Silas, the jailer didn t even investigate the cells; he just assumed that all the prisoners escaped and was prepared to commit suicide rather than face the consequences. The impact of the gospel was evident in that no prisoner tried to escape even though all the doors were opened, and everyone s chains came loose. (16:26) IV. The Conversion The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 H e then brought them out and asked, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 They replied, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved you and your household. 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. (16:29-32) A. Premonition The jailer called for lights (29) His request for physical light foreshadows his request for the Light of the World. B. Proposition Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (30) HCSB: p.1894: 16:29-30 The jailer 4 / 10

5 fell down trembling because he realized the earthquake was supernatural. This prompted him to ask the most important question in the book of Acts: What must I do to be saved? He was spared from death in the quake, spared from suicide by the discovery that the prisoners had not fled, and now wanted to be spared from God s future judgment. C. Profession Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved-you and your household (31) Notice the evidence of his profession he washed their wounds (33). What a change Christ makes! Perhaps the very man who had beaten them was now caring for them. (Rom. 10:9-13; John 6:28-29). Regarding the household, HCSB : p : 16:15 had the following note regarding Lydia s household being baptized: Household baptism is mentioned several times in the book of Acts (vv ; 18:8; cp. 11:14). It is never stated who exactly was involved in such baptisms. If the leader of a household converted, perhaps others of the household (children, servants, spouse, etc.) were persuaded to respond in the same way. It is assumed on the basis of Lydia s response (16:14) and her question to Paul after her baptism ( if you consider me a believer in the Lord ) that her confession of faith preceded her baptism. This suggests that only those of the household who were mature enough to make their own positive response to the gospel would have been baptized. D. Preaching Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. (16:32) HCSB, p. 1894, 16:32 Paul s initial response to the jailer was succinct and to the point. That Paul then spoke the message of the Lord may indicate that he followed his initial answer, which was aimed at bringing the jailer to saving faith, with a more detailed explanation aimed at building the new disciples understanding of God and the Christian life. V. The Transformation (16:33-34) He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized. 34 He brought them into his house, set a meal before 5 / 10

6 them, and rejoiced because he had believed God with his entire household. (16:33-34) HCSB : p : 16:34 The jailer s joy is palpable. What looked like a life threatening disaster became the joyous beginning of his new life in Christ. He and his family became part of the growing church at Philippi, a church that was dear to Paul. When Paul later wrote that he thanked God every time he remembered the Philippians, this man and his family may have come to mind (Php 1:3). VI. The Aftermath (16: 35-17:15) A. Magistrates When daylight came, the chief magistrates sent the police to say, Release those men! 36 The jailer reported these words to Paul: The magistrates have sent orders for you to be released. So come out now and go in peace. 37 But Paul said to them, They beat us in public without a trial, although we are Roman citizens, and threw us in jail. And now are they going to smuggle us out secretly? Certainly not! On the contrary, let them come themselves and escort us out! 38 Then the police reported these words to the magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them, and escorting them out, they urged them to leave town. (16:35-40) We don t know why Paul didn t inform the magistrates of his citizenship during the trial. (Acts 22:24-29) To scourge a Roman citizen was a crime punishable by death. Paul refused to slip quietly into the night; instead, he stood upon his rights in order to leave some protection for the newly established church in Philippi. HCSB : p. 1895: 16:37 Paul knew the laws regulating punishment of Roman citizens. Having been illegally beaten and denied trial, he refused to be released and pretended nothing had happened. Paul s Roman citizenship is mentioned here for the first time in Acts (see 22:25-29; 23:27; 25:11). Roman citizens were exempt from certain kinds of punishment (e.g., crucifixion) and were entitled to due process prior to punishment. The question arises as to how Paul would have proven his citizenship. There probably was a register in Tarsus that recorded his citizenship, but citizens also often carried small wooden tablets (some of which have been found), something like a modern passport, that they used to prove their citizenship. Perhaps Paul carried such a document. 6 / 10

7 B. Method They came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As usual, Paul went in to the synagogue (16-20) Paul had a God-given strategy that he followed methodically. He chose strategic cities like Thessalonica (capital of Macedonia) which had synagogues. He understood that Jews, proselytes and God-fearers would have a knowledge of Scripture and, when converted, could provide teaching leadership to a new congregation. The method also came out of his passion, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Rom.1:16). C. Message and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and showing that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead... (2b-3 a) People who attended the synagogue would be looking for the Messiah (Christ) and would be acquainted with Old Testament prophecy about Him. (Isa.61:1-2a) The prevailing concept of Christ did not include His suffering and death. (Isa. 61:2b; Rom.11:7-11; I Cor.1:23-24) Four characteristics of Paul s message: 1. Similarity As usual Paul shared the gospel consistently, that is, regularly and uniformly. When the method changed, the message did not. 2. Sincerity for three Sabbath days Paul had a passion to see people saved he kept on presenting the gospel. (Rom.10:1) 3. Scriptural from the Scriptures Paul realized that God s Word will not return void. (Isa.55:11) 4. Simplicity this Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah. Paul had a simple outline. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! (Heb.12:1-2) D. Multitude Then some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a great number of the God-fearing Greeks, as well as a number of the leading women, (4) This initial response became the core of the Thessalonian Church, the recipient of two of Paul s epistles. 7 / 10

8 E. The Jews Opposition to Paul (17:5-9) 1. Reaction But the Jews became jealous, and they brought together some scoundrels from the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. Attacking Jason s house, they searched for them to bring them out to the public assembly. (5) Rather than rejoice that their Messiah had come, some Jews reacted with envy. Not only were they motivated by base emotions, they in turn motivated the baser individuals of the city to riot. 2. Revolution These men who have turned the world upset down have come here too (6). While the Jews wanted a local revolt, Paul was organizing a world-wide revolution! The impact and notoriety of the fledgling church was evident. 3. Revulsion The Jews stirred up the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things (8). The reaction of the crowd to the ministry of Paul was not all positive. (I Cor. 2:4) 4. Restitution so when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go (9). Jason and the Believers had to post bond an implicit threat that their property could be seized if their teaching caused harm. Paul alluded to the persecution the Thessalonian believers faced in his two letters to them. F. Paul s Witness to the Bereans (10-12) Believer s Study Bible, p.1573: 17:11 This is a comparison of the citizens of Berea to those of Thessalonica, a city in which he received very bitter treatment despite a positive reception of the gospel by many. And a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women were evidences of missionary success (v.4). The Thessalonican opposition, however, was strong; the Hebrews who did not believe took to them evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar (v.5). Thinking that Paul was in the house of Jason, they took Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city (v.6), and after taking security (a sum of money apparently obligating them to guarantee the presence of Paul ultimately), they let them go (v.9). Paul would continue to be plagued by this Thessalonican opposition (cf.21-27). The Bereans; on the other hand, were more fair-minded in that they: (1) received the word with all readiness, (2) searched the Scriptures daily, (3) apparently had the true spirit of open-mindedness of religious thought, 8 / 10

9 and (4) in the spirit of truth sought to understand whether these things were so which Paul had spoken. G. Paul s Flight to Athens (13-15) Once again Paul flees a city for safety s sake. William Barclay, Acts of the Apostles, p.129: There is the courage of Paul. He had been imprisoned in Philippi; he had left Thessalonica in peril of his life, under cover of darkness; and once again in Berea (sic) he had had to flee for his life. Most men would have abandoned a struggle which seemed bound to end in arrest and death. When David Livingstone was asked where he was prepared to go, he answered I am prepared to go anywhere, so long as it is forward. The idea of turning back never occurred to Paul either. Application: 1. Sharing the gospel takes priority over our convenience and comfort. 2. God s Word is powerful and can change lives in a short time. 3. When advancing the gospel, expect opposition. Leader Pack: Item 12: Poster: Acts 16:31 Illustrator: p. 52: Paul, the Prisoner Notes: **You may access David s Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: g ; Dates: 1/8-12 Daniel Fast; 1/13 Men:Serve; 1/23-2/27 Tues. eve The Table; 1/26 Midnight Madness; 1/28 FRC 9 / 10

10 EXPO; 2/9-10 Superstart Preteen Conf; 2/10 - IMPACT guys serve girls; 2/16 Marriage Matters; 2/24 Men:Serve; 2/25 - Parent Commitment; 2/25 World Mission Offering. 10 / 10