THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
CHAPTER 16
Paul directed in a vision to preach in Macedonia—He casts an evil spirit out of a woman—He and Silas are imprisoned, and convert the jailor—They admonish all to believe on the Lord Jesus and be saved.
1 THEN came he to Derbe and Lystra: and,
behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, [Timothy] the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess,
and believed; but his father was a Greek:
3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and
took and circumcised him [Why
does he take Timothy and get him circumcised when he did not require
Titus to be circumcised - and he knew full well that it was not required? Gal
2: 1-5 The answer might be that he knew that required or not Timothy
would be a much more effective missionary - the people would listen better
it they did not have an objection to the fact that he was not circumcised.
Is this a case of it is better for one man to suffer than a whole nation
dwendle in unbelief.] because
of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his [Timothy's] father
was a Greek.
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.
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, [Why
do you suppose they were forbidden to teach the gospel in Asia - thought
that God was no respecter of persons? It
may well be that they were not forbidden but rather the Lord knew the
people were better prepared and would be more receptive in Macedonia]
7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
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 [Acts
is written by Luke - So since he is using we here one could assume that
Luke has joined up with Paul and Timotheus at least for a short period
of time - after vs 17 the narrative returns to the third person. again.] endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had
called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
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,
[is famous for two battles, fought between the imperial
army, commanded by Octavianus, afterwards Augustus, and Mark Antony, and the
republican army, commanded by Brutus and Cassius, in which these were successful;
and a second, between Octavianus and Antony on the one part, and Brutus
on the other. In this battle the republican troops were cut to pieces, after
which Brutus killed himself.] which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a
colony: [usually Paul goes directly to the synagogue
to preach , but here he goes to a colony. Why? Well
the city would have been populated by Roman soldiers and typically would
not have had a synagogue as it was predominately gentile, so with no
synagogue the Jews would meet in small groups so Paul is trying to make
contact with these smaller groups or colonies. ] and
we were in that city abiding certain days.
13 And on the sabbath we went out
of the city by a river side, [Most likely
the origin of the great spiritual hymn we so often hear in christian
churches came from "Let us gather at the river"] where
prayer was wont to be made; [The proseucha was
a place of prayer, or a place used for worship, where there was no synagogue.
It was a large building uncovered, with seats, as in an amphitheatre.] and
we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. [What
has happened here? Well most likely this is before the time of their
public worship, and while they were waiting for the assembling of the people
in general; and Paul improved the opportunity to speak concerning Christ and
salvation to the women that resorted thither.]
14 ¶ And a certain woman named Lydia,
[she seems to be the leader of the other women] a
seller of purple, [The Greek word 'porphura',
which refers to purple and the purple fish, a species of shell fish or
mussel from which the dye colour is derived. The mussel was ground to
a very fine powder to make the dye. This species was relatively rare
and thus the purple dye was very valuable - hence it was associated
with royality. So knowing this we can assume that Lydia was quite successful,
and used to dealing with prominent people.] 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. [Lydia was most likely a strong willed woman]
16 ¶ And it came to pass, as
we went to prayer, [to a prayer meeting, an appointed
meeting to worship] a certain damsel possessed
with a spirit of divination [What
is divination? Well
if true religion provides for revelation of future events voiced by prophets
as received from God - then divination is the imitation by false religion
to attempt to foretell the future and imitate the prophets of God] met
us, which brought her masters much gain by asoothsaying:
[Those who practice divination in whatever form - they
are Satans subsitiutes for a seer or a prophet. They foretell the future
by power received from the devil.]
17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men
are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of
salvation. [The damsel responds - yes these men are men of God - we
are united on that front - we beleive the same things and since we do
come on and follow us. There was a like circumsatnce in Luke 4:41 where
Jesus would not let the evil spirits he cast out even testify as we wanted
to part of them drawing an association with him.]
18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
19 ¶ And when her masters saw that the hope of their
gains was gone, [now she could not fortell the future
- the money machine was closed - they were through - Do you suppose
they were upset? What do people do when they get mad? THey
want to get even - they want revenge.] they
caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into
the marketplace unto the rulers,
20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21 And teach customs, which are not
lawful for us to receive, [Note that Gods laws
are subject to mans laws - How common is that?
Whos laws are they currently under? Roman law] neither
to observe, being Romans.
22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the
magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. [The
magistrates made a big mistake here, which shows they were most likely
corrupt as well. What mistake did the magistrates
make? They
judged Paul and Silas as Jews not even bothering to ask if they are Roman
citizens. Roman citizens are required by law to an impartial trail and
to an appeal process as well before any judgment is to be rendered.]
23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 ¶ And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: [What kind of person stands up and sings praises in the middle of their trials? What would they have to KNOW in order to act that way? What do we learn about real saints when they are in a trial? 1) THey were following the inspiration of the spirit and that is what got them here in the first place, 2) If they are doing the right things then their is a Father in Heaven will not let anything happen to them that is not for their won good or for his own good 3) THey would have a firm testimoney that Jesus is the Christ 4) that Jesus was ressurrected and that we will live again 5) tha he sufferred for our sins so that we might live with him again - So as the saints who crossed the priares said and should we die before our journeys through - all is well all is well. IN otherwords, their testimonies were not shaken one bit - they knew the power of the Lord and if he wanted to free them they would be freed. The walls of the prison are not obsticles to the Lords work.] and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep,
and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and
would have killed himself, [because the prison
contained prisoners who had committed capital crimes the jailer knew he would
be put to death so he feels that it was better for him to committ suicide] supposing
that the prisoners had been fled.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do
thyself no harm: [Paul conforts the jailor - we
aren't going anywhere. So he has just saved him in a temporal sense by keeping
him from committing suicide.] for we are all here.
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
31 And they said, Believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ, [belief is really just
the first step - because in vs 33 he is baptised as well ] and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
33 And he [Paul] took
them [the guard and his family] the same
hour of the night, and washed their stripes;
and was baptized, [and baptised
them everyone] he
and all his, straightway.
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set
meat before them, and rejoiced, believing
in God with all his house. [they were converted,
the guard and his family]
35 And when it was day, the magistrates
sent the serjeants, [note that the magistrates
send someone else, they don't readly want t o get any more mixed up in this
than they alredy are. THey are hoping that Paul and Silas will just be happy
to be free and will depart quitely - that is what they are hoping for.] saying,
Let those men go.
36 And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
37 But Paul said unto them, They
have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans,
[Paul says you guys did not do a very good thing when
you beat us openly as we too are Roman citizens. We are entitled to a
fair trial - and it does not matter that you did not ask if we were Romans,
but we are and we know our rights.] and
have cast us into
prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? [they
just want to tell them they are free to go - but they are doing it privately] nay
verily; [Paul will not
have anything to do with that - I want to talk to the manager...] but
let them come themselves and fetch us out. [You
tell the magistrate to personaly come down here and let us out. While
that sounds pretty brazen - What reason
do you suppose that Paul would require just as formal release as he had
in the sentencing? 1) He has gained a little power
so to speak - he has something to hang over the heads of the corrupt
city officials, 2) He is preparing the way for them to treat Pauls converts
a little better in the future. 3) If Paul just slipped away quitely then
the magistrates could spead a roomer that Paul had escaped - but by causing
the magistrate to free them openly he will have no choice but to admit
that he had done wrong. Thus providing Paul with some local power. 4)
He might be protecting the jailer whom he had just converted. Was he
trying to insure that nothing would happen to him even though Paul had
escaped.]
38 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates:
and they
feared, [oh dear! we blew it - they knew it to] when
they heard that they were Romans.