acts 16:16 40 commentary acts 16:16 40 commentary

And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, Let those men go. So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, The magistrates have sent to let you go. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. ( ). 24Join these men, go through the rite of purication with them, and pay for the shaving of their heads. Also, Paul and Silas legal rights were violated. And he came out the same hour. Her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone: This explains why Paul and Silas were treated so badly. b. Romans were exempt from public beatings. Shiva Puranam By Saint Manikka vasagar Translated by P.R.Ramachander (Manikka Vasagar was one of the four great Nayanmars (saivite saints ) of Tamil Nadu , who was a great poet as well as great contributor to the SAivite philosophy. Because of Deuteronomy 23:1 (see also Leviticus 21:16-23) some assume that the eunuch would have been forbidden from doing in Jerusalem what Acts says he came to do: worship. Summarize Acts 16:35-40 by explaining that the magistrates sent word to the prison guard to let Paul and Silas go. 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.. We demand that they personally come and bring us out (16:37). CONVERSION AND BAPTISM OF LYDIA. i. Bruce translates the phrase, It came out there and then. I could handle, Try not to grumble too much. Rejoice always; In everything give thanks; for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thess. That his mother was a Jewess originally, but believed in Christ; her name was Eunice, his grandmother's name was Lois. On the morning after "a great earthquake" (v. 26) strikes a city, there is much turmoil, as people assess . The great missionary David Livingstone summarized the spirit of Paul when he said, I am prepared to go anywhere, so long as it is forward. (Cited in Barclay). 33He took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household. He did not talk about sacraments or even churches. Sailing from Troas: Paul and his missionary team (now including Luke) had to sail across the Agean Sea, from the continent of Asia to the continent of Europe. I have a hunch that if most of us had gone through what Paul and Silas suffered, if we were praying at midnight it would be, God, get me out of here! I cant prove it, but I also have a hunch that Paul and Silas were not praying that way. oracles met us. Paul and Silas would not be hurried out of town until they had brought their work there to a conclusion. A demonic spirit who d. She begged us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay. Immediately, Lydia set about doing good. d. When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison: After being severely beaten, Paul and Silas were imprisoned in maximum-security conditions (commanding the jailer to keep them securely the inner prison fastened their feet in the stocks). Commentary on Acts 16:16-34. 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. But Paul wrote Second Corinthians to defend his character and his apostolic ministry. Behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy. Four lessons from Acts 16: 1. certain slave-girl who had a spirit which made her able to give And this did she many days. 2. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Do they now release us secretly? There was an old chaplain general of the British Army Bishop John Taylor Smith who used a unique test on candidates for the chaplaincy. Quite simply, it means even if something appears to be free, there's always some kind of catch. It refers to the Roman Province of Asia Minor, which is modern day Turkey. CHARACTERS: Jesus, Holy S Acts 16:1. But those vague charges were enough, because both the multitude and the magistrates were biased against Paul and Silas. No single worker in Gods kingdom is irreplaceable. Biblical Books: Acts 16. And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Our rights are not as important as our obedience to the will of God. For all they knew, they would be executed the next day, or left to die a slow death in prison. It is false teaching that Christians are exempt from the common trials that come upon the entire human race: sickness, poverty, tragedies, and death. iv. damsel Paul later wrote of his life: In labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. In this, Paul was like Jesus, who often told demons to be silent, even when they told the truth about Him (Matthew 8:28-34, Mark 3:11-12). Our responsibility in such difficult times is to trust and obey Him. 2. 326 1837 vg arm), which has been replaced in some manuscripts (45 C3 i. Paul knew that a man will be identified by both his friends and his enemies, and could do without a demonic letter of reference. See 2 Kings xxviii; Isaias viii. They were physically attacked in an inhumane way. With Paul, we should aim at doing all things for the sake of the gospel (1 Cor. iii. A certain disciple was there, named Timothy: In the time since Paul had been to Lystra, a young man named Timothy had been serving the Lord (He was well spoken of by the brethren). He was a man who had learned to focus on the Lord and His abundant grace in every situation, and so he was filled with joy in the Lord in every situation, even in severe trials. Our trials do not mean that He does not exist or that He is not loving and good. Non-citizens had no civil rights, and were subject to the whims of both the multitude and the magistrates. By Jewish law Timothy was a Jew, because he was the son of a Jewish mother, but because he was uncircumcised he was technically an apostate Jew. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. If anyone had a right to be angry, they did. i. Entered into the house of Lydia This was the place of their residence while at Philippi: see Acts 16:15.. pp. Commentary on Acts 16:35-40 (Read Acts 16:35-40) Paul, though willing to suffer for the cause of Christ, and without any desire to avenge himself, did not choose to depart under the charge of having deserved wrongful punishment, and therefore required to be dismissed in an honourable manner. a. She followed Paul and us, crying out, These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of salvation! She continued doing this for several days. ", "About midnight Paul and Silas, in jail, were praying and singing hymns to God. c. Ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas: This hardened keeper of the prison fell down trembling. Psalm 97 . DAMSEL POSSESSED MET US. If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. . We need to keep in mind that Paul and Silas did not know the end of this story when they began singing at midnight in the dungeon. Commentary on the Book of Acts Paul and Silas: Acts 16. by Ed Rickard. You can also change some of your preferences. A verse by verse study of Acts 17:1-15. without expecting opposition. Yet the Spirit of God directed this work, and Paul wasnt the right person in the right place at the right time to begin bringing the gospel to the Roman Province of Asia Minor. Many of you have experienced or will experience prejudice simply because of your racial background. Authors Vern and Bonnie Bullough write in The care of the sick: the emergence of modern nursing, that this is seen as an aspect of following Jesus' example, since so much of his public . "When it was day, the magistrates sent the police with this message: Release those men! The jailer reported these words to Paul: The magistrates have sent a message for your release; therefore come out now, and go in peace. But Paul replied with this message for the magistrates: They have flogged us publicly, without a trial, men who are Romans, and have cast us into prison. 10/13/22. A description of Philippi. The greatest blessing is His gift of salvation by His free grace. Acts 16:16. But Paul said to them, They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. Some have worried that Pauls invitation to salvation here is too easy, and would promote a too-easy faith or a cheap grace. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. [1965-73], 2:149). Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord (Phil. ACTS Acts 16:6-10 Phrygia, Bithynia, Mysia. The magistrates were sufficiently humbled, and the public at large, hearing of this circumstance, must be satisfied of the innocency of the apostles. Acts 16:13). Ephesus would come later, not now. b. a. Sirs, what must I do be saved? Some charge him with the place where he was worshipped, (which was afterwards cal 16-18. ii. certain maid having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her Timotheus] was probably of Lystra, not Derbe. Timothy had a believing mother with a Jewish background (son of a certain Jewish woman who believed), and a (presumably) unbelieving Greek father. They seized Paul and Silas: Paul and Silas were singled out not only because they were the leaders of the evangelistic group, but also by their appearance, as they were the most obviously Jewish. This girl had brought her masters much gain by fortune telling. On his first trip, he had come to the towns of Derbe and Lystra; and evidently a young fellow come to Christ. i. If our rights are violated, we dont take it sitting down. 34The jailer then brought Paul and Silas up into his house, and set food before them. 2 All the believers in Lystra and Iconium said good things about Timothy. They would have missed this great opportunity for witness. Acts 16:16. www.simplybible.com Copyright Ron Graham 2012, "As we were going to prayer, it happened that a certain slave girl met us. (Witham) --- A divining spirit, which pretended to foretell things to A fortune-telling female slave, who brought much money to her owners Paul wanted to have him go on with him. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. Under inspiration by the Holy Spirit, Paul told the keeper of the prison that his household would trust Jesus just as he did. Increasingly, our religious rights are being violated in the interest of so-called neutrality. Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that nude dancing was entitled to considerable legal protection as expressive behavior, but they struck down student elections permitting speech that might be used for prayer prior to high school football games. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers[ b] at Lystra and Iconium. He did not give him a lecture on theology. secrets, and things to come. And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. The jailer rejoiced greatly, with all his household, having believed in God. After such a bad beating, they were put in uncomfortable conditions (fastened their feet in the stocks). was no heralding of the gospel which was to transform Europe. Lydia was prospering in business; the guard was about to kill himself. He sang because prison did not matter (The Westminster Pulpit [Baker], 9:314-315). What does Acts 16:16-40 mean? First, Paul was concerned for justice for all people, and what these magistrates had done was grossly unjust. It was a strange and wonderful church they left behind in Philippi: Lydia, perhaps the slave girl, the jailer and his household, and others. One way or another, Paul and his company got the message. prayer, R.V. with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much The Gospel in Europe EXORCISM OF A POSSESSED GIRL. between Paul and Barnabas who had been close companions on the first Acts 16:40, ESV: So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia.And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed. Scripture commands us, Delight yourself in the Lord (Ps. Anyone can be happy in pleasant circumstances, but real joy comes only from within, and is a gift available to Christians at all times. a. They elected Franklin Roosevelt, and he and the Democratic Party remade America so thoroughly that it is unthinkable for all but the most doctrinaire libertarians to speak of returning to the system of "ordered liberty" that existed in Hoover's time, a . Articles, monographs and books hosted on this site by Authors with Surnames beginning with O, P and Q (Acts 16:14-15 RSV) The next step after the proclaiming of the Word of God -- the radical, revolutionary message of the gospel -- is always up to God. The content of the joint AAR/SBL annual meetings, which attract upwards of 11,000 attendees, is very revealing. 23When they had laid many blows on Paul and Silas, they threw them into prison. He asked them to say how they would speak to a man injured in battle, who had three minutes to live, how to be saved and come to peace with God. The crowd rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore the clothes off Paul and Silas, and commanded them to be beaten with rods. closing to him as in one way or another he was first hindered from TO PRAYER; the place of prayer. before, Paul was favorably impressed with the young man, Timothy, who As well, the multitude and the magistrates felt free to abuse Paul and Silas because they assumed they were not Roman citizens. _AS WE WENT TO PRAYER_] , The Oxford Bible Commentary (first (paperback) ed.). , is added here by ABCE, several others, _Origen_ and ii. : in R.V., accusative, i. Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! The demon came out that very hour. Posted: February 16, 2023. Clarke's Commentary. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. But, you cannot believe without hearing so they spoke unto him and to those in his house the word of the Lord. possessed with the devil, by whose inspiration she foretold future In everything? But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. One thing I really want to talk about is the best way to use Bible commentaries so you are actually learning how to study the Book for yourself, and not just memorizing the thoughts of the . i. Philippi was the place where the armies of Mark Antony and Octavian defeated Brutus and Cassius in the decisive battle of the second Roman civil war in 42 B.C. (Hughes) Because of this, many Roman soldiers retired in the area, and Philippi was proud of its Roman connection. (Acts 16:29-34). Why didnt Paul and Silas reveal their Roman citizenship earlier? Acts 16:14 They comforted them, and departed. Acts 16:16. med. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplaced unto the rulers. 4:12). A. This was an epoch-making moment, but how quietly it is recorded. I am using the wording of 1 Peter 4:19, which is one of two times in the New Testament God is called the Creator (Rom. So Paul went to bring Macedonia the gospel the best possible help. A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION CAST OUT So the correct text with accusative And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed. Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. Exalting Jesus in Acts (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) - GOOD Product Id:1433647095 Condition:USEDGOOD 255947117284 Yet they returned to the prison willingly to spare the jailer certain death. Greek. Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. Timothy Joins Paul and Silas. AND IT CAME TO PASS, AND WE WENT TO PRA 40 Silas was almost necessary as a companion for Paul. Roman citizens had specific, zealously guarded civil rights. ventriloquist (Ramsay). change in the fortunes of Paul and Silas. Acts 16:11-15 Samothrace, Neapolis, Philippi. His captors smashed four of his vertebrae and either cut or burned 18 holes in his body, but they could not defeat him. as we were going to prayer, there met us a certain female serv And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, Come over to Macedonia and help us. 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. i. " 20 When the slave girl's masters had brought Paul and Silas to the magistrates, they said, 'These men, who are Jews, are confusing . He drew his sword and was about to kill himself, assuming that the prisoners had escaped. THESE MEN ARE SERVANTS. Paul refused to leave because he was mistreated as a Roman citizen. Then he brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? They answered, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household. They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house. labours in that city, Lois a jewess, her daughter Eunice, and Timothy And, they were then locked into the stocks, which was a painful torture in and of itself, let alone when your back was ripped open from a beating. Both heard the gospel and believed, and through each of them their whole families were touched! Save yourselves, &c. That is, "See that you lay these things to heart; receiving them with such regard, as the importance of the case requires. The more difficult reading appears to be pu,qwna (74 a A B C* D* 81 We note with interest that the Holy Spirit actually forbade Paul to do something we normally think of as good preaching Gods Word to those who need it. This moved Paul and his missionary team from the continent of Asia to the continent of Europe; this was the first missionary endeavor to Europe. This shows how repentant he was and how he followed the example of love shown by Paul and Silas. Acts 16:12-40 _possessed with a spirit of divination_ Greek, We see another reason why the Spirit did not permit them to go into Bithynia. spiritum Hollywood, FL. spirit of divination met us, who brought her abs._ Clarke's Commentary. Maybe youre wondering, Does trusting God mean that we should never stand up for our rights? The Extension of the Church to Juda and Samaria (Acts 8:4 to Acts 11:18)The Christians, scattered by persecution, preach everywhere through Judaea and Samaria. EXEGESIS: THE CONTEXT: This is Paul's Second Missionary Journey (49-52 A.D.) as recorded in Acts 15:30 - 18:21. He fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. They have violated our rights as Roman citizens. Like the children of Israel in the wilderness, they think that they would be happier back in slavery in Egypt than to be with God and His provision in the wilderness. Wise, I: NEW /E OF THE BABYLONIAN TALMU. We will protest, we may sue, well write to our congressman, take courses in assertiveness training, or whatever it takes to get our rights. | Topics Timothy lived there. 16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. So many professing Christians are grumbling, discontented people. THE HEALING OF THE GIRL POSSESSED WITH THE PYTHON SPIRIT (16:16-18). Their rights had been violated. Upon learning this, the magistrates were filled with fear, because it was a grave offense to treat Roman citizens as Paul and Silas had been treated. When they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them: Only after this did they agree to go. We are next introduced to an incident which led to a decided 25About midnight Paul and Silas, in jail, were praying and singing hymns to God. There was certainly nothing wrong with Pauls desire to preach the word in Asia; but it wasnt Gods timing, so this was forbidden by the Holy Spirit. Luke reported that the group went for prayer, possibly daily. SPIRIT OF DIVINATION; an evil spirit, under the influence of which she If I radiate His joy because I have entrusted my soul to Him, the faithful Creator, then even when Im wrongly treated, He will be glorified and others will be drawn to the Savior. 4. It actually says, She had a spirit of Pythona. That does not mean much to most of us, which is why it is not translated literally. They trusted that He had another purpose in mind, and so He did, namely, the conversion of the jailer and his family. real possession, and that St. Paul himself considered it in th AT PHILLIPPI. the place of prayer, Acts 16:13. As I mentioned last week, any time that your rights have been violated and you have been mistreated, you are probably looking at a wonderful opportunity for bearing witness of Christ. 1:4 ). They came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city: The magistrates acted as politicians often act by instinct. But at this point, Paul says, No way! 4:13). A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION CAST OUT BY ST PAUL. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. to set aside Jewish prejudice. His mother was Jewish and a believer. 19Now when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them to the marketplace to face the rulers. (Acts 16:16-19). change in the fortunes of Paul and Silas. We see His mighty power here in the earthquake that rocked this prison. The other prisoners were listening to them. The Roman emperor Claudius had expelled the Jews from Rome in A.D. 49. It is mandatory for all who know His salvation. We may assume here t Acts 16:16. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and Califo More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. I wish that Paul had said, Rejoice in the Lord as a general rule. But, always? But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily?