Acts 16
2nd Missionary Journey – Part 1
Pushing the envelop by entering into regions where the gospel had never been preached seemed to be the characteristics of the Apostle Paul. It is impressive how this style of leadership attracts other brave men as well. This chapter will relate the mobilizing of new converts to reach out to the world.
I. Recruiting of Timothy (16:1-5)
16:1-3 Timothy was from Lystra where Paul had preached maybe a year earlier (1 Tim 1:2), though his mother and grand mother knew the Lord (2 Tim 1:5)
· Mother was Jewish and father was Greek
· His established reputation drew Paul to choose him for a teammember.—most people go into the ministry by being recruited and mentored, not because of a mystical feeling.
· Timothy is circumcised in order to minister to Jews (Note: he was Jewish)
o Later Titus is not compelled to be circumcised because he was Greek (Gal 2:3-5) – This was a doctrinal Issue.
o The case of Timothy was a ministry issue to the Jews.
o The Jerusalem Council made it clear that circumcision was not necessary for salvation (Acts 15:10-11, 19)
16:4 The message of a non-Jewish, grace-motivated salvation was announced in every town.
· Galatians was written sometime between the Antioch incident – Jerusalem Council – and the post-council ministry in Antioch.
16:5 PROGRESS REPORT (usually brings a section to a close)
· Churches strengthened and increased in number daily.
· A different word is used for “strengthened” (estereounto, “being made solid or firm”). The earlier word (episterizo, “strengthen”) is used in 14:22; 15:32, 41)
II. The Reaching Out to Europe (16:6—19:20)
16:6-7 Paul’s initiatives were stopped by God twice. Note: Paul did not wait for divine instruction, nor get discouraged when God made it clear that twice Paul had chosen wrongly.
· Paul first attempted to go west into Asia, but God stopped him – God’s plan was for Asia to hear the gospel through Paul’s disciples from Ephesus (Acts 19:11)
· Paul then attempted to go North to Mysia and Bithinia on the S. of the Black Sea, but God stopped him again – These people would be the disciples of Peter (1 Pet 1:1).
o How God made it clear that the direction was wrong is not clear: circumstances, revelation, a vision, etc. Whatever it was, Paul recognized it as from God.
16:8-10 Paul goes W. to the coast of the Aegean Sea at Troas.
· The vision of the Macedonian man was not a “call” but an understanding of potential ministry they evidently had not considered.
· Paul’s response was immediate – How quickly do you respond to a challenge or opportunity for ministry?
· “had called us….” – refers to the “calling” of God in salvation – Paul is describing his sense of destiny and fulfillment of God’s eternal plan.
A. Ministry at Philippi (16:11-40)
· The trip across the Aegean Sea was quick (in reverse direction later it would take 5-days (Acts 20:6).
· Note: the change in person of the narrative: “WE” is used meaning the author has joined the team.
Lydia
16:12 Paul walked the 10 miles from the coast to Philippi, which was named after Philip of Macedon. In BC 42 Anthony and Octavian defeated brutus and Cassius, the assassins of Julius Caesar, near Philippi. Later Octavian became the first Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus in BC 27, and encouraged colonists, especially soldiers\
16:13 The fact that the Jews were meeting in the open air indicates that there were not enough Jews to begin a synagogue, which required 10 adult Jewish males. The place of prayer was just over a mile west of town.
16:14 Lydia, a seller of purple cloth, was a worshipper of God (Yahweh), but not Jesus. “The Lord opened her heart” (as in Luke 24:45) to respond to Paul’s message. Note: this is not regeneration, but his “drawing” and “convicting”.
16:15 Lydia and her household were baptized
· Others converted with their household: Cornelius (10:24, 44); Philippian jailer (16:31); Crispus (18:8); Aristobulus (Rom 16:10); Narcissus (Rom 16:11) and Stephanas (1 Cor 1:16).
· Obviously quite wealthy with a considerable household and room for four men (apostolic team) (16:40).
Demonic Slave Girl
16:16-18 “possessed with a spirit of divination” NKJ: NET Bible Note: Grk "who had a spirit of Python." According to BDAG 896-97 s.v. pu,qwn, originally Pu,qwn (PuthoÒn) was the name of the serpent or dragon that guarded the Delphic oracle. According to Greek mythology, it lived at the foot of Mount Parnassus and was killed by Apollo. From this, the word came to designate a person who was thought to have a spirit of divination. Pagan generals, for example, might consult someone like this. So her presence here suggests a supernatural encounter involving Paul and her "spirit."
· Demons take advantage of people’s desire to worship with false Gods:
o NKJ Acts 17:23 "for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you:
o NKJ 1 Corinthians 10:20 Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.
· Demons appear to support true religion, but only confuse and deceive people
o “shouting” is imperfect progressive, “kept on shouting”
o “Most high God” from her lips probably understood as Zeus.
o “way to be saved” is anarthorus: “a way…”
o “after many days…” -- Was this patience or mere distraction?
o “greatly annoyed” is aorist, but an ingressive aorist: “became greatly annoyed”
o NKJ 2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
· Demons are exorcised or cast out with authority: “I command you to come out”
o The only instruction for how to deal with demonic influence:NKJ James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
o In Acts these sites show deliverance over demons (8:9-24; 13:6-12; 19:13-20)
Arrest of Paul and Silas then the conversion of jailor (16:19-34)
16:19-21 Greed for money is behind most persecution either directly or indirectly. How do you respond when someone interferes with your income?
· In two places in Acts Paul was punished by Gentiles (Philippi and Ephesus (19:23-41) and both were related to someone loosing money due to conversions.
· It was easy to provoke the authorities to persecute because Emperor Claudius had expelled the Jews from Rome (18:2, Aquilla and Pricilla had fled Rome for Corinth). Anti-semitism is easily contagious. – This may explain why Timothy (half-Gentile) and Luke were not taken.
· Romans allowed freedom of religion, but not proselytizing citizens
· Civil leaders still could not distinguish between Judaism and Christianity (18:14-15) so the open preaching in the public was seen as a violation of imperial law.
16:22 Beaten and imprisoned— (“beaten” KJV, rhabdizo, “beat with a rod”)
16:23-24 “had laid many stripes on them” meaning that they were severely beaten.
· 2 Cor 11:25, “Three times I was beaten with a rod…”
· The orders were to guard them securely so they were put in a dungeon with their feet locked in a secure fashion.
16:25 Paul and Silas singing in prison (Psa 42:8, “at night His song is with me”) – a powerful testimony to other prisoners.
16:26 Divine deliverance from prison similar to Peter’s (5:18-20; 12:3-11) but no one leaves.
16:27-28 Jailor attempts suicide for neglect of duty (as soldiers were killed who allowed Peter to escape: 12:19). Paul assures him that everyone is secure.
16:29-30 The jailor fell at Paul’s feet trembling (an indicator of the level of fear that gripped everyone in the Roman system. The impact of the conversion of Lydia and the slave girl, then seeing the men of God in horrible conditions made evident they knew the truth.
16:31-32 “What must I do to be saved? Are the sweetest words ever heard. The answer was to only believe.
· “and your household” has provoked the “Covenant Theology” to teach that when one person is converted in a household, eventually everyone will be saved. Also this is seen to means that babies should be baptized since they undoubtedly were part of the household. – One should never make the Scriptures say what it doesn’t say.
16:33-34 Jailor washed Paul’s wounds and Paul baptized his jailor
16:35-40 Paul and Silas’ release from prison.
· Returned to jail by their jailor
· What changed the minds of the Roman authorities is unstated, but their Roman citizenship was highly valued. Why had Paul not mentioned it earlier? No Roman citizen was to be beaten with rods and always had the option of a public hearing, both of which were denied him. The authorities were in jeopardy.
· Paul demanded that the authorities escort them
· Paul and Silas entered the home of Lydia (16:15) and encouraged the believers before departing.
· The narration changes back from “we” (16:40) to “they” (16:37) meaning that Luke stayed at Philippi.