Although I have not verified it, I have heard that the most frequent command in the entire Bible is, Sing! And you cant rightly obey the command to praise God and sing for joy unless your heart is full of joy in Him. VII. . Her masters made a lot of money from her power. 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. The demonic spirit knows that the presence and power of God is with the missionaries. He drew his sword and was about to kill himself, assuming that the prisoners had escaped. And yet the same mighty power that sent the quake could have prevented the beating and imprisonment in the first place, but did not. The miraculous conversion of the jailer to the faith of Christ (v. 25-34). When you are wronged, entrust your soul to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. As we went to prayer Or to the place of prayer, mentioned before; a certain damsel met us (that is, met Paul and his three companions) possessed with a spirit of divination Greek, , having a spirit of Python, or Apollo. But those vague charges were enough, because both the multitude and the magistrates were biased against Paul and Silas. SEPARATOR CAPACITY, 5,000 LB. the place where he was worshipped, (which was afterwards cal 16-18. He was told, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Paul later wrote of his life: In labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. The solution will come, as I said, when the races regard the Jewish problem as a humanitarian problem but also when the Jew does his share of understanding, love and right action. He knew that by making them come and personally apologize and escort them out of prison, word would spread through the community of what had happened. An earthquake opened the prison doors and caused all the shackles to fall off. www.simplybible.com Copyright Ron Graham 2012, "As we were going to prayer, it happened that a certain slave girl met us. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. His mother was a Jew who had become a believer in Jesus. Studying Acts 16 11-15, 40. a. It seemed as if nothing would make them stop praising God. Scripture commands us, Delight yourself in the Lord (Ps. The accusing and abusing of Paul and Silas for it, their imprisonment, and the indignities done them (v. 19-24). Therefore, a most important element in evangelism is asking God through prayer to open hearts, for without this there can be no genuine conversion. 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. Greek. ACTS A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION CAST OUT BY ST PAUL. One way or another, Paul and his company got the message. Today, much of what fortune-tellers and psychics do is only a money making sham. The places specially mentioned are Samaria, Azotus, Caesarea, Lydda, the Sharon valley, and Joppa. CHAPTER 16 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans. iv. TIMOTHY WORKS WITH PAUL AND SILAS, 16:1-5 Acts 16:16-24. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily. The jailer rejoiced greatly, with all his household, having believed in God. The demon knew who When you answered the call of God, you were excited and energized about the possibility of service. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. Why didnt Paul and Silas reveal their Roman citizenship earlier? 16 Paul[ a] came also to Derbe and to Lystra. This shows Gods provision, because John Mark and Barnabas just left Paul (Acts 15:36-41). THE PRISON OF HIS PRAISES. 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. they were (James 2:19). 15. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers[ b] at Lystra and Iconium. Click on the different category headings to find out more. TANSTAAFL is an acronym for the old adage, "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch," reportedly coined by Robert Heinlein. So the magistrates came begging to Paul and Silas. SPIRIT OF DIVINATION; an evil spirit, under the influence of which she There are still those today who are possessed with a spirit of divination. And fifty days after the Passover, the second major Jewish feast, the Feast of Pentecost, or the Feast of Ingathering. Home A description of Philippi. " 1 Paul came to Derbe and Lystra. This verse must refer to a different occ _aor. Paul and Silas show us four aspects of a right response to wrong treatment. 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. He did not discuss the spiritual terminology of the jailer. Overcoming any obstacle that is presented, they go about proclaiming to the world that Jesus died and was raised so that all could Continue reading "Commentary on Acts 16:16-34" Compare Mark 3:12; Luke 4:34-35. There were at least two reasons. "About midnight Paul and Silas, in jail, were praying and singing hymns to God. Paul is accompanied by Silas (15:37-38), and they are later joined by young Mark (16:1). 1. A with ABCD. Acts 1:8 Commentary; Acts 20:17-27 Commentary; Acts 20:28-38 Commentary; COMMENTARIES AND OTHER RESOURCES THAT CAN BE BORROWED FROM ARCHIVE.ORG. The honourable discharge of Paul and Silas by the magistrates (v. 35-40). Now therefore depart, and go in peace: If Paul and Silas were released the day after their beating, arrest, and imprisonment, why did God send the earthquake? her son, had embraced the faith. William Carey wanted to go to Polynesia, but God sent him to India. i. He fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Paul and Silas in Prison. (dep.) (Acts 16:25-28). Acts does not say. They always are, of course! In this section of Acts, Paul and Silas are arrested, beaten, and imprisoned for delivering the slave-girl from her demonic possession, and they (Paul and Si. Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city. On his first trip, he had come to the towns of Derbe and Lystra; and evidently a young fellow come to Christ. O, but he did! ii. Timothy's father, however, was a Greek. The miraculous conversion of the jailer to the faith of Christ, ver 25-34. But the overflow of their worship was witness. As G. Campbell Morgan observes, He did not sing because he was to be let out of prison. ii. Their rights had been violated. Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 2:40. ACTS 16:35-40. Yet they returned to the prison willingly to spare the jailer certain death. God guides us along the way, to just the right place. Just because God is the omnipotent Creator does not mean that He will spare you from intense trials. And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divinationc met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 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. (Witham) --- A divining spirit, which pretended to foretell things to A fortune-telling female slave, who brought much money to her owners Ephesus would come later, not now. Paul and Silas show us four aspects of a right response to wrong treatment. while Judas and Silas were to confirm them by word of mouth. 26Suddenly there was a great earthquake which shook the prison to its foundations. Others refuse to preach repentance, claiming that this text says that it is not necessary. c. You and your household: This seems to be a specific promise for that Philippian jailer. 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 . You can also change some of your preferences. But, you cannot believe without hearing so they spoke unto him and to those in his house the word of the Lord. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. Acts 16:25-40 (ESV) 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. Paul cried, "Do thyself no harm: for we are all here." They would have missed this great opportunity for witness. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. This should be rendered as in above OF DIVINATION; or, of Python, the name of Apollo, from Articles, monographs and books hosted on this site by Authors with Surnames beginning with B part. b. I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her: Jesus cast out demons with His own authority. Paul and Silas, their rights having been violated and their backs torn open, their feet in the stocks and locked in the dark inner prison, were praying and singing hymns of praise to God at midnight (16:25)! , . _Into the_ _proseucha_: Acts 16:13, and Luke 6:12. God knows what He is doing when he says, No.. And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Most certainly not! And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: In Troas, God made Pauls direction clear. Most certainly not! For though the Greek noun here is without Clarke's Commentary. and from thence to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the first Let them come themselves and release us. ", "The sergeants reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. Its still possible for a type of Macedonian Man to give an unusual call to serve God in a distant place. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. a. Immediately all the doors were opened, and everyones bonds were loosed. between Paul and Barnabas who had been close companions on the first c. Ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas: This hardened keeper of the prison fell down trembling. b. ⤓(4) Acts 16:16 to 28:31 (pdf). And the prisoners were listening to them: What a strange sound this was to the other prisoners! 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." 18 She kept this up for many days. When we were on our way to the place of prayer.. it happened that a And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city. Their charges were vague, simply accusing Paul and Silas of being troublemakers. But we will be treated wrongly, at work and at home. Peter echoes this: But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation (1 Pet. labours in that city, Lois a jewess, her daughter Eunice, and Timothy When that happens, its important to respond the way Paul and his team did. They charged the jailer to keep them safely. He told the Colossians, Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake (Col. 1:24). certain maid having. 4:13). which Paul witnessed. By Dr. Philip W. McLarty. Further, there was racial prejudice behind these false charges. _for _Lystra, _A.V._; Timothy _for _Timotheus, _A.V._; of a Jewess b. Tap a Lookup below to generate a list oflessons. The fact is, most of us as Americans have never experienced any serious violation of our religious rights. Acts 16:1 - Timotheus; Acts 16:10 - we Lord had . I'll try to post some notes on that . Paul insisted that Titus, a Gentile co-worker, did not have to be circumcised (Galatians 2:3-5). Acts 16:40 Parallel Verses [ See commentary ] Acts 16:40, NIV: After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia's house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them.Then they left. _And he came also _for _then came he, _A.V._ _and T.R. He devised the plan of salvation and sovereignly chose certain individuals to salvation before the foundation of the world ( Eph. As well, this may have even been the same guard who beat them a few hours earlier. V1 Paul went to Derbe and then he went to Lystra. Do they now release us secretly? We demand that they personally come and bring us out (16:37). Luke reported that the group went for prayer, possibly daily. i. Paul began this missionary journey having come from Antioch. ACTS 16 COMMENTARY. b. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. May God enable us all, when we are mistreated, to imitate these men of God in entrusting our souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right! a. Acts 16:40. They were assumed guilty without a hearing or trial. We do not know firsthand the true meaning of the word persecution. Perhaps some of you may have felt ostracized at work or have been passed over for a promotion because you are a Christian. And immediately he and all his family were baptized: The jailer and his family saw no reason to delay baptism; they were baptized that very night, and all this began around midnight (Acts 16:25). Intro: Having lost in a fire virtually everything they owned, the Spafford family made new plans, including a move from Chicago to France.Horatio Spafford planned the trip for his wife and four daughters to be as trouble-free as possible. of prayer._ (See Note on Acts 16:13.) This girl had brought her masters much gain by fortune telling. The demon-possessed girl keeps bothering Paul and his group "for many days" (16:18). All doors seemed to be _._ Beyer, 45f. Or, as James wrote, Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance (James 1:2-3). the article it is clearly to be rendered as in the previous verse. PREACHING ON THE SABBATH AT PHILIPPI. The response of Jesus in the following verses also indicates that He did not . MUCH PROFIT BY FORTUNE-TELLING. They were whipped and put in the inner prison with chains on their feet. This is how God wants our lives to be: Natural magnets drawing people to Him. And he brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? So they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household. Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. Yet Jesus said that some demons would be more difficult to cast out than others (Matthew 17:21). Now 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. Prayers and praises unto God at midnight, in the midst of a brutal prison. We see another reason why the Spirit did not permit them to go into Bithynia. Oxford University Press. 3 Paul wanted Timothy as a companion on his journey. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, Do yourself no harm, for we are all here. Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. He also wrote to the Philippians, Do all things without grumbling or disputing (Phil. the place of prayer, Acts 16:13. But Paul could not land in Europe in the power of the Holy Spirit b. And she prevailed upon us. Acts 16:13). Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great (Matt. Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. God wanted Paul and his team to go to Troas and pick up a doctor named Luke. Acts 16:12. Suddenly there was a great earthquake which shook the prison to its foundations. For the Philippian jailer, Paul did not direct him to counseling. A jailer was charged to watch them. frequently, and the party comes to be known. At Lystra he found Commentary on the Book of Acts Paul and Silas: Acts 16. by Ed Rickard. iii. Now, they found Timothy gro WE WERE MET BY A SLAVE GIRL. The real issue, when youre treated wrongly, is, Do you trust in a sovereign, omnipotent God who could have prevented this situation if He had so willed?