ACTS

ACTS 16

• Acts 16:1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: 
• 2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. 
• 3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek. 

The fact that they were willing to have this done in order to keep the peace of God with the Jews is a sign of being perfect in love. Paul was not saying that he secretly believed one had to be circumcised to be saved but he was trying to keep the unity of spirit in the bond of peace. We can compromise in non essentials but not on sound doctrine where the gospel could be harmed if one compromises. The letter to the Galatians written by Paul to preach against Jews spying out the liberty of Gentile Christians and compelling them to add to their salvation by being circumcised, is a good one to read on the what really is the way to one's salvation. 

Paul says that in Christ it doesn't really matter because we are saved by grace and not by outward works or religious rituals. True salvation will bring forth a life of holiness in the believer but one is not saved by just deciding to live holy in their own strength without receiving Jesus as savior. Living holy doesn't make one more saved but it does reflect what has taken place in the heart when one is saved. Circumcision though has nothing to do with our salvation one way or another.  It is good only for health reasons. It was given as a sign of the covenant between Israel and God but through Christ is a new covenant with them. The new covenant replaces the old one.  

• Acts 16:4 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. 
• 5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. 

This is exciting to hear. Churches were established in the faith and increased in number daily. They must have had church every day. If we hear of large numbers coming to Christ and it isn't our particular group, we should rejoice with them and pray that it spread to everywhere. Notice that these people became Christians by the spirit of God. They were what is called being "born again" by God's spirit. This was not a forced conversion to the religion of Christianity that we read of in the Middle ages. If we use force, the person being made a Christian has not truly been saved or born again. He or she is merely making an outward confession that has no effect on the soul. Any religion that uses force cannot save the soul from hell or change anyone's life. If we have to use force, the conversion is a sham. It is not real.

Notice though that church growth in the book of Acts was not all in one place making a big mega church but the growth spread outward. Planting new churches were in houses mostly because they didn't have buildings yet. Some may have started in synagogues but the growth didn't stay in one place. However, the type of building or no building was not the church.The church (Assembly or congregation) were the people that received Jesus Christ into their lives; it is not a building.

• Acts 16:6 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, 

We do not know for sure why the gospel was at first forbidden to them but the words below may have something to do with it. I'm sure it doesn't mean that they never would be able to have the gospel or it would be in opposition to what Jesus said when He told the disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel The seven churches mentioned in Revelation were in Asia so we know they eventually received the gospel. 

• Acts 16:7 After they were come to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. 

Actually if we get to the place where we can walk in the spirit, we would have more success. There seems to be a right time and a wrong time for going certain places. Some are ready to receive the gospel but in other places, the time may not be quite right. God will prepare hearts ahead of time to receive the gospel.  

• Acts 16:8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 
• 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 endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. 

Here we can see that perhaps there may be a simple reason why they were forbidden to go to Asia. The timing was wrong because Macedonia was the place the Holy Spirit desired to send them next. 

• Acts 16:11 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; 
• 12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. 
• 13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
• 14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, 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. 

This lady had the gift of hospitality and helps. She desired to give the preachers of the gospel a place to dwell. Her reward most probably will be the same as those that were preaching. Notice also that this lady worshipped God but still was one that needed to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. Worshipping God without the knowledge of Christ is not enough. Jesus is the way of salvation because of His death for sins and His resurrection from the dead showing us the way to eternal life is only through faith in Him. He was the Christ, the Messiah and the only way to God.
Lydia and her household were baptized and received the apostles into her home showing her love for God and those that preach the gospel. 

• Matthew 10:41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 
• 42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. 

God rewards those that treat His servants with kindness. Judgment also will come upon those that treat them with cruelty.

• Acts 16:16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 
• 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation. 

This testimony was true but it was from Satan in a mocking way which would turn people away from the message of the truth rather than attract people to the gospel. 

• Acts 16:18 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, 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, 

I wish all of us who truly believed would indeed trouble our cities with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Notice that these were using the fact that they were Jews to further accuse them. Their motive though was that when that girl was healed their finances were in danger of drying up. People that use other people for gain do not care for the soul of the person they are using. 

• Acts 16:21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. 

They probably wouldn't have cared whether or not this was true if their pocket books had not been hurt. Yet their reasoning to stir up trouble against the disciples could work because people do not like to give up their traditions. Especially religious traditions that have been observed for centuries. 

• Acts 16:22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 

Usually when a mob is stirred up about a matter, it is usually the mob that is in the wrong. Mob violence is never right no matter what the protest is over. 

• Acts 16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer 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: and the prisoners heard them. 

Think for a minute here. They had just been stripped of clothing and beaten severely. I'm sure they were hurting. Not only that. Their feet were in stocks so that they could not move about. They couldn't go to the bathroom. Here these men are, not demanding their rights, neither were they murmuring or complaining and they had a lot to complain about. They were praying. That much is understandable but they were not praying for deliverance. They were actually singing praises to God. 

• Acts 16:26 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. 

He inhabits our praises. being thankful and praising God really seems to open doors literally. 

• Acts 16:27 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, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 

If prisoners escape they would be executed anyway so he planned to kill himself instead. 

• Acts 16:28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 

Since Paul used to work for the other side, he knew what would have happened to those guards if he would have escaped. Here God made a way for him to escape but he preferred to save the life and the soul of this guard. That is what I call a Christian in deed and in truth. He cared more for his fellowman than for himself. Now we may wonder why we do not see signs and wonders like the apostles did. It is not because the gifts have ceased and God quit healing, it is because we don't have this same love and dedication that they had to the spread of the gospel. Also we have a lot of traditional teaching of unbelief by those that claim the gifts ceased when the apostles died.

• Acts 16:29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 
• 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 

This is the greatest question that any person could ever ask. 

• Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 

Here is the simple gospel in a nut shell. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. To believe means to believe in, to partake of and to accept the word of the person you believe in. If I say I believe in Jesus Christ and I never desire to listen to a word He says or desire to read  word he said, then I may believe that he exists as a person but I don't really believe in Him. To believe in something means to give yourself to that something. 

Paul could see by the sprit that if this man would simply believe, he not only would be saved himself but his whole household would come to this great salvation. Christ would make such a change in this one's life that his family and friends will not be able to resist the new spirit which would fill him. He would be different. Sometimes the gospel will cause the opposite and a family will reject the faith and cause trouble over it but we must put Christ first even if our family opposes our faith in Christ. In this case though Paul saw through the spirit of God that their whole family would be saved. This scripture must not be taken out of context to apply to all who have a family. If a family member rejects Christ of course they are not going to be saved but we must exercise faith and not give up on them, for sooner or later they may come to Christ if we continue in the faith and not turn back on the Lord out of fear. 

• Acts 16:32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 

We can't just tell people about Jesus and not disciple them or expound the word. A true convert will want to hear all we have to say about the Lord that saved them from sin. 

• Acts 16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 

The guard took them home, tended their wounds, then the man was baptized and his household was also baptized. 

• Acts 16:34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. 

There is joy in finding Jesus Christ and forsaking all things to believe in Him. 

• Acts 16:35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, 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. 

I believe God worked this out. Paul and Silas could have left when the earthquake opened the jail for them but they didn't. After the conversion of the guard, they still could have left. I'm sure the guard would not have insisted they return to the jail with him. Paul knew though that he could not just leave or the guard would be accountable for their absence. Now we see another side of Paul. He was stubborn indeed. He still wouldn't just go. We must remember that Paul use to arrest people who believed in the Lord and he knew that the guards could be put to death if they allowed the prisoners to just escape. Paul seemed to be a very wise and compassionate person. 

• Acts 16:37 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? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. 

Another thought also is that Paul wanted to make sure that the higher authorities were consenting to their release so that the jailer would not be liable if this release was not official. 

• Acts 16:38 And the sergeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans. 

If they were Jews only, they had nothing to fear from the Roman authorities but if they were Roman citizens, they might be in big trouble. 

• Acts 16:39 And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city. 

They wanted them out or their jurisdiction and to wash their hands of the whole affair. 

• Acts 16:40 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. 

We see again this woman providing comfort and relief to those who had suffered for the cause of the gospel. 

This is how the body of Christ should work. Each one doing his or her part to further the cause of the gospel. One may be a help, one may be one that gives and another may preach the gospel. 

DC

Acts 17