Acts, Chapter 16

1
Lesson 24

• Acts, Chapter 16

2
Time Frame (Acts 16)

• Pauls second missionary journey, covered in Acts
  1540 Acts 141822
• Second missionary journey covered about 4 years.
  A.D. 50-54.
• The Macedonian churches were established during
  this time.
• At the close of this tour, Paul and Barnabas sail
  to Caeserea (1822)

3
Pauls Second Missionary Journey(Acts 1540
1822)50-54 A.D.
MACEDONIA
Amphipolis
Philippi
Troas
Berea
Apollonia
Thessalonica
Lystra
Antioch
Athens
Corinth
Ephesus
Derbe
SYRIA
Cenchrea
Caesarea
Jerusalem
4
Timothy Circumcised (1-5) 1

• Paul and Silas come to Derbe and Lystra (1)
• Churches there established during the first
  missionary journey

5
Pauls Second Missionary Journey(Acts 1540
1822)50-54 A.D.
MACEDONIA
Amphipolis
Philippi
Troas
Berea
Apollonia
Thessalonica
Lystra
Antioch
Athens
Corinth
Ephesus
Derbe
SYRIA
Cenchrea
Caesarea
Jerusalem
6
Timothy Circumcised (1-5) 1

• Paul and Silas come to Derbe and Lystra (1)
• Churches there established during the first
  missionary journey
• Paul meets up with Timothy, a young disciple,
  whose mother is Jewish (Eunice, 2 Tim. 15), and
  whose father is Greek
• Timothy had a good reputation (2) Note that he
  had been educated well by his mother and
  grandmother (cf. 2 Tim. 15)

7
Timothy Circumcised (1-5) 2

• Paul desired Timothy to accompany them on their
  journey (3-5)
• Had him circumcised (part Jew) to appease the
  Jews in the region (3)
• Note circumcision had nothing to do with his
  salvation. Only to solidify Timothys standing
  as a Jew, among the Jews.
• Passed through the cities, taking the decree
  (1523-29) and strengthening the churches. (those
  established on first journey)

8
The Macedonian Call (6-10) 1

• The Holy Spirit directed Pauls company to
  Macedonia (1-2)
• Forbidden to preach the gospel in Asia (6)
• Not permitted to go into Bithynia (7)
• Note Even today, Gods providence has a hand in
  our opportunities to preach the truth of the
  gospel (cf. Acts 8, Phillip).
• They traveled to Troas, where Paul received a
  vision from God, in the night. (8-9)

9
Pauls Second Missionary Journey(Acts 1540
1822)50-54 A.D.
MACEDONIA
Amphipolis
Philippi
Troas
Berea
Apollonia
Thessolonica
Lystra
Antioch
Athens
Corinth
Ephesus
Derbe
SYRIA
Cenchrea
Caesarea
Jerusalem
10
The Macedonian Call (6-10) 2

• The Vision in Troas (9-10)
• A man of Macedonia pleads with Paul to come there
  to help (9)
• The conclusion of Paul and his companions, the
  Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them
  (10)
• They did not hesitate, and immediately made
  provisions to sail from Troas to the region of
  Macedonia

11
The Conversion of Lydia (11-15) 1

• Paul travels to Philippi (11-12)
• Lands in Samothrace, then to Neapolis, then to
  Philippi.

12
Pauls Second Missionary Journey(Acts 1540
1822)50-54 A.D.
Philippi named after Philip of Macedon. An
important city, a Roman colony. (i.e. a
military position for the defense of the empire
on the frontier. The lack of Jews in Philippi
may be because of its status as a Roman colony.
MACEDONIA
Amphipolis
Philippi
Troas
Berea
Apollonia
Thessolonica
Lystra
Antioch
Athens
Corinth
Ephesus
Derbe
SYRIA
Cenchrea
Caesarea
Jerusalem
13
The Conversion of Lydia (11-15) 1

• Paul travels to Philippi (11-12)
• Lands in Samothrace, then to Neapolis, then to
  Philippi.
• Paul goes to preach at the riverside outside of
  the city (13)
• The fact that prayer was made there indicates
  that there was no synagogue
• If less than 10 Jewish men in a community, no
  synagogue was allowed by Jewish custom.

14
The Conversion of Lydia (11-15) 2

• Paul speaks to the women at the place of prayer,
  and meets Lydia (13-14)
• Lydia a seller of purple from Thyatira (14)
• Probable that Lydia was a proselyte, and may have
  tried to remain true to her new faith even as the
  Jews were expelled from the city by the decree of
  Claudius (49 A.D.).
• The Lord opened Lydias Heart (14)
• Note It has been clearly established that the
  Lord works through the Word to open the hearts of
  men! (cf. Romans 116)

15
The Conversion of Lydia (11-15) 3

• Lydia and her household were baptized (15)
• Note Servants and family, not necessarily
  infants.
• Baptism is for believers (cf. Mark 1616), this
  text in no way authorizes or intimates infant
  baptism
• Lydia prevailed upon Paul and his companions to
  say with her (15)

16
The Conversion of the Jailor (16-34) 1

• Paul continues to go to the river for prayer.
  (16)
• Slave girl (demon possessed)
• Python Spirit (Oracle at Delphi)
• Brought her masters great profit by her fortune
  telling
• Note God consistently condemns anything
  associated with the occult (cf. Gal. 520)
• Her proclamation was not faith sustaining, though
  the words may have been accurate.

17
The Conversion of the Jailor (16-34) 2

• Paul cast out the demon from the girl (18)
• Paul was greatly annoyed at the persistence of
  the demon (18)
• in the name of Jesus Christ (by His authority)
  resulting in instant expulsion
• The masters of the slave girl were angry at their
  loss of income (19). Note Two examples of
  Gentile persecution (cf. 1923ff), both motivated
  by greed

18
The Conversion of the Jailor (16-34) 3

• Accusations of the Slave owners (20)
• Paul and Silas were dragged before the
  magistrates.
• Called Jews (possibly to disparage them before
  the magistrates).
• Accused of troubling city
• Accused of proselytizing (both maybe true)
• Paul and Silas were stripped, and beaten with
  rods (cf. 1 Thess. 22)

19
The Conversion of the Jailor (16-34) 4

• Charge given to the Jailor (23)
• Keep them securely. (Note The jailor could pay
  with his life for letting such prisoners escape)
• He put their feet in stocks, and put them into
  the inner prison
• Paul and Silas in the inner prison (25)
• Singing and Praying (despite the difficult
  circumstances)
• Prisoners listened (gk. indicates eagerly)

20
The Conversion of the Jailor (16-34) 5

• A Great Earthquake (26)
• Indicates Gods power over creation
• Doors opened (would be common during an
  earthquake)
• Chains loosed (obviously a miracle)
• The Jailors Dilemma (27)
• Awoke, supposed the prisoners escaped (reasonable
  assumption)
• Determined to kill himself with a sword

21
The Conversion of the Jailor (16-34) 6

• Pauls Sermon (26-32)
• First, assured the jailor that the prisoners had
  not escaped (28)
• Jailor recognized the significance of the event,
  kneeling before Paul and Silas (29)
• The Jailors question was a reference to his
  spiritual salvation (30-31)
• Faith is necessary to salvation (cf. John 316)
• Paul and Silas preached (32)
  (cf. Romans 1017)

22
The Conversion of the Jailor (16-34) 7

• Response to the Gospel (33-34)
• Washing of stripes the act of a penitent (33)
• Response in faith includes Baptism (33) (cf. Acts
  835-38)
• Note The baptisms were done immediately
• Note The rejoicing commenced AFTER the baptisms

23
Paul Refuses to Leave Philippi in Secret (35-40)
1

• Jailor related the magistrates decision to
  release Paul and Silas (35-36)
• Paul objects to his treatment, based upon his
  Roman citizenship (37-39)
• It was unlawful to beat and imprison a Roman
  citizen without due process
• Paul made this same appeal to the centurion in
  Jerusalem (cf. 2225-29)

24
Paul Refuses to Leave Philippi in Secret (35-40)
2

• Paul and Silas released from prison (40)
• Went back to the house of Lydia
• Encouraged the brethren before departing (to
  Thessalonica, cf. 171)