Category: Acts of the Apostles

The Acts of the Apostles – Acts 16:11-15 མཛད་པ། 16:11-15

Bro Brian.

(མཛད་པ། 16:11-15)

acts-16-11-15-w-b

 

So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the[d] district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. (Acts 16:11-15)

 

Philippi was a colony for retired Roman soldiers, and ruled by them; so, in that sense, it really was autonomous. Any Jews, and other believers in Almighty God, were only allowed to meet for worship outside the city. It was there on the holy day that Paul, Silas and Luke found a meeting place where they told the good news of the Saviour Jesus Christ to the women who gathered.

There God spoke to one of them through Paul’s words. She was a business lady called Lydia, who sold the purple-dyed cloth for which her native region was famous.

It was in this way that a church would come into being. But before that happened there would be trouble. Read on to learn what happened next.

The Acts of the Apostles – Acts 16:16-24 མཛད་པ། 16:16-24

Bro Brian.

(མཛད་པ། 16:16-24)

Acts 16.16-24 w B

 

As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.

But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. (Acts 16:16-24)

 

What the evil spirit knew, that – perhaps – the girl also knew. Remember how evil spirits cried out in fear when they met the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the supreme High God (See Mark’s Gospel, chapter 1 and verses 24 & 34). Jesus was the powerful One whom Paul, Silas and Luke served; the spirit must obey him.

However the girl’s owners did not know the power and authority of that High God who could and would save Paul and Silas from the prison. Read the rest of the story next time.

The Acts of the Apostles – Acts 16:25-34 མཛད་པ། 16:25-34

Bro Brian.

(མཛད་པ། 16:25-34)

Acts 16.25-34 w B

 

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. (Acts16:25-34)

 

Beating with a bundle of rods was a severe Roman punishment. Afterwards Paul’s and Silas’s backs would have been gashed and bruised. With their feet also held tight they did not sleep, but prayed; and in their faith praised God who had thought them worthy to suffer in this way. What to say? Jesus Christ had also suffered for them on the cross.

And God showed his power. The earthquake broke the prison doors all the way to the inner part, and the ropes or chains of the prisoners were unfastened.

The terrified jailer expected bodily death from the Roman authorities. But Paul answered his question, ‘Believe; if you and your family believe in Jesus Christ, you will be liberated from future suffering.’