Because Luke is the author of the book of Acts, many scholars have concluded that Luke has joined Paul and his companions (Silas and Timothy) at this point. Seize the opportunity. Jonathan Edwards Baptist. Real personal freedom is something else. 7:21). They are probably duumvirs, a word that comes from the Roman duo (meaning two) and vir (meaning man). They never did get to bed that night. Paul is accompanied by Silas (15:37-38), and they are later joined by young Mark (16:1). . Robertson Davies A Very Real Enemy G.F. Handel Brevard Childs Acts 16:16-34 May 16, 2010 . Surfing requires a surfable wave. But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace (agoran) before the rulers (archontas) (v. 19). **FOR PREACHING THE WORD OF GOD Mark, Luke, and John for your sermon, homily, bible study, or reflection. Luke At midnight, the darkness would be all-encompassing. When you do, nothing can prevent you from moving forward. It came out that very hour (v. 18c). Permission is granted for non-profit use of these materials. Introduction She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. Frederick Buechner Our daughter, in the seventh grade at the time, had had a terrible day with some friends at school. The Gospel erases all those previously important social distinctions. Thomas Merton There are the school doors, the office doors, the church doors as well as the elevator door, revolving doors, and automatic doors. We looked at Lydia, the first person to be saved because she was searching. Each of these stories is different and particular in the same way that each of our stories with God are different and particular. Townes Van Zandt and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyones bonds were loosened (v. 26b). Luke gives us no information concerning the content of these prayers, but the hymn-singing makes it clear that Paul and Silas are anything but depressed, defeated prisoners. Your email address will not be published. Feet fastened in stocks would add physical discomfort. Acts 16:16-34 - Center for Excellence in Preaching. B. Here, Luke describes a demon properly identifying Paul and Silas as slaves of God. But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! It came out that very hour(v. 18). ACTS 16:16-30 They never did get to bed that night. Acts 16:16-24. The ASV, which is also in the public domain due to expired copyrights, was a very good translation, but included many archaic words (hast, shineth, etc. Lesson 16 - Luke 16:1-17:10 . Richard Wilbur There are many reversals in the, Goodnight all. Forsyth This introduced the Gospel to the continent of Europe for the first time (Turkey is in Asia and Greece is in Europe). ), which the WEB has updated. There are two stories of salvation in Acts 16, and it feels as though Dr. Luke has picked these two stories for their very different feel and color. While that girl was following, to Paul and us she cried out saying, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you a (the)1 way of salvation.". Peddlers of sex and pornography often use enslaved children, male and female, for their purposes. Nazarene. Not only have Paul and Silas remained in prison, but the other prisoners have done the same. As I said last week, Luke believes in the power of the Holy Spirit, but also in human free will, and sees no contradiction between divine guiding and human choosing. This appears to be the same place of prayer where they earlier encountered Lydia (16:13). Acts 2:1-21 Pentecost; Acts 2:14-41 The First Sermon in the Last Days; Acts 2:36-41 Becoming a Christian; Acts 2:42-47 A New Community; A. T. ROBERTSON Word Pictures on Acts. John Donne Marva Dawn For Jews Salvation meant deliverance from sin. read more, Scripture: 20When they had brought them to the magistrates (Greek: strategois), they said, These men, being Jews, are agitating our city, 21and set forth customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans. 22The multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore their clothes off of them, and commanded them to be beaten with rods. Unable to shift positions, prisoners would grow more uncomfortable by the minute. To listen to an audio podcast of this sermon go to: https://anchor.fm/sunday-on-the-commons/episodes/Open-DoorsBroken-ChainsGuest-Preacher-the-RevDrRichard-LFloydJune-22019-e48v6m, Your email address will not be published. How do we stand strong during persecution? IN OTHER WORDS, CHOICES, THE ENVIRONMENT OF CHOICE They told the judges that Paul and Silas had brought a lot of trouble to the city. Flogged and jailed (16:22-24) The magistrates order Paul and Silas to be beaten with rods and thrown into the local jail (16:23). ( Ac 16:17, AT) "Most High" might imply pantheon, not necessarily orthodox beliefs (Keener, Lecture). In Greek mythology, the great serpent, Python, lived in a cave near Delphi.and guarded the oracle there (Encarta). Please read and accept our website Terms and Privacy Policy to post a comment. Alan P.F. I thought about calling this sermon Singing in the Stocks. He then brought them out and asked, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? The jailer, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. Are the magistrates (strategois) of this verse the same officials as the authorities (archontas) of verse 19? The jailer is ordered to "guard them carefully.". Gail Godwin . The girls real motive for confession was to draw peoples attention and build her own reputation as a fortune teller. For Philippians 'Most High God' meant a Phoenician deity, for Jews it was the Lord our God and for Greeks it meant Zeus. 1. These three recipients of Pauls ministry (Lydia, the slave-girl, and the Roman jailer) epitomized all whom the Jews held in contemptwomen, slaves, and Gentiles (Williams, 280). Her Declaration concerning Paul and His mission and 3. The prisoners must have all ran David Lodge Lesson 19 - Luke 20:1-47 Topic: Issues and Answers. soothsaying. Joanna / May 6, 2013. Lesson 42: The Urgent Question (Acts 16:25-34) A four-year-old boy was outdoors when a bee starting buzzing around a table nearby. 16 And it came to pass as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed There are several: God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. (I Corinthians 1: 27-29). Paul and Silas were aware that God brought them to Philip for the purpose of planting a church. Suddenly I was too young to remember the event but I can only imagine how difficult it must have . The Prison Experiences Of The Bible. Follow Desiring God on Facebook . 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains came loose. Roll and Tumble What does the Bible say about using pirated software? read more, Scripture: Acts: 1: Sharing Christ in All Places : 1:1-14: While You Wait : 2:21-42: A New Community : 4:23-36: A Winning Witness : read more, Scripture: Seeing that the jailer would commit suicide if they escaped, Paul and Silas chose his life and salvation over their own liberation (Acts 16:25-34). This is Paul's Second Missionary Journey (49-52 A.D.) as recorded in Acts 15:30 - 18:21. It's based on the miraculous earthquake in Acts 16 where God opens the jail doors for Silas and Paul. The spirit of Python will squeeze the joy out of your worship & praise.find out how to to get victory over this subtle destroyer. Paul and Silas are singing in the stocks. (I preached this sermon on June 2, 2019 at The United Congregational Church of Little Compton, RI. No, most certainly, but let them come themselves and bring us out (v. 37). The slave girl would follow Paul and cry out, These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.. Model sermons available on Lifeway.com, in biblical order. It is a dramatic story, which I think would make a great screenplay for an action movie. Holiness. 0:07. Acts 19. Sunday School Lesson December 25 Lesson 4 (KJV) Mary Rejoices Devotional Reading: Isaiah 9:1-7 Background Scripture: Luke 1:46-55 Luke 1:46-55 46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Lesson 18 - Luke 18:35-43; 19:1-48 Topic: Jesus Is Headed To Jerusalem. As far as we can tell, Paul does not free this slave girl out of kindness. Its his prison. Soren Kierkegaard A. The only thing different is, that you finally became aware of it. An Invitation Requires Truth Executable Outlines - Free sermon outlines and Bible studies! a. This chapter records Pauls encounter with Lydia, the successful businesswoman (16:11-15) and his encounter with a slave-girl (16:16-18) women from opposite ends of the social and economic scale. Paul and Silas were free to serve God with their whole hearts and th Willie Nelson. The Gospel is addressed to all sorts and conditions of people, to women and men, to Jews like Paul, to Gentiles like Lydia, to rich people like Lydia, to poor people like the slave girl with the demon, to powerful people like the Roman jailer and to powerless people, like slaves. Acts 22. read more, Scripture: As Greeks, they would be inclined to equate Most High God with Zeus. Barclay, William, Daily Study Bible: Acts, (Edinburgh: The Saint Andrew Press, 1976), Bock, Darrell L., Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Acts (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), Bruce, F. F., The New International Commentary on the New Testament: The Book of Acts (Revised)(Grand Rapids: William B Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), Chance, J. Bradley, The Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary: Acts (Macon, Georgia: Smyth & Helwys Publishing, Inc., 2007), Craddock, Fred B.; Hayes, John H.; Holliday, Carl R.; and Tucker, Gene M., Preaching Through the Christian Year, C (Valley Forge: Trinity Press, 1994), Farris, Lawrence W., in Van Harn, Roger (ed. C.S. read more, Scripture: 32-34 They went on to spell out in detail the story of the Masterthe entire family got in on this part. Lesson 42 - Paul's Vision of the Man of Macedonia - Acts 16:6-10 641. The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version (ASV) of the Bible, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament. Sermon Series: How to discern Gods will. This us represents the last we passage in Acts until 10:6, leaving us to wonder if Luke drops out at this point. Eventually, allegations turned into a riot. read more, Scripture: He was a walking dead man. JESUS WAS TEACHING HIS DISCIPLES AND HE STOPS AND SAYS --Tee Jackson Contents Letter of E Go to www.ccontario.com for an en. Today, well look at the salvation of the slave girl and Look up John 3:16; 1:12 (where to "believe" = to "receive"), and compare Acts 16:14 and Revelation 3:20. How did God guide the missionaries in their travels? -- Whether its an invitation to a ballgame, to a BBQ, or even to church It is similar to Peters salvation formula at Pentecost, Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (2:38). read more, Scripture: In others, they buy children for a small price from impoverished parentsoften under false pretenses. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him Learn more about Desiring God Ways to Follow. At least thats Nazarene. (16-20) Areopagus sermon (17:16-34) "God.has set a day" (17:30-31) Trial before Gallio c. 51-52 (18:12-17) . Flannery O'Connor Kapitulli 2: (Christ) Rescue of the Lost Lamb. By John Raulerson The jailer is a functionary of the most powerful empire in the known world. This is exactly what Paul and his companions have come to do. read more, Scripture: When God says "no" it's because He wants what's best for us. There would be no light at night, and little light during the day. Scripture: Acts 3:19, Acts 16:31. Dave Mallett Paul says, Dont you know that to whom you present yourselves as servants to obedience, his servants you are whom you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness? (Romans 6:16). Last time, we saw that Paul heard God and because of his obedience, the gospel entered Europe. The authorities would typically imprison anyone whom they had first flogged. Reinhold Niebuhr Introduction Instead, just as Jesus accusers did, they concoct misleading charges to make it easier to get a guilty verdict. Many similar forms of slavery exist throughout the world today. A guy sees a sign in front of a house: "Talking Dog for Sale." The First Readings: The Old Testament and Acts (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2001), Faw, Chalmer E., Believers Church Bible Commentary: Acts, (Scottdale, Pennsyvania: Herald Press, 1993), Gaventa, Beverly Roberts, Abingdon New Testament Commentaries: The Acts of the Apostles (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003). Sermon. He just spots a surfable wave and surfs it. 1. Acts 16:29-34 Acts 16:16-34 (35-40) - Updated. The multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore their clothes off of them, and commanded them to be beaten with rods (v. 22). Jesus (c. 4 BC - AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Roman born Jewish preacher and religious leader; he is the central figure of Christianity, the world's largest religion.Most Christians believe he is the incarnation of God the Son and the awaited Messiah (the Christ) prophesied in the Hebrew Bible. The 95-year-old Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI passed away on Saturday at 9:34 AM in his residence at the Vatican's Mater Ecclesiae Monastery. Acts 16:29-34, Denomination: -- Everything we do starts with an invitation to be a part of For Philippians Most High God meant a Phoenician deity, for Jews it was the Lord our God and for Greeks it meant Zeus, B. . Mozart Michael Connelly Consequently, this historical information recorded in the book makes it a good source to learn about Christian ministry. It might seem odd that this jailer did not examine the cells carefully before deciding to kill himself, but people under great stress often panicand this jailer is certainly panicked. Philip Roth Sermon of the Week Calendar All Sermons; Bible Stories; People in the Bible; Jesus' Ministry . This missionary journey has . People Listen In Different Wayscan You Reach All Of Them. It comes from somewhere else. John Mortimer St. Anselm of Canterbury who, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison, and secured their feet in the stocks (v. 24). Download the teaching notes, gather your object . - - - - -. Acts 16:16-25. In reporting this, Luke clearly sees problems on two levels. They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house (v. 32). Marilynne Robinson After the people beat Paul and Silas, they were thrown in prison. He took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household (v. 33). In Acts 16:16, Paul continues his search for a "place of prayer," but again is sidetracked, but this time by a woman of a very different sort. Chapel 3 from Acts 16:25-34 He rings the bell and the owner tells him the dog is in the backyard. There would be little provision for sanitation or ventilation, so the stench would be terrible. Jesus Heals a Man Unable to Speak. Look up Matthew 11:28, and compare John 5:40 and 6:37. Anthony Trollope Where did the journey westward from Iconium take Paul and his companions? Dire Straits 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. Paul understands the pressure that the jailer is under and the possibility that he will commit suicide. Required fields are marked *. Acts 17. He answered simply, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household." Since then, that simple answer has generated debate about its meaning. Follow Desiring God on Facebook . Staying faithful through difficult circumstances. The book of Acts is the report of early Christians who had faith to do these greater things that Jesus promised. This missionary journey has taken Paul from Jerusalem north to Antioch of Syria and then westwards through the interior of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). 25But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 5:18), and we must do the will of God to go to heaven (Mat. He had the knife in his hand, and he was about to kill himself. Picture for a moment how many doors we walk through every day- the bedroom door, the bathroom door, the front door, the back door, the car door, and the garage door. The agora was the public square in the center of the city. They could accuse Paul and Silas of persuading people to join a cult not recognized by the Roman government, but by this time officials do not usually prosecute people for this transgression. Proposition: Luke shares with us the story of the young Pythoness - 1. Sermon 2/24/19 Acts 15:1-31 A Way Forward: Which Way? It was one of those times in scripture when God said not just yes but maybe. * This morning, as we gather for worship, delegates from the United Methodist Church around the world are gathered in St. Louis for the Special Session of General Conference. Charles Dickens What the accusers do not know, but Paul will later reveal (v. 37) is that he and Silas are also Roman citizens. He calls out to reassure the jailer that all the prisoners are still present. Joy Recovered. Oscar Peterson Luke has already told us about the baptism of Cornelius and all those who were with him (10:44-48) and of Lydia and her household (16:15). Herman Melvillle Scripture: Acts 16:25-34. W.A. No matter what your need is Acts 16:11-40 Acts 16:16-34, Denomination: It may be time to cast them off and open them up. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Some come to Christ all at once, some over time. Timothy and Luke seem not to be involved at this point. They are not powerful. Salvation Object Lesson (Acts 3:19) Hard Boiled Egg ; God's Loves Everyone (Acts 11:1-18, John 13:31-35) Children's Sermon ; Children's Message "Pentecost" Holy Spirit Wind and Fire Object Lesson (Acts 2:1-12) Lesson: Barnabas and Paul Begin Their Missionary Journey ; Shine a Light Object Lesson for Sunday School (Matthew 5:16) Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. 26 (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1992), Wall, Robert W., The New Interpreters Bible: Acts, Romans, I Corinthians, Vol. Invitations, Part 6 52-week preaching calendar to help you plan your sermons, Customizable sermon manuscripts for verse-by-verse preaching, Preach with creativity and impact throughout the year, [NEW YEAR] 4-Week Series to kick off 2023, [PRODUCTIVITY] Fulfill your full potential, [FOUNDATIONS] Getting back to what matters most. And the jailer cleaned their wounds. Commentary on Acts 16 16 34. John Coltrane Chrysostom said of this incident, He (the jailer) washed and was washed. Why did God say maybe? After the earthquake breaks their shackles and opens their prison door they dont even try to run away. Patrick O'Brian P.D. The crowd of people were angry and the judges tore off Silas and Paul's coats and commanded that they be beaten. They replied, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be Lydia is moved by Pauls teaching, the jailer by the dramatic earthquake and opening of his prison, the slave girl by being freed from her demon. I want to conclude my message with three applications I was able to draw from this great passage of scripture. The strategois could be a higher-level authority. Second Presbyterian Church, Richmond, VA. Sunday, June 2, 1019. God was waiting for someone to choose to The miracle that God has worked is not just for the deliverance of Paul and Silas, but also for the deliverance of the jailer. God uses people who make themselves available to Him to do in and through them what He chooses to do. But they all witness to the power of the Risen Jesus to transform lives. Middle Fish Pond This story has parallels in three stories of Jesus exorcisms: The man with the unclean spirit (Mark 1:21-28; Luke 4:31-37). Finally, Luke sees the Gospel as shaking foundations, disrupting conventions, and overturning proscriptions. Acts . The Noble Brethren Of Berea -Acts 17: 10-14. The comment form collects your name, email and content to allow us keep track of the comments placed on the website. read more, Scripture: It is difficult to imagine a more terrible place. He has a greater purpose that we often do not understand. 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, Lydia, a seller of purple (and probably affluent), offered them the hospitality of her home, which they accepted (16:15). I have wise friends in the recovery community who tell me that they only experienced real freedom when they admitted their powerlessness, and turned their lives over to a higher power. They have told me that the chains that held them and the doors they were locked behind were often of their own making. If we aren't willing to tell them about Jesus, how can we ever invite them to experience all that He has for them? Her owners dictate her every action and confiscate any money that her efforts produce. Theme: Paul and the Pythoness A. 12:7-11.) Acts 25. (Full sermon is posted here .) The Blue Hornets Following Paul and us (v. 17a). The only thing different is, that you finally became aware of it. Three Portraits of Salvation In Philippi She was doing this for many days. Sermons from the Book of Acts. And we stayed there several days. The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. -- Whether its an invitation to a ballgame, to a BBQ, or even to church By Dr. Mickey Anders. Saul Bellow It was time to end it. To her owners, this girl is nothing but a money machine. Her Deliverance and salvation Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. 34He brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his household, having believed in God. This exorcism demonstrates Gods power over demonic spirits. Gretchen Legler The quest for fame is a great distraction, (not to mention lusting after riches and women). read more, Scripture: Luke shares the story of her divination (enslavement) 2. "Most High" often referred to . 17Following Paul and us, she cried out, These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of salvation! 18She was doing this for many days. They were sure nothing can stop them from fulfilling their mission in Philip (unless God changed His mind). It is important that servants of God watch out for such distractions and eliminate them in order not to lose their influence in ministry. The jailer made them feel at home, dressed their wounds, and thenhe couldn't wait till morning!was baptized, he and everyone in his family. [Image: Marnie Pix] 1. Scripture: Acts 16:11-34. Miroslav Volf Acts 16:1-16, GOD WILL BREAK INTO YOUR SITUATION WHEN YOU SING AND PRAISE, WHEN GOD BREAKS IN! Acts 17:16-34: The Unkown God Proclaimed, Part 2: 09/28/97: Dr. Phil Newton: Acts 18:1-11: A Calming Promise: 10/05/97: Dr. Phil Newton: Acts 18:24-28 . he asks. Acts 16:11-40 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis.
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