THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 16
The Macedonian Vision, First Convert in Europe, Paul and Silas Imprisoned, Jailer Converted.
An apostle, (Apostolos), from Strong’s concordance is a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ. As an “apostle”, with miraculous powers; a messenger that is sent. The name of apostle denotes a person personally sent with full authority to represent the sender. In the New Testament it describes those chosen and commissioned by Jesus Christ, together with a small circle of later appointees, who bear foundational authority for proclaiming the gospel, establishing churches, and penning inspired Scripture. Eighty occurrences trace the word from the calling of the Twelve in the Gospels to the eschatological vision of Revelation (see BibleHub.com).
One of the major questions surrounding the gift of an apostle is its continuance. Are there still apostles functioning in the church today? Do people still hold this particular office or have this gift?
There are two basic views. One position sees the apostles having a limited ministry during the early years of the church. Hence there are no more apostles today.
Another perspective believes this was to be a continuing gift until the Lord returns. Therefore, people today do have the gift of an apostle though there is not the office of apostle in the same sense as in Jesus’ day. (see Blue Letter Bible.com).
Either way, study the Book of the Acts of the Apostles and consider the difficulties faced by the early church and how the Apostles dealt with what they faced as it can serve as an encouragement to us in the present-day church. The disciples’ zeal that took the gospel across ethnic and national boundaries must inspire us today. The Spirit, Who is so active in Acts is the same Holy Spirit that is currently at work today in the church. Let it be so!
Acts 16:1, Now Paul also came to Derbe and to Lystra. And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, verse 2, and he was well spoken of by the brothers and sisters who were in Lystra and Iconium. Verse 3. Paul wanted this man to leave with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
(Commentary Break): The Council of Jerusalem or Apostolic Council is a council described in chapter 15 of the Acts of the Apostles, held in Jerusalem in A.D. 48 to A.D. 50. The council decided that Gentiles who converted to Christianity were not obligated to keep most of the rules prescribed to the Jews by the Mosaic Law, such as Jewish dietary laws and other specific rituals, including the rules concerning circumcision of males. It is suspected, however, that Paul circumcised Timothy because Timothy was half Jewish, and it would help him gain acceptance among Jewish communities during their missionary work. This decision, although strategic, as it allowed Timothy to better connect with the people they were trying to reach, despite the broader church consensus that Gentiles did not need to be circumcised, set an unfortunate precedent. (Hence, the during the establishment and spread of the church and denominationalism. Many new manmade and self-serving rites, rituals and doctrines, some superstitious on witchcraft, have been included and are practiced to this day. Unfortunately, practices that take liberties with the original texts of Scriptures have spread and been embedded in Christiandom creating sub-cultures and cults which distract from the primary message and mission of Christ, even leading many astray of the Gospel. (End Commentary Break.)
Verse 4. Now while they were passing through the cities, they were delivering the ordinances for them to follow which had been determined by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. Verse 5. So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily.
(Commentary Break): These decisions are referring to the decrees from the Jerusalem Council, as recorded in Acts 15. This council addressed the issue of whether Gentile converts needed to follow Jewish law, particularly circumcision. The decisions were crucial for maintaining unity between Jewish and Gentile believers and for clarifying the requirements for Gentile inclusion in the church. This reflects the early church’s struggle with maintaining doctrinal purity while embracing cultural diversity.
The apostles and elders in Jerusalem were the recognized leaders of the early church, including figures like Peter, James, and John. Their authority was rooted in their direct relationship with Jesus and their role in the foundational events of the church. The decisions handed down were not considered as merely human opinions but were seen as guided by the Holy Spirit (Acts 15:28). This underscores the importance of apostolic authority, the role of church leadership in doctrinal matters and adhering to doctrinal accuracy and purity. (End Commentary Break).
Verse 6. They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, after being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; verse 7, and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; verse 8, and passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. Verse 9. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and pleading with him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Verse 10. When he had seen the vision, we immediately sought to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Verse 11. So after setting sail from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and on the following day to Neapolis; verse 12, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony; and we were spending some days in this city. Verse 13. And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were thinking that there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled.
First Convert in Europe
Verse 14. A woman named Lydia was listening; she was a seller of purple fabrics from the city of Thyatira, and a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. Verse 15. Now when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
(Commentary Break): Here is what we can know for our own understanding and benefit: (1). A woman named Lydia was listening. She was listening. How many times do you or I, having our mind made up, fail to listen, consider, think and allow the Lord to speak to our heart and mind? Lydia not only listened to the words of Paul and Timothy – She heard and listened to God. This is what we must remember for ourselves.
(2). Lydia was a businesswoman. In a male dominated world, she thrived. She was smart, wise and careful. She had her priorities on the correct order. If you are a woman, take notice.
(3). She was a worshipper of God. Therefore, the Lord was able to open her heart so she could respond to the things spoken by Paul. Worship – true worship of God is essential in hearing God. (4). Her worship, her listening, her response resulted in an open heart to the Word. (5). She and her household came to believe and were baptized. (6). Lydia and her household desired the fellowship of believers. This is a good measurement for all who would seek to hear from and come into relationship with God. (End Commentary Break).
Verse 16. It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave woman who had a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing great profit to her masters by fortune-telling. Verse 17. She followed Paul and us and cried out repeatedly, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you a way of salvation.” Verse 18. Now she continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and he turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment.
Verse 19. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was suddenly gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities, verse 20, and when they had brought them to the chief magistrates, they said, “These men, Jews as they are, are causing our city trouble, verse 21, and they are proclaiming customs that are not lawful for us to accept or to practice, since we are Romans.”
(Commentary Break): The men and women during the age of the Apostles dealt in the dark arts of magic, witchcraft and divination. Now-a-days, many contemporary people would say those ancient people were just ignorant and superstitious – thinking this way contributes to our own foolish harm. But if you believe what you read in the Bible, it is clear that the Apostles took magic, witchcraft and divination seriously and they worked against it. It is why The Bible warns against “witchcraft and sorcery” (from the Greek word ‘pharmakeia’). This denotes the practice of (1) manipulating human life or circumstances through potions, drugs, (whether for recreational use, for abortions or for even more nefarious uses), magical arts that invoke supernatural influence apart from the living God. In Scripture it is consistently grouped with sins that fracture covenant fidelity, whether toward God (idolatry) or neighbor (hatred, jealousy, murder). While the modern term “pharmacy” descends from the same root, the biblical concern is not legitimate medicine but the use of substances or rituals to gain illicit spiritual power or to deceive. Several verses, emphasizing that these practices are detestable to God. Key passages include Deuteronomy 18:10-12, which states that no one should practice divination or consult the dead, and Galatians 5:19-21, which lists witchcraft among the acts of the flesh that prevent inheriting the kingdom of God.
And if you have ever wondered why our current-day society and world has become so violent, perverse, deceitful and murderous, you need look no further than this. And the only workable solution, the only answer is to do what the Apostle Paul has done when he “turned and said to the spirit and said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And be certain you are faithfully and thoroughly filled with the Spirit of God and clothed in the righteousness of Jesus. (End Commentary Break).
Paul and Silas Imprisoned
Verse 22. The crowd joined in an attack against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. Verse 23. When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; verse 24, and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
Verse 25. Now about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; verse 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 everyone’s chains were unfastened. Verse 27. When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. Verse 28. But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” Verse 29. And the jailer asked for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas; verse 30, and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
The Jailer Converted
Verse 31. They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Verse 32. And they spoke the word of God to him together with all who were in his house. Verse 33. And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. Verse 34. And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and was overjoyed, since he had become a believer in God together with his whole household.
Verse 35. Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their officers, saying, “Release those men.” Verse 36. And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The chief magistrates have sent word that you be released. So come out now and go in peace.” Verse 37. But Paul said to them, “After beating us in public without due process—men who are Romans—they threw us into prison; and now they are releasing us secretly? No indeed! On the contrary, let them come in person and lead us out.” Verse 38. The officers reported these words to the chief magistrates. And they became fearful when they heard that they were Romans, verse 39, and they came and pleaded with them, and when they had led them out, they repeatedly asked them to leave the city. Verse 40. They left the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they saw the brothers and sisters, they encouraged them and departed. (End Chapter 16 text).
The things we are reading about in this Book, The Act of the Apostles, are little different than what we are facing today except perhaps we have become too arrogant or think we are too sophisticated too believe what we are seeing. But beware – for false christs and false prophets will arise and will provide great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect, (God’s Chosen ones). And because our technologies are far advanced from Paul’s day, this deceit can be magnified and manipulated and can spread throughout our societies and the world at “the speed of light and sound” and can overtake us before we can adjust and repent.
Hear and heed the warnings of Jesus, and follow the example of Paul and the Apostles. Behold, Jesus has told us in advance!. (see Matthew 24:24-25).
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
NEXT: THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 17, Paul in Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens, The Sermon on Mars Hill.
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