A Study in Acts Week 16

Acts Chapter 16

Verses 1-5 – Timothy, son of Eunice, who became a Christian in Lystra, became a helper of Paul’s. Eunice was Jewish, while Timothy’s father was Greek. In this passage we see Paul wanting to help Timothy “fit in” with the social structure of the Jews. The child of a mixed marriage, Jew and Greek, was considered Jewish.

Verses 6-10 – God has had a plan for the spread of His Gospel since before time began. Through His Holy Spirit, God directed Paul away from Ephesus and Asia and sent them to Macedonia, instead. The interesting use of the word “we” in verse 10 indicates that by this time, Luke (the writer of Acts) was traveling with Paul and Silas.

Verses 11-15 – There did not seem to be a synagogue in Philippi. To set up a synagogue, there had to be 10 men or more. This was a Jewish rule. But in Philippi, only women met together. They could not set up a synagogue, so they met by the river. It was probably so that they could wash themselves. This was one of God’s commands in the Jewish Law.

Paul sat down with the women and he taught them. This was very astonishing because the Jewish men were not allowed to teach women. Paul was the first to begin liberating women, he even allowed them into Christian worship services, something that would never have been allowed in the Jewish synagogue.

Lydia traded in purple cloth. Purple was a very expensive color because it was difficult to make. Purple cloth was a luxury. Only rich people could afford it.

The Holy Spirit was working in Lydia and opened her heart to the gospel. When a person believes the gospel, the Holy Spirit makes that happen.

We must tell to people the good news about Jesus. We may be able to do this very well. Or we may think that it is difficult to do. But we must remember this: Paul said that the gospel comes ‘not only with words. But it also comes with power. And it comes with the Holy Spirit’ (1 Thessalonians 1:5).

The church in Philippi began with just one woman, who accepted Christ as her Savior. It grew and it became a large church (Philippians 1:1). And its members were generous (Philippians 4:15-16).

Verses 16-22 – Luke wrote about three people who came to know Christ in Philippi  Lydia (rich); a slave girl (poor) and (in verses 23-24) an officer in the prison (middle class).

Verses 23-34 – Here is the well known account of Paul and Silas in prison for bringing the poor slave girl to Christ and costing her “owners” a lot of money. The proper understanding of the guard’s question has to do with his fear that he would be executed for losing the prisoners. He asked how to avoid being killed, but he was told how to receive life everlasting.

That’s a good exchange!

Paul’s statement about the guard’s family being saved was clearly predicated on each of them, individually, coming to Christ. To be consistent with the rest of Scripture, the idea that one person’s salvation can provide salvation for another is impossible. Verse 32 tells us that Paul preached the gospel to everyone in the house and then they came to the Lord along with the head of household. Verse 34 indicates that they received the Holy Spirit, who made them happy.

As great as the miracles of converting a rich person, throwing the demons out of the slave girl,  and escaping from prison were, the real lesson here is that salvation is for ANYONE who will come to Christ in faith, believing.

Verses 35-40 – Having thrown Paul and Silas in prison without a trial, and learning they were Roman citizens, the officials apologized to them, mostly to avoid their own prosecution.

After encouraging the believers in Philippi, Paul and Silas went on their way.