Acts 16

Acts 16:1

Perhaps you recall the story. A man bought a painting at a Philadelphia flea market for eighteen dollars. The painting was rather plain, but the frame was of interest to him. After returning home, he set to work to remove the canvas, when a piece of paper tucked inside caught his eye. As he carefully extracted the document, he was amazed to find one of only four original copies of the Declaration of Independence, which he in turn sold for over four million dollars. This incident interested me because often when I look at a passage of Scripture, I see it framed and painted, only to find that behind the scenes there can be a wealth of information waiting to be discovered. Such is the case in Acts 15 and 16, where, not only does Paul deal with the issue of legalism but also with the ways God makes His will known to us. Five years have passed. Upon his return to the people who had stoned him, Paul discovered that his ministry “took” in a young man of real promise named Timothy. One Wednesday night, I was blessed by a lady who said, “You probably don’t remember me, but when you were a sophomore in college, you spoke to our youth camp at Big Bear and I got saved.” And now almost twenty years later, here she was, still walking with the Lord and growing in grace. The proof of faith is not initial excitement. It’s long-term commitment. Jesus said, “I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain” (see Joh_15:16).

Acts 16:3

It seems as though Paul was always looking for young men to bring alongside him. Six times, in six different epistles, Paul referred to Timothy and called him “my son in the faith.” If you’re older in the faith, one of the greatest joys you’ll ever have is that of investing yourself in a younger person. Paul had Timothywith whom he would deliver decrees of liberty to new believerscircumcised. Why would Paul, the champion of liberty and grace, place Timothy under this ritualistic burden? Understand that Paul was not compromising his theology. No, he was conforming to the higher priority of love. You see, although Timothy’s father was Greek, his mother was a Jewmaking Timothy a Jew as well. Therefore, Paul didn’t want Timothy to be a stumbling block to the very people he sought to win. On the other hand, in Galatians 2, when the Judaizers wanted to circumcise Titus, Paul absolutely forbade it. Why? Because Titus was a Gentile. Paul would later write, For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; to them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.1Co_9:19-22 Are we willing to give up our rights so that we won’t unnecessarily cause someone else to stumble? Are we, like Timothy, willing to give up our liberty for the sake of love and effective ministry?

Acts 16:5

They were established not in programs, not in hype, but in faith. Later on, Paul would say to these very people, “O foolish Galatians…having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Gal_3:1, Gal_3:3). I think if Paul were writing to the church in America, he would say the same thing. “O foolish American Christians, having begun in the Spirit are you now made perfect by programs?”

Acts 16:6

Here is the seventh time in Acts 15 and 16 we see the Lord directing His people. This time it is through physical infirmity. Paul, wanting to go into Asia (present-day Turkey), was forbidden by the Holy Ghost. But Paul was one who didn’t take “no” easily. He was stoned in Lystrabut returned to the city the very next day (Act_14:20). In Acts 21, the Spirit said, “Don’t go to Jerusalem.” But Paul went anyway. Once Paul decided to do something, nothing would deter him. So how did the Spirit stop Paul from going into Turkey? Most Bible scholars believe Paul was struck at this time with a brutal infirmity, a sickness, an Asian fever so severe that his eyesight would be permanently damaged (Gal_4:13-15). I also personally believe this is what happened because in verse Act_16:10, we see the pronouns “we” and “us” replacing “they” and “them” as Luke joined the journey very possibly to attend to the medical needs of Paul. Sometimes, to those of us who are stubborn and thick-headed like Paul, the Lord gives guidance through infirmities. I am not saying every illness is a word from the Lord. However, sometimes the Lord does, indeed, work though infirmities. As a freshman in high school, I wanted to be a distance runner like my big brother, Dave. The only problem was, where Dave was lean and lankyI was husky and stocky. But with only five other guys trying out for six spots, I earned a place on the distance team and found myself participating every day after school in what were, to me, grueling workouts. Every day after practice, I hit the locker room sicker than a dog until the week before my first meet, when I landed in the hospital with double pneumonia. Tom McKee, my youth pastor, came in and prayed for me, and I was confident I would be healed in time for the first meet. But it didn’t happen quite that way.

Upon reexamination of my lungs, my doctor said, “Jon, you’re not running this week, next week, or for a couple of years. Your lungs are too scarred.” When I was finally well enough to go back to school, I wandered rather forlornly out to the track and to the upper field where the discus throwers tossed frisbeelike objects into the air. They wore sunglasses. They listened to the radio. They laughed and joked with each other between throws. Suddenly, it dawned on me that this was the sport for me! In my sophomore year, I set the league record in discus, and by the time I threw for the last time, I had set some central California records, gone to college on a scholarship, and traveled across the country and into Africaall by throwing a flat plate! I’m so thankful I got pneumonia! I would have been a very poor runner, hating every step. The Lord had another plan for me. But He made it clear to me only after I was knocked flat on my back.

Acts 16:8

At Troas, with his back against the Mediterranean Sea, forbidden to go into Turkey, Paul returned to the coast, where the environment was much healthier. Once there, he must have wondered, Where do I go? What do I do now? Here I launched out enthusiastically to serve the Lordbut nothing’s going right. Ever feel that way? You’re probably in just the right spot for a vision. Here is the eighth time in Acts 15 and 16 we see God guiding His people, as He directs through vision supernaturally. While I have had dreams that have ministered to my heart, I have never had a vision that directed mewhich is okay because I am reminded in Jer_23:28 that dreams are as chaff compared to the wheat of the Word. As a pastor, I sometimes get frustrated with people who want to know God’s will but won’t come to Bible study. If I had to choose between the Word and a vision, I’d take the Word every time.

Acts 16:10

Upon entering the city of Philippi, Paul and his company must have looked for a synagogue, as was their custom. Finding none, they instead found women gathered on the bank of a river for their own Sabbath meeting. It is interesting to me that, although Paul heard the voice of a Macedonian male in verse Act_16:9, when he arrived he found only women in verse Act_16:13. So, too, sometimes I feel the Lord directing and guidingbut when I reach my destination I find it a whole lot different than I expected.

Acts 16:14

“If you have found us to be faithful, come to our house,” said Lydia. What could Paul say? No wonder Lydia was a successful saleswoman!

Acts 16:16

Here, a demon-possessed girl was exploited by greedy men in the dark world of the fortune-telling trade.

Acts 16:17

Why did Paul want this girl to stop? Because, although her message was true, the medium was all wrong. I have been asked hypothetically, if I had the chance to give my testimony in Playboy magazine, would I do it? My answer is no, because I don’t need nor want this ministry to be advertised by that which is contrary to the message of Jesus Christ. The Christian community is becoming increasingly weakened, I believe, because we have too often said, “We’ll use this worldly source to communicate the gospel.” Why, then, did Paul allow this girl to cry out for many days before commanding the spirit to come out of her? I believe he was waiting for the green light, the authority of the Holy Spirit before stepping out in the power of the Spirit.

Acts 16:19

The final way we see God guiding His people throughout the past two chapters is through the giving of thanks continually. As He did with Paul and Silas, God directs our lives when we’re in the posture of prayer and praise. “I’m in the midnight hour,” you say. “It’s so dark. I’m trapped, locked in, with no way out. I don’t know what to do.” Quit griping and start singing. Then, like Paul and Silas, you will see things happen to you, around you, and through you. Being Beaten A Topical Study of Act_16:19-25 None of us likes to get beat up. I think back a number of years ago to the day when my oldest son came home from kindergarten with tousled hair, torn shirt, and tearstained cheeks. “What happened, Peter-John?” I asked. With quivering chin he said, “The biggest kid in my class beat me up.” I gave Peter a hug and we talked for a while. The next morning Peter-John was up bright and early getting ready for school. As he walked out the door, I couldn’t help but notice the baseball bat he carried over his shoulder. “Where are you going with that bat, Peter?” I asked. With eyes of steel, he said, “Daddy, today is “show and share” day. I’m taking my bat to show and share.” Knowing exactly to whom and on whom he wanted to show and share his bat, I insisted he choose something else. In our text, we see Paul and Silas beaten, bruised, and bloodiedbut instead of grabbing their bats and swinging, they glorified God by singing. I suggest three reasons Paul and Silas could sing in such a dark hour. Paul and Silas’ beating showed the desperation of the enemy. When you find yourself beaten up, it means Satan considers you a threat to his dominion of death and darkness. I can recall one such incident that stands out vividly in my memory. It blew my mind when a man I had never met, but who was obviously demonized, looked me in the eye and said in a voice not completely his own, “Jon Courson, I know you, and I hate you.” Although it freaked me out initially, I rejoiced later on because whenever Satan and his demons have our number, it means they’re threatened. Paul’s and Silas’ beating was a validation of their ministry. In Col_1:23-24, Paul would later write, “I Paul am made a minister; who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church.” In other words, part of Paul’s job as a minister was to fill upor completethe sufferings of Jesus. “Wait a minute,” you say. “Are you saying that the suffering of Christ on the Cross was not sufficient?” No. His work on the Cross was completely sufficientvalidated by His resurrection. The idea here in Colossians relates to the church. You see, even as Jesus today has thornprints on His brow, nail holes in His hands and feet, lash marks on His back, a spear wound in His sideso, too, His church must bear the marks of suffering. If His body is to fully conform to and correctly reflect Him, some, like Paul and Silas, will have to suffer brutally. Paul’s and Silas’ beating was an indication of their maturity. You’ll never know how far along you are in the maturation process until you get beaten up. Trials neither make nor break us. They reveal what is going on inside of us. Thus, when you’re beaten up verbally, emotionally, or perhaps even physicallyyou have an opportunity to see how much the Lord has accomplished in your life. Christians are like tea bags, folks. We’ll never know what our flavor is until we’re in hot water. After teaching at a retreat in Palm Springs, I decided to go for a walk. It was about nine-thirty at night and about ninety-five degrees outside. Walking briskly down Palm Canyon Drive, I was reading the Word and thinking about this text when, failing to see a puddle in the middle of the pavement, I lost my footing and fell flat on my back. My glasses flew off, my Bible landed in the middle of the street, and I lay there in the mud and blood, rejoicing and thinking what a great illustration it would be for this study. Feeling pretty good as I picked up my Bible and glasses, I continued on. After about three miles of walking and reading, my foot hit a crack in the cement, causing me to lunge forward and break my sandal in the process.

Knowing I had to walk back barefoot for five miles on hot cement, I wasn’t rejoicing. Thinking one trial per walk should be sufficient, when the second one came my way, I was far from singing. By the time I got back to the hotel, it was 11:30. My feet were cut. I was upsetand then the Lord whispered in my ear, “You see, Jon, it’s not the expected trial that reveals where you’re at. It’s the one that sneaks up behind you that shows what’s really going on inside.” We all know of potential trials that will come our way next weekbut it’s the ones we don’t expect that will reveal what’s going on internally. You who are beaten up today by persecution on the job, ridicule on the campus, or ostracism from your familyIsaiah 54 is for you. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.Isa_54:17 Know this, you who are beaten up: no weapon that comes against you will prosper. You can be sure of that. Ask Paul and Silas. Yes, they were beaten upbut they went out victoriously into deeper ministry and fuller glory. Perhaps you’re saying, “It’s fine for you spiritual giants to talk about being beaten up for your spirituality. Good for you. But that’s not where I’m at. I’m not being beaten upI’m being beaten down by my family, my marriage, my job.” You, too, can have hope today because, although Paul and Silas were beaten up, the jailer was beaten downjust like you! Roman law decreed that prison guards were to serve the sentence of any prisoner who escaped while in their charge. No doubt in that Philippian dungeon there were those who had committed capital offenses and were about to be executed. Consequently, this jailer said, “My head’s going to roll tomorrow, so hand me a sword and I’ll take my life right now.” Just as he was about to do himself in, Paul said, “Don’t do that! We’re all still here.” So it was that the jailer, beaten down by circumstances beyond his control, was saved in the very dungeon in which he sought to take his own life. If you’re beaten down, know this: God is going to do something wonderful even in the situation that is presently depressing or distressing. If you’re beaten up, like Paul and Silas, God will work through you to bring others to Himself. If you’re beaten down, like the Philippian jailer, God will work for you to bring you to Himself. Whether you’re beaten up or beaten down, you can rejoice. Why? Because Satan has been beaten back. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.Isa_53:4-6 Satan has been beaten back because the back of Jesus was beaten. By whom? By the Father (Isa_53:6). The Father beat the Son. Why? One reason: to purchase a bride for Him. The Father said, “I love My Son so much I’m going to smite Him, beat Him, and lay upon Him the judgment, wrath, and damnation that should have fallen on Jonbecause forgiven, pure, and robed in righteousness, Jon will make a perfect bride for Him.” Now, if this be soif God the Father paid that kind of price for me to be the bride of His Son, if He beat His Son in order that I might be healedthen He is equally committed to continue to do good things through me and good things for me. You who are beaten down today by a relationship that isn’t working out, money that isn’t coming in, a job that isn’t opening upIsaiah 54 is for you. Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.Isa_54:1 Sing! Shout for joy, you who are barren and dry, you who are beaten down by the circumstances of life, because you will be more fruitful, more prosperous, more blessed than the one who seems to be doing so well in the world right now. Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; for thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.Isa_54:2-3 What are you to do, you who are beaten down? Because His back was beaten, know this: He’s going to do good things for you. Don’t kill yourself. Don’t curse. Don’t mourn. Don’t moan. Don’t gripe. Don’t despair. Rather sing out today and say, “Lord, if You loved me enough to smite Your Son for me, I trust You. And even though I feel barren, dry, and desolate, I’m going to enlarge my tent and prepare for Your blessing.” Beaten up or beaten downeither way rejoice because Satan has been beaten back through the beaten back of the Son.

Acts 16:26

Knowing heads would roll when news of the escape reached his superiors, the jailer said, “I’ll just kill myself now and get it over with.”

Acts 16:28

“Not only have I been shaken up by the earthquake under me, but I am shaken up by the fact that you guys didn’t split when you had the chance,” said the jailer. Why are you in prison? Why are things not happening? Why aren’t things opening up as quickly as you hoped they would? Could it be because there are prisoners and jailers watching, who are about to see what happens in your life when things are shaken up? Could it be because there are people who need to see what’s going to happen to you in the midnight hour? For the most part, prosperity only creates jealousy. But when those around you hear you singing in the day of adversity, like the jailer they will say, “What must I do to be saved?”

Acts 16:31

This does not mean, as has been suggested, “If you believe, your whole house will be saved.” No, it means, “You believe and you’ll be saved. And when your family believes, they’ll be saved as well.”

Acts 16:32

You know a person is truly saved when he wants to wash feet and cleanse wounds.

Acts 16:34

After the jailer had held Paul and Silas under “house arrest,” word came to let them go.

Acts 16:37

Thinking Paul and Silas were merely Jews, the magistrates felt completely justified in beating them without a trial. But to have done so to a Roman citizen was a great and grave offense. Why didn’t Paul say, “Wait a minute. I’m a Roman citizen,” before the flagellum was unleashed, before his back was beaten, before he was cast into the dungeon, before he was locked in stocks? Why didn’t Paul claim his Roman citizenship earlier? And why did he claim it when he did? I believe the answer lies in verse Act_16:40…

Acts 16:39

Notice that Paul and Silas comforted the brethren. This poses an interesting question: Up until the time Paul and Silas landed in prison, all they had seen were women. Who, then, were these brethren? I suggest they were the prisoners who, in the dungeon with Paul, were converted when they heard his songs of praise. Paul’s mind-set concerning himself was, “Go ahead. Beat me. Throw me in prison. I’ve been looking for some men to work withnow I can begin a jail ministry!” But his mind-set concerning others was, “I am a Roman citizen and I’ll be watching you, so you had better watch your step with my brothers.” When you and I come to the point where we can say, “I don’t care what happens to mebut when it comes to my brothers and sisters, I’ll go to the wall for them and do whatever I can to cover and protect them,” that’s maturity. Most of us protect ourselves and figure whatever happens to others is God’s will. Paul did just the opposite. No wonder the Lord could use him.