Into Europe: Philipp
Acts 16:6Acts 16:6–24 — Into Europe: Philippi (outline by F. F. Bruce, NICNT) « Leader information shown in this fashion »
{A.} The Birth of the Church (1:1–5:42)
{B.} Persecution and Expansion (6:1–9:31)
{C.} The Acts of Peter and Beginnings of Gentile Christianity (9:32-12:25)
{D.} Church Extension from Antioch & Apostolic Decree at Jerusalem (12:25–15:35)
{1} Barnabas and Saul (12:25–13:3)
{2} Cyprus (13:4–12)
{3} Pisidian Antioch (13:13–52)
{4} Iconium, Lystra, Derbe (14:1–18)
{5} The Council of Jerusalem (15:1–35)
{E.} Paul Leaves Antioch & Moves to the Aegean World (15:36–19:20)
{1} Recently Planted Churches Revisited (15:36–16:5)
A. Paul Parts Company with Barnabas and Takes Silas as His Colleague (15:36–41)
B. Paul & Silas in South Galatia; Timothy Joins Them (16:1–4)
C. The Churches Grow in Faith & Numbers (16:5)
{2} Philippi Acts 16:6–40
Why is the event that now takes place so significant for us personally? « — gospel is spreading into Europe, and so on to us. »
A. The Call from Macedonia, 16:6–10 (NKJV): 6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.
1. A Review; who are the “they”? « – Paul, Silas, Timothy; note that route on map is inexact; words “to (opposite) Mysia” are vague »
2. What means were used to order their journey?
a. « Human planning »
b. « Interposition of Holy Spirit; how? … possibilities: prophetic utterance (13:1, 15:32), inward prompting, circumstance »
c. « Vision: message of need here constituted a call »
3. Since gospel is for all mankind, why not Asia? why not Bithynia? What is the lesson for us?
a. Subsequent history « shows they were included (e.g., Ephesus, also 1 Peter 1:1, Nicaea) – it wasn’t their task at that time »
b. Ministry: «
(A) God puts us to minister in certain places and times
(B) we do not bear the load of ministry all by ourselves
(C) we should not fret at those we personally cannot reach »
4. In terms of “doors” what happened at Troas? « – doors had been closing, but now one is opened by God for His purposes »
5. What lesson is there in this for us? « – God’s no to one request may be so that we are ready for His yes to another »
6. What else happened at Troas? « – the “they” becomes “we” as the author, Luke, joins the team – only consistent explanation. Luke, beloved physician (Col. 4:14) already at Troas showing the spread of the gospel (as elsewhere) by believer’s travelling »
B. Troas to Philippi, 16:11–12a (NKJV): 11 Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, 12a and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony.
1. Trace these verses on the map « – notes: Samothrace a mountain island (5,000 feet); Neapolis, port of Philippi at eastern end of the Egnatian way which traversed Greece / Macedonia »
2. What is the character of their response to the call? « – immediate and direct; any evangelism on the way was brief »
C. The Faith of Lydia, 16:12b–15 (NKJV): 12b And we were staying in that city for some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. 14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to {or., “a believer in” « (use of adjective as a noun » )} the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.
1. How did the evangelism procedure differ here from previous cities? … what circumstances would cause this? « – instead of the synagogue they found a outdoor prayer assembly; there were insufficient (10) men to form a synagogue »
2. How would they find this place? « – they would ask; it was open knowledge in Philippi that this took place. No need to seek a supernatural explanation where the obvious suffices »
3. What needful precursor to salvation does Lydia illustrate? « – the opening of the understanding to the word (1 Corinthians 2:14) »
4. What successor evidence of salvation does Lydia demonstrate? « – the desire for fellowship with other believers; with teachers »
5. The Greek “if” in verse 15, here has the meaning, “if, as is the case” or “since” – how is this confirmed by the context? « – that she had undergone baptism as an expression of her faith »
D. The “Pythoness,” 16:16–18 (NKJV): 16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.
1. The Greek is literally, “having a Pythonic spirit.” Such a person was considered as inspired by Apollo, the Pythian god. Plutarch (and the LXX) called such people “ventriloquists” (throat-speakers) meaning that their utterances were really beyond their conscious control. The Bible records false worship as being associated with demonic activity. What shows this to be the case here and not just a medical or mental condition?
a. She « – correctly recognized the spiritual nature of their visit »
b. Paul « – commanded (and Dr. Luke recorded) the exorcism of a spiritual entity from her and that took place »
2. Explain “the Most High God” … to a Jew « as used in the OT » ; … to a Gentile « far above all of their pantheon »
3. Why was her testimony unwelcome (as it was also to Jesus in His ministry)? « – it defiled the message, reducing its authority to the level of the demon; also, perhaps, it had a mocking tone (If I am not of good reputation, then I defile the message I bear) »
E. Paul and Silas Imprisoned, 16:19–24 (NKJV): 19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. 20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; 21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” 22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
1. One of the evidences that Yahweh is the only true God is that He alone knows the future (Isaiah 42:9, 44:6–8) but people at least thought this girl could do so; what was her owners only concern? … her well-being? « – no, just their own greed; she was simply a piece of property »
2. What wrong had the team done in their eyes? « – destroyed their property (against Roman property rights) »
3. How was their evaluation of the team wrong?
a. Did not recognize « – their Roman citizenship »
b. Failed to « – investigate the charges; immediately judged »