He had the knife in his hand, and he was about to kill himself. Inviting others means that we must be willing to tell them the truth. Theme: Paul and the Pythoness ), The Lectionary Commentary: Theological Exegesis for Sundays Text. They are not powerful. **FOR PREACHING THE WORD OF GOD Scott Hubbard Dec 3, 2021. Three Portraits of Salvation In Philippi Mozart Sermon of the Week Calendar All Sermons; Bible Stories; People in the Bible; Jesus' Ministry . for us to accept or to observe, being Romans (v. 21b). Where did the journey westward from Iconium take Paul and his companions? She has "a spirit of divination," and because of her gifts of prophecy, her handlers have been able to amass a good deal of money from her powers of prognostication. They replied, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be In reporting this, Luke clearly sees problems on two levels. Robertson Davies But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, brought them out, and said, Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life' (5:20). By Dr. Mickey Anders. The comment form collects your name, email and content to allow us keep track of the comments placed on the website. Sermon 2/24/19 Acts 15:1-31 A Way Forward: Which Way? (16:6) 643. read more, Scripture: 19But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace (Greek: agoran) before the rulers (Greek: archontas). They occur when you least expect them. Fyodor Dostoyevsky I was too young to remember the event but I can only imagine how difficult it must have . 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.". A) IN JAIL FOR Rowan Williams In this kind of situation, the magistrates should arrest the accused and schedule a trial to hear the accusations and to weigh the evidence. - - - - -. - It is important that you and I understand the power of an invitation Her Declaration concerning Paul and His mission and 3. **THEY WERE BEAT WITH MANY STRIPES "Pardon and Justification" in Sermons of Rev. One of the persistent features of the New Testament is the ability of various spirits and demons to recognize Jesus, even when others (especially the disciples) are clueless. Some come to Christ all at once, some over time. Here are some common misunderstandings of Acts 16:31 . Paul and Silas in Prison. read more, Scripture: Lyle Lovett Her Declaration concerning Paul and His mission and 3. A Very Real Enemy It also records the conversion of a Roman jailer and his household (16:29-34), demonstrating the ability of the Gospel to penetrate into the hearts of people from all walks of life. Acts 16:11-40 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. The Gospel canticle acts as a kind of meditative extension of the scriptural proclamation in light of the Christ event.Request Prayer Please enter your information and submit your prayer request below . No matter what your need is He washed them from their stripes, and was himself washed from his sins (quoted in Bruce, 318). The authorities would typically imprison anyone whom they had first flogged. Nazarene. Acts 16. Acts 16:16-24. First, the girls owners have enslaved her for the purpose of enriching themselves. Chapel 3 from Acts 16:25-34 The jailer called for lights and saw that they were still there, and he took them outside and asked, What must I do to be saved. Now to us, this sounds like a religious question, but he may have merely been asking how do I get out of this mess? But Paul and Silas heard it as a religious question and answered, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. Which is what happened. What are the doors that are closed to you? Acts 16:11-40 The crowd of people were angry and the judges tore off Silas and Paul's coats and commanded that they be beaten. 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. Walt Whitman ( Ac 16:17, AT) "Most High" might imply pantheon, not necessarily orthodox beliefs (Keener, Lecture). Her Deliverance and salvation, Scripture: Acts 16:16-34 (cf. However, these magistrates fail to observe proper procedure, and instead bow to the crowds demands for immediate punishment. Eventually, allegations turned into a riot. Look up John 3:16; 1:12 (where to "believe" = to "receive"), and compare Acts 16:14 and Revelation 3:20. read more, Scripture: The jailers question can be understood on two levels. The wave must be spotted before its washed out. It comes from somewhere else. By Dr. Keith Wagner. Townes Van Zandt This girls witness is true, but subject to misinterpretation by people who know nothing of Paul or the God whom he represents. Inviting others means that we must be willing to tell them the truth. Distracted by Many Things A Sermon on Luke 10:38-42, God Gives the Growth: A Retirement Sermon, When the Spirit comes A Sermon for Pentecost, Pity the Nation A Poem for our Time by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, The God Who Still Speaks A Sermon on John 16:12-15, We Shall Walk Through the Valley in Peace A Devotion on Psalm 23:4, We Shall Walk Through the Valley in Peace, Your Sons and Your Daughters Shall Prophesy, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Paul and Silas were so strong in the Lord that they prayed and sang hymns instead, A. 5:18), and we must do the will of God to go to heaven (Mat. read more, Luke shares with us the story of the salvation of the Pythoness - 1. It came out that very hour (v. 18c). John Piper Feb 12, 1989. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. Merchants would have their booths there, but the agora would also be where authorities would hold public court. 8:28-34; Luke 8: . In today's sermon, I am going to present to you four principles that make Christian ministry effective as seen in Acts 16:16-34. Philip Roth Consequently, this historical information recorded in the book makes it a good source to learn about Christian ministry. Pingback: The Girl Without a Name - Spacious Faith. Chrysostom said of this incident, He (the jailer) washed and was washed. Annie Dillard This woman, who is a slave to demonic spirits and evil men, recognizes that Paul and his companions are slaves to the Most High God. The Board of Education which went to the Supreme Court. B. Paul and Silas are bloodied from a beating, cast into a dark cell and fastened by the feet in stocks. Acts . Dorothy Dunnett Van Morrison Sister Jensen glances at her students and taps several times on her phone. Sermon. 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. It has been a blessing as well as a great help. He was a walking dead man. 1. God was waiting for someone to choose to Acts 16:16-25. Middle Fish Pond Why did God say maybe? Acts 18. It happened, as we were going to prayer (v. 16a). A Story With a Happy Ending Acts 16: 23-34. June 29, 2014 We looked at Lydia, the first person to be saved because she was searching. When Gods servant seeks fame the scope of his ministry is shifted from God to himself. Pentecost. and set forth customs which it is not lawful (v. 21a). Paul will later claim to have been beaten with rods three times (2 Corinthians 11:25), but we have no further record of the other two occasions. --Tee Jackson Contents Letter of E Lee Lever says: May 12, 2016 at 12:04 pm Michael Connelly Now they identify themselves as Romansa status that they enjoy as citizens of Philippi, a Roman colony. Roman citizenship comes with a number of privileges, and is highly respected. As Greeks, they would be inclined to equate Most High God with Zeus. Paul and Silas are still in Philippi, where we left them last week. 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. Acts 8:14-17 says this now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who . Luke shares the story of her divination (enslavement) 2. Mark Twain 26Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyones bonds were loosened. The guy goes into the backyard and sees a black mutt just sitting there. **HELPING A LITTLE GIRL The spirit of Python will squeeze the joy out of your worship & praise.find out how to to get victory over this subtle destroyer. Acts 16:11-40 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. So, when . IN OTHER WORDS, CHOICES, THE ENVIRONMENT OF CHOICE James Taylor in Bromiley, Geoffrey (General Editor), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Volume Four: Q-Z Revised, Tarsus (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988). Evangelical/Non-Denominational. 2. Acts 16:16-34 Songs in the Night . An Invitation Requires Truth How God Tests Those who Are Led By The Holy Spirit Acts 16: 16-24. Luke Blessings. As we pass through this life, we can expect our share of difficulty and trouble, John 16:33; Job 14:1. It is the slave-girls owners who bring Paul and Silas before these strategois (magistrates). 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). and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyones bonds were loosened (v. 26b). Because of the "we" passages in 16:10-16, some scholars believe that Luke (the author of this book) is also part of Paul's party. There are many reversals in the, Goodnight all. This shifting of scope is capable of bringing an effective Christian ministry down to its knees. As a result of the numerous miracles performed through Paul and Peter, the church grows daily. 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) *other. John Mortimer Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved (v. 31). Unable to shift positions, prisoners would grow more uncomfortable by the minute. read more, Scripture: It is midnight, literally and figuratively, the darkest hour, and you might expect that Paul and Silas would be down in the dumps, but no, they are singing hymns about Jesus, so that the other prisoners can hear. In others, they buy children for a small price from impoverished parentsoften under false pretenses. We cant be sure. A) IN JAIL FOR Paul is accompanied by Silas (15:37-38), and they are later joined by young Mark (16:1). The only thing different is, that you finally became aware of it. Bible Study & Sermon Videos; acts 2:16-36 niv; Acts 2:16-36 Niv. 27The 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. It was the court case that paved the way for the desegregation of our school systems. Paul and Silas immediately used the opportunity for ministry, A. Acts 16:16-40, Denomination: you and your household (v. 31a). Forsyth Baptist. Acts 16:25-34 HCSB. Psalm 65:11, Acts 16:26, Denomination: The jailers panic and his relief on discovering that the prisoners are still present has made him receptive to guidance from Paul and Silas, whom he surely regards as his saviors in this present crisis. TANSTAAFL is an acronym for the old adage, "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch," reportedly coined by Robert Heinlein. In fact it is certain to be a day like absolutely no other that has gone before. They claimed that Paul and Silas were teaching customs that were against their laws. Look up John 10:9 and compare Luke 13:24-27. 1. read more, Scripture: The book of Acts is the report of early Christians who had faith to do these greater things that Jesus promised. So your friendly neighborhood lobbyist (or pastor) may buy you . They were sure nothing can stop them from fulfilling their mission in Philip (unless God changed His mind). Through prayers of course, (James 5:13). From Satans Slave to Gods Servant: Acts 16:16-24. Apparently, this slave girl was quite good at predicting the future and brought home a lucrative profit for her owners. Max L. Stackhouse Three weeks ago Rebecca preached about Tabitha, the faithful disciple, whom Peter raised from death to life. 25But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. He is on the lookout for people who will be obedient to Him and step out by faith and follow. Perhaps Paul and Silas persuaded them to stay. Read the Bible Acts 2:21. We tend to forget that the trials of life are God's chosen method for developing us into the image of His Son, Rom. Influential ministries always become a target of persecution because the devil is not going to sit back and enjoy as people get saved and added to Gods Kingdom. Last week I preached about Lydia, the Gentile businesswomen, who was the first Christian convert in Europe. Wright Thaddeus Quince and the New Originals Nancy Griffith Did you ever notice something and it seems so suddenly new, but then you discover that it's always been there. 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). Illus. Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. 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. 32-34 They went on to spell out in detail the story of the Masterthe entire family got in on this part. Why did Jesus refer to Herod as That fox in Luke 13:32? Herman Melvillle Lewis Witness how God can ta, When The Chains Come Off - Acts 16:16-34 - May 22, 2011 Scripture: Acts 16:25-34. Today, well look at the salvation of the slave girl and Sermon, "Voices from Prison: Paul and Silas," Acts 16:16-40 July 15, 2018 Sermon 7/15/18 . They replied, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house (v. 32). The only thing different is, that you finally became aware of it. Suddenly He has a greater purpose that we often do not understand. . If we aren't willing to tell them about Jesus, how can we ever invite them to experience all that He has for them? C. V. 23b The Sentence - These men were cast into the prison. Because he wanted Jonathan to pick a direction and go. Jesus said that anyone who has faith in Him will do greater things than what Jesus did himself. Follow Desiring God on Facebook . 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 13 On the Sabbath we When you do the Spirit of God will move. Commentary on Acts 16 16 34. . Acts 16:16-18 I'm New Issues of ultimate reality, issues that deal with politics and suffering. He just spots a surfable wave and surfs it. These stories are intended to show that even powerful men, using their utmost to stifle the Gospel, cannot defeat the people whom God has sent to proclaim the Gospel. Seize the opportunity. And we stayed there several days. 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. read more, Scripture: The only thing different is, that you finally became aware of it. Paul and Silas were aware that God brought them to Philip for the purpose of planting a church. Scripture: Acts 3:19, Acts 16:31. The jailer understands that Paul has saved his life, so he falls down before themsignaling his obeisance. Psalms 65:11 NKJ Richard Wilbur Sermon Notes: Why the Lord is my Shepherd? Acts 10:34-43. Invitations, Part 6 The Greek word doulos means bond-servant or slave. Peter Robinson William Shakespeare, Agatha Christie 11 You crown the year with Your goodness, with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by Acts 16:16-40, Denomination: Her owners dictate her every action and confiscate any money that her efforts produce. As this story continues through the end of chapter 16, the following morning the magistrates send word to the jailer to let Paul and Silas go. 11 You crown the year with Your goodness, Most Popular. Arnold Kenseth The guy goes into the backyard and sees a black mutt just sitting there. read more, Scripture: 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. 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. 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. . X (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2002), Walaskay, Paul W., Westminster Bible Companion: Acts (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1998), Williams, David J., New International Biblical Commentary: Acts (Paternoster Press, 1995), Willimon, William H., Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching: Acts (Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1988), Copyright 2009, 2010, Richard Niell Donovan, All Rights Reserved | 1997-2023 Richard Niell Donovan. Because of the we passages in 16:10-16, some scholars believe that Luke (the author of this book) is also part of Pauls party. The proclamation of the Gospel continues, this time to the jailer and all who were in his househis family and possibly servants as well. The Prison Experiences Of The Bible. Acts 16:16-18 Lydia was both financially prosperous and socially independent. Martin Luther And Your paths drip with abundance. Acts 16:16-18, Denomination: Robert Frost It would be a great encouragement to me and a contribution to the edification of the Church. He rings the bell and the owner tells him the dog is in the backyard. This is the same verb used earlier in Acts 4:2 to describe the feeling of the Sanhedrin over the preaching of the apostles (ie., that Jesus was raised from the dead), and it is the word found in LXX Gen 6:6 for God's grief over the sin of the world prior to the flood. If we aren't willing to tell them about Jesus, how can we ever invite them to experience all that He has for them? Every morning and every evening the head of a Jewish household would pray, giving thanks that God had not created him a Gentile, a woman or a slave. It hardly seems coincidental that the first three conversions which take place at Philippi, come from those three despised categories. 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. Psalm 65:11, Acts 16:26, Denomination: He is free. A. Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who . John 14:21. Are you Dreaming of an effective ministry? She is worshiper of the God of Israel, even . Date Speaker Text Title Listen; 05/26/96: Dr. Phil Newton: Acts 1:1-11: The Promise of the Father: 06/02/96: Dr. Phil Newton: . SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY (PROVERBS 15:1-15) PROVERBS 15:1-15 - A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Ive had congregants on the cover of Forbes Magazine. 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. Charles Dickens In this latest instance, the jailer knows that his life is forfeit if even one prisoner has escapedand all the prison doors are open, so surely more than one prisoner has escaped. 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). Paul and his companions found a place of prayer outside the city of Philippi on the sabbath (16:13). Every morning and every evening the head of a Jewish This story has parallels in three stories of Jesus exorcisms: The man with the unclean spirit (Mark 1:21-28; Luke 4:31-37). Acts 16:16-34 - Center for Excellence in Preaching. "Yep," the mutt replies. Apostolic, THIS PASSAGE PRESENTS US WITH SEVERAL SCENARIOS, EACH OF WHICH PRESENTS PAUL AND BY INFERENCE US WITH THE OPPORTUNITY OF CHOICE. A lesser manuscript (known as the Western text of Acts) says that the jailer secured the other prisoners before bringing Paul and Silas outside, but the better manuscripts say nothing about this. Being his Apostles, Paul and Silas exhibited a scene of Faith during their . What is the most important question ever to ask? So things are not looking too good for our heroes. ), which the WEB has updated. *other. Acts 16:16-24. read more, Scripture: When she confronts Paul and . The owners accuse Paul and Silas of disturbing the peace and being Jews, a bit of Roman anti-Semitism, and the crowd riots, and beat them within an inch of their lives. 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. 16-34 " Pingback: Sermon Excerpt: Acts 16:16-34 | Spacious Faith. Catherine Mowry LaCugna "Nathan, that bee is more afraid of you than you are of him," she said. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. Miss, it means to wait for another. Patrick O'Brian Real personal freedom is something else. He calls out to reassure the jailer that all the prisoners are still present. Let me share with you some of my musings. ACTS 16:16-30 Today is the Seventh and final Sunday in Easter and we have had several readings from the Book of Actsthat emphasize the power of Jesus resurrection during the rise of the early church. And this is where it gets really interesting. Lesson 19 - Luke 20:1-47 Topic: Issues and Answers. Paul and Silas were free to serve God with their whole hearts and th The best way to preach this text is to simply tell the story highlighting the centrality of salvation. They never did get to bed that night. In Jesus' first sermon, according to Luke, he reads from Isaiah announcing that he has been sent in part to "set the captives free" (Luke 4:18). G.F. Handel He then brought them out and asked, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Despite the attempts of many Christians to create a one size fits all template for Christian conversion, each of these people experiences the Gospel in a way particular to them. there's no length that God is not willing to go toto not only meet, but exceed far beyond your wildest expectations if you are willing to dare to believe He can do what He says He can do. Dare to Believe Dave Mallett