Providence Group Skilled Nursing, Articles A

For Christians, the Old Testament statements are enhanced by multiple verses such as Matthew 10:8, Luke 10:9 and 9:2, and Acts 5:16 that say "heal the sick". But they can read and predict human behavior, and can attempt to steer events towards a previously predicted conclusion. VI. In times of trial, Satan tempts us to think things like, If God exists and if He is good, why didnt He protect you from this extreme situation? As Peter goes on to show, and as Paul and Silas here exemplify, the solution is to resist the devil by being firm in our faith in the Almighty God. _._ Beyer, 45f. This shows Gods provision, because John Mark and Barnabas just left Paul (Acts 15:36-41). WENT TO PRAYER; went towards the place where their public prayers were They were singing because their hearts were full of praise toward God and the joy of His salvation. divin Acts 16:9. 2:20). 16. Maybe your mate or a family member treats you with contempt because of your Christian convictions. Today, much of what fortune-tellers and psychics do is only a money making sham. The Waste Pro Southeast Florida Safety Trainer is responsible for ensuring all operational personnel are trained to company standards. gain by soothsaying: (17) The same followed Paul and us, and cr We now enter on the missionary journeys, as they are called, of the (dep.) TANSTAAFL is an acronym for the old adage, "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch," reportedly coined by Robert Heinlein. Acts 16:35-40 Magistrates. Focus on joy in the Lord and dont forget your witness. That they sailed straight for Samothrace is quite revealing, because this is a nautical expression that means the wind was at their backs. This Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2001, All Rights Reserved. The real reason for the anger of the slave girls owners was that they had just been deprived of their source of income (16:19). No number of women would compensate for the absence of even one man necessary to make up the quorum of ten. (Bruce). If I radiate His joy because I have entrusted my soul to Him, the faithful Creator, then even when Im wrongly treated, He will be glorified and others will be drawn to the Savior. Explanation - The following list includes not only commentaries but other Christian works by well known evangelical writers.Most of the resources below are newer works (written after 1970) which previously were available only for purchase in book form . and from thence to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the first I am using the wording of 1 Peter 4:19, which is one of two times in the New Testament God is called the Creator (Rom. This page is a verse by verse study of Acts 16:16-40. Its still possible for a type of Macedonian Man to give an unusual call to serve God in a distant place. Articles, monographs and books hosted on this site by Authors with Surnames beginning with B Acts 16:35-40. A certain disciple was there, named Timothy: In the time since Paul had been to Lystra, a young man named Timothy had been serving the Lord (He was well spoken of by the brethren). "When the slave girls masters had brought Paul and Silas to the magistrates, they said, These men, who are Jews, are confusing our city, proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us Romans to accept or to observe. Demons cast out of a damsel. part. a. ii. Acts 16:16-34 Commentary. ii. VIII. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. But those vague charges were enough, because both the multitude and the magistrates were biased against Paul and Silas. SPIRIT OF DIVINATION; an evil spirit, under the influence of which she 16As we were going to prayer, it happened that a certain slave girl met us. Whether this was on the same day pp. 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. (temp. Timothy had a believing mother with a Jewish background (son of a certain Jewish woman who believed), and a (presumably) unbelieving Greek father. Then he brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? They answered, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household. They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house. d. She begged us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay. Immediately, Lydia set about doing good. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. Their pure, upright life, deep faith and devotion to God, their gentleness and their wonderful manliness, became a shining example of life for thousands (in Christianity Today [6/21/74]). i. Acts 16:16. He was a man who had learned to focus on the Lord and His abundant grace in every situation, and so he was filled with joy in the Lord in every situation, even in severe trials. c. And he came out that very hour: The idea behind that very hour is that the demon came out immediately. Due to the sweetness and greatness of this work, there is a proverb in Tamil which says, "Thiruvasagathukku . She was possessed by a spirit of divination. They came and took them from prison and begged them to leave town. closing to him as in one way or another he was first hindered from Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved: Pauls answer to the keeper of the prison is a classic statement of the essence of the gospel. These verses describe Pauls experiences and work in Thessalonica and Berea during his second missionaryjourney. without expecting opposition. the place of prayer, Acts 16:13. This girl had brought her masters much gain by fortune telling. ), ._ Acts 5:3-5). And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. Our trials do not mean that He does not exist or that He is not loving and good. Always? But at this point, Paul says, No way! ACTS 16 COMMENTARY. i Paul and Silas Imprisoned _for _Lystra, _A.V._; Timothy _for _Timotheus, _A.V._; of a Jewess Tap the title next to the arrow to get thatdocument. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. I emphasize this first point because it is foundational to everything else. between Paul and Barnabas who had been close companions on the first No, in this he was simply obeying the words of Jesus, Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. i. b. But the overflow of their worship was witness. Timothy agrees and Paul has Timothy circumcised. One thing I really want to talk about is the best way to use Bible commentaries so you are actually learning how to study the Book for yourself, and not just memorizing the thoughts of the . I would never have it another way. (In Our Daily Bread [2/85].). And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. They were biased because of their Jewish appearance, and because they assumed Paul and Silas were not Roman citizens. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. Acts 21:23-26 23So do what we tell you. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition The Lockman Foundation, Related Topics: Character of God, Faith, Suffering, Trials, Persecution, Steve served as the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship from May, 1992 through his retirement in December, 2018. i. Paul knew that a man will be identified by both his friends and his enemies, and could do without a demonic letter of reference. Quite simply, it means even if something appears to be free, there's always some kind of catch. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to travel with him to . In Derbe and Lystra again. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." 18 She kept this up for many days. He devised the plan of salvation and sovereignly chose certain individuals to salvation before the foundation of the world ( Eph. masters much gai AS WE WENT TO PRAYER, Or, _To the oratory._ The manner in which St. So Paul and Silas went out of the prison, and entered into Lydias house to see and encourage the brethren; then Paul and Silas departed.". 24Join these men, go through the rite of purication with them, and pay for the shaving of their heads. med. spirit of a pythoness_, or, according to superior authoriti EXPOSITION The more difficult reading appears to be pu,qwna (74 a A B C* D* 81 16 Paul[ a] came also to Derbe and to Lystra. b. 36The jailer reported these words to Paul: 'The magistrates have sent a message for your release; therefore come out now, and go in peace.' A. Timothy (16:1-10) As Paul and Silas go through Derbe and Lystra, they come across a disciple named Timothy who was spoken highly of by the brethren. EPILOGUE. The Jewish religion was tolerated, but Jews were prohibited from proselytizing Romans. The other prisoners were listening to them. But Paul, greatly annoyed: Paul was greatly annoyed, and he did not appreciate the free advertising from the demon. They were occult pimps, prostituting her spiritually. In this, Paul was like Jesus, who often told demons to be silent, even when they told the truth about Him (Matthew 8:28-34, Mark 3:11-12). If they had been praying that way, as soon as God sent the powerful earthquake, they would have said, All right! This led Theodore Olson, a leading critic of the Supreme Court, to suggest that the students should dance nude before their football games, since the court prefers naked dancing to prayer as a form of expression (Kathleen Parker, The Washington Times [9/11/00], p. A12)! 16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. What should a Christian do when his life has been a poor testimony to those without Christ? The Prison Experiences Of The Bible. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. This Week: John 17:20-26. i. Paul didnt set out to go to Troas. The English, on the other hand, although faced with a more benevolent geography, had a preference for clustering close to the Atlantic seaboard until the eighteenth century; only in the Hudson and Connecticut River valleys, and in parts of the Chesapeake region, did settlement of the interior begin from the outset.50 It is a striking commentary . b. ACTSNOTE ON ACTS 16:16 A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION. | Topics We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Paul did things for the sake of love that he would not do for the sake of trying to please God through legalism. Thus if we want to glorify God, which is the highest goal for the Christian, we must focus on finding joy in Him. They have violated our rights as Roman citizens. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Don't harm yourself: we are all here!" (Acts 16:25-28). But pythona was a certain kind of snake a python. He also wrote to the Philippians, Do all things without grumbling or disputing (Phil. Now when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them to the marketplace to face the rulers." Everything else flows from that. It is difficult to say exactly how the Holy Spirit said no; it may have been through a word of prophecy, or by an inward speaking of the Holy Spirit, or by circumstances. (apparition, a spirit, a python), not the genitive (). Let them come themselves and release us. ", "The sergeants reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. usually made. abs._ iii. Also, Paul and Silas legal rights were violated. apostles went towards the forementioned place of prayer,. The world should see (or hear) our joy in the Lord from the dungeon and ask, Whats with these people, anyway? Then we tell them. ", "These men are proclaiming to us a way of salvation", "When it was day, the magistrates sent the police with this message: Release those men! The jailer reported these words to Paul: The magistrates have sent a message for your release; therefore come out now, and go in peace. But Paul replied with this message for the magistrates: They have flogged us publicly, without a trial, men who are Romans, and have cast us into prison. Let them come themselves and release us. " (Acts 16:35-37). Was he a masochist, or what? Paul cried, "Do thyself no harm: for we are all here." You can check these in your browser security settings. The other prisoners were listening to them. A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION CAST OUT BY ST PAUL. The accusing and abusing of Paul and Silas for it, their imprisonment, and the indignities done them (v. 19-24). Timotheus] was probably of Lystra, not Derbe. They were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia: After strengthening the churches in the region, Paul sought to go next to the south-west, towards the important city of Ephesus. _for _of a certain woman which was a Jewess, We remember at the end of our study last week there arose a contention (p.40-42, 1998 edition, Lucis Trust) As WE went to prayer - This i "And it came to pass, as we were going to the place of prayer, that. Increasingly, our religious rights are being violated in the interest of so-called neutrality. Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that nude dancing was entitled to considerable legal protection as expressive behavior, but they struck down student elections permitting speech that might be used for prayer prior to high school football games. So the magistrates came begging to Paul and Silas. What are some practical steps toward deepening our daily joy in the Lord. POSSESSED WITH A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION MET US, WHO BROUGHT HER MASTERS Tap the title above, next to the arrow, to go to thatpage. What's more, Paul and Barnabus have traveled . some MSS. They seized Paul and Silas: Paul and Silas were singled out not only because they were the leaders of the evangelistic group, but also by their appearance, as they were the most obviously Jewish. The demon inside the girl kept shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved" (16:17). PRAYER, see on Acts 16:13. This is how God wants our lives to be: Natural magnets drawing people to Him. EXALTING JESUS IN Acts (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) - GOOD - $16.40. They charged the jailer to keep them safely. Maybe youre wondering, Does trusting God mean that we should never stand up for our rights? He pointed this obviously repentant man to faith in Jesus Christ. If anyone had a right to be angry, they did. A certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination brought her masters much profit: This girl, though demon possessed, was a source of money for her owners as a fortune teller. 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. The demon-possessed slave girl preached for Paul, giving a demonic testimony to their divine credentials and their message. Let them come themselves and get us out. And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. b. It refers to the Roman Province of Asia Minor, which is modern day Turkey. real possession, and that St. Paul himself considered it in th AT PHILLIPPI. The great missionary David Livingstone summarized the spirit of Paul when he said, I am prepared to go anywhere, so long as it is forward. (Cited in Barclay). And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. Whatever form it takes, you should not be surprised when you are treated wrongly. That couple was in Peru to serve Jesus Christ. New International Version. The solution will come, as I said, when the races regard the Jewish problem as a humanitarian problem but also when the Jew does his share of understanding, love and right action. Her hospitality was touching and a wonderful example. He was told, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. Verse Acts 16:16. oracles met us. In Acts 15, Paul argued strongly that it was not necessary for Gentile converts to come under the Law of Moses for salvation (Acts 15:2 and 15:12). As Paul later wrote to the Philippians, his aim was that with all boldness, Christ would even now, as always, be exalted in his body, whether by life or by death (Phil. Rather, they accused them of throwing the city into confusion and of proclaiming customs that were not lawful for Romans to accept or observe (16:20-21). This is good advice to anyone contemplating suicide. _praes. Do they now release us secretly? William Carey wanted to go to Polynesia, but God sent him to India. The phrase, being Jews, was no doubt said with a slur. The last time Paul was in Lystra, they first worshipped him as a god and then tried to kill him by stoning (Acts 14:11-20). You can also change some of your preferences. He uses circumcision in all liberty d. When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison: After being severely beaten, Paul and Silas were imprisoned in maximum-security conditions (commanding the jailer to keep them securely the inner prison fastened their feet in the stocks). God does not give Christians an exemption, even when they are in the middle of doing His will and pursuing His kingdom and righteousness. The places specially mentioned are Samaria, Azotus, Caesarea, Lydda, the Sharon valley, and Joppa. view of the recent decision of the council. V. The casing of an evil spirit out of a damsel, ver 16-18. We will protest, we may sue, well write to our congressman, take courses in assertiveness training, or whatever it takes to get our rights. Immediately all the doors were opened, and everyones bonds were loosed. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyones chains were loosed.