Dover Assembly of God
Last week we talked about Paul & Silas being in stocks in jail, suffering a beating all for simply healing a girls of demon possession -- jailed for doing right.
During their pain and imprisonment, they still were able to sing praises to God.
God answered their praise by delivering them from the jail. Their witness and lifestyle was noticed by the other prisoners and jailer and because of that, the jailer and his house was saved.
Acts 16:34 NIV
From the next sentence, it appears that after they go to the jailer’s house, they all go back to the jail.
Acts 16:35 NIV
They could have left from there. They were free, but had they left at that point, there would have been a cloud of suspicion around them.
Who were these guys? Did they really represent God? What about the future of the church that was started by a couple of guys who disappeared?
There would have not been a conclusion to their having been in the town. It would have still been a mystery. Why didn’t they stick around? Were they hiding something?
They wanted to leave under the right circumstances.
Life is full of situations where we leave or change where we are or what we do.
We change jobs, we move away, or even change churches.
Hopefully all under Gods direction. But when that happens, do we leave correctly? Do we leave for the right reasons?
Acts 16:36 NIV
The people in charge realized they didn’t have a case against Paul & Silas, so they were trying to whisk them off without any fanfare. Notice also that nothing is mentioned about the earthquake or the opening of the cells etc.
The people didn’t recognize the hand of God when it happened. How often do we see miracles and the providence of God in various situations, but those around us are oblivious?
They attribute it to a natural phenomenon, or chance or they don’t even notice it. They just wanted these trouble makers to leave.
They had them beaten and jailed and thought for sure that that intimidation would be enough for them to turn tail and run out of town.
Have you ever been intimidated by someone in the hopes that you will just be quiet?
Well what was Paul’s response to that? He could have beat a hasty retreat out of town, not suffer any more hardships, beatings or jail.
It would have been the easy way out, but as usual, he didn’t take the easy way.
In fact, he pushed the issue even more.
Acts 16:37 NIV
Paul, as we know was a Roman citizen and as such had various rights accorded to him from that government.
They had denied Paul a right that should have been given and now he was challenging it. In fact, now he was demanding that those rights be given.
Paul was challenging those in authority because those in authority were not operating under the laws that were in effect.
Here is a question I have posed before to some. When the Bible says we are supposed to obey those in authority, but those in authority are not obeying the laws of the land, are we still obliged to obey?
If our country has a Bill of Rights and a Constitution and those that have authority do not obey those documents, are we still to obey those in authority?
Paul challenged them because the law stated something that they didn’t follow. In fact he called the individuals out almost by name. He said “the ones who did this need to come to me.”
Not you jailers. I want the ones in authority to make it right.
Acts 16:38 NIV
What they did to Paul & Silas was a serious offense and now they were afraid for their own hides. If they were the leaders, why would they be alarmed? Didn’t they hold the power?
The reason probably was that it was illegal. They didn’t want any legal problems or my guess and some of the commentaries I read said that the wrath of the citizens was their fear.
So even people who didn’t really know or possibly believe Paul & Silas would have been upset that a Roman citizen was treated this way, because it meant if Paul was treated that way, they could be next.
When Christians lose out on some basic rights, others need to head that, because they will be next.
The old adage “I may not agree with what you say, but I’ll defend your right to say it.”
The German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller wrote this around WW2
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
Acts 16:39 NIV
Why else would people in authority lower themselves to respond to a prisoner unless it meant something they were fearful of? So the wrath of the crowd was a distinct possibility.
But to kind of put this away as quietly as possible, they “requested” they leave. It wasn’t a demand or a forceful exit.
They really wanted them to leave so this wouldn’t be repeated. Someone else wouldn’t grab them and beat and imprison them.
Acts 16:40 NIV
Remember Lydia was the one who gave hospitality to Paul and the crew and it was something they remembered. When we show true hospitality to others, it is something that sticks with them.
They could have just left without stopping, but they had developed a relationship with Lydia because of her kindness, that they wanted to go there.
And who was there? Lydia and other believers. This was the birth of the Philippian church. Lydia was the first believer and she now had others joining her. There were other believers there: the slave girl and some assume that the jailer and his family joined them.
Paul encouraged them and then left.
Notice the pronoun change. Up to this point, Luke, the author uses the term “WE”.
Acts 16:13, 16 NIV
Acts 16:40 NIV
Luke stays behind presumably to help this start up church.
Paul later writes the letter to the Philippians and commends them for continuing to grow.
Philippians 1:1-6 NIV
The church had grown and now had overseers and deacons. And was continuing to grow.
Paul said that God will finish the work that was started. That ends this chapter.
Everyone in this chapter came to Christ in a different manner.
~ Timothy came to know Christ because of a godly mom and grandma.
~ Lydia was converted through a quiet conversation with Paul at a Jewish prayer meeting.
~ The slave girl was converted when Paul confronted her.
~ The jailer was saved from suicide thru the faithful lifestyle of Paul and Silas.
The point is, different people have different experiences and were drawn in by different methods.
God used the circumstances in each of their lives as an opportunity to break through with the gospel.
And someone had to be there to show them the truth. Are you that someone?