***********Acts 16:25-34
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Acts 16:25–34
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them outside and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. 34 He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.
Luke declared the singing of the missionaries, the shaking by the Master, and the salvation of the man and his household.
￫Christians can pray to the Lord, praise the Lord, and proclaim the Lord to anyone, at anytime, and at any place.
When we are faithful in proclaiming the word of God we can see God work to change lives and save souls.
OSS: I want to challenge the people of God to be faithful to God in times of persecution, to rely on God in prayer and to rejoice to God in praise, and reveal the word of God by proclaiming His truths.
How do we handle persecution? How do we respond when we are accused, threatened, and mistreated for the cause of Christ? Do we rejoice in the Lord? Do we sing praise for the Lord? Do we pray? What would we do if we had gone through what Paul and Silas just went through?
This passage gives us some facts about the “Midnight ”
I. The reasons: the jailhouse rocked (25)
A. The prayers of God’s servants (25a)
“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying”
“Were praying” (KJV: Prayed) proseuchomai, pros-yoo’-khom-ahee; to pray to God, i.e. supplicate, worship-pray (x earnestly, for), make prayer.
The tense in the Greek language is a continuous tense which tells us that they “continued to pray” or they were “continuing in prayer.”
After being beat half to death with “many stripes” on their bare backs with wooden rods, they had a prayer service.
There is never a bad time to pray!
Remember, Paul and Silas got into hot water with the slave girl’s masters and the authorities because they cast the demon out of the girl.
It was on their way to prayer that the demon possessed girl first met the missionaries.
Paul and Silas were not just praying because they were going through a tough time.
Paul and Silas made it their regular habit to pray!
Paul and Silas depended on the Lord consistently and completely.
They were not relying on their self-sufficiency, but they were relying on God’s sufficiency.
Vance Havner said, “Our efficiency turns out to be a deficiency unless we have God’s sufficiency.”
They were going to prayer when trouble broke out and they went to prayer after trouble broke out.
We can learn from Paul and Silas to pray before trials, in trials, through trials, and after trials.
Paul and Silas had been beaten unmercifully and thrown in the inner prison and their feet fastened in the stocks. They were in desperate need.
What did they do? Did they feel sorry for themselves?
They went to God in prayer.
Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Paul and Silas were in a great time of need. Their backs had been laid open, their legs had been stretched out, and their feet had been placed inside the stocks.
￫They were hurting, but they weren’t helpless!
￫They were abused, but they weren’t abandoned!
￫They were sentenced, but they weren’t silenced!
￫They were beaten, but they didn’t backslide.
￫They were persecuted, but they didn’t pout.
￫They were detained, but they weren’t derailed!
After being arrested, accused, and afflicted they were praying to God.
It was at midnight when Paul and Silas had a prayer service! It is never a bad time to pray!
Do we pray before the troubles? Do we pray in the troubles? Do we pray through the troubles?
I found a poem entitled, “Make me an Intercessor.”
• Make me an intercessor, one who can really pray, one of the Lord’s remembrances by night as well as day.
• Make me an intercessor, in Spirit-touch with Thee, and give the heavenly vision praying through to victory.
• Make me an intercessor, teach me how to prevail, to stand my ground and still pray on, though pow’rs of hell assail.
• Make me an intercessor, sharing Thy death and life, in praying claiming for others, victory in the strife.
• Make me an intercessor, willing for deeper death, emptied, broken, then made anew, and filled with Living Breath.
• Make me an intercessor, hidden-unknown—set apart, thought little of by those around, but satisfying Thine heart.
Do you pray in the hour of trial? Do you pray in the hour of triumph? Do you pray when all is well? Do you pray during attacks from hell?
You and I need the Lord everyday and in every way.
￫We need His presence to guide us,
￫We need His power to guard us,
￫We need His provisions to sustain us,
￫We need His pardon to release us.
It was the prayers of God’s servants that caused the jailhouse to rock?
We’ve noticed the prayers of God’s servants, we also see:
B. The praise of God’s servants (25b–c)
1. The time of their worship (25b)
“But at midnight Paul and Silas were … singing hymns to God”
Paul and Silas showed their reliance on God through it all.
At midnight Paul and Silas were not sleeping in the cell, but they were making supplication in the cell and singing songs in the cell.
They were not only praying in the cell, but they were praising in the cell.
There is never a bad time to pray and there’s never a bad time to praise!
Their circumstances didn’t control them! Their situation didn’t silence them!
They didn’t pout about being in prison, but they praise the Lord in prison.
Most Baptist would have set there and sulked, feeling sorry for themselves.
At midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God.
Singing hymns: (KJV: Sang praise) humneo, hoom-neh’-o; to hymn, i.e. sing a religious ode; by implication to celebrate (God) in song, sing an hymn (praise unto).
Paul and Silas didn’t hum in prison, but they “Hymned” in prison. They opened their mouths and sang praises to God.
This word is in the continual tense, as well, in the Greek. This means they kept on singing. They went right on praising.
Paul and Silas were celebrating Jesus in the cell of the jail. They were praising God in the darkest hour.
Question: Where Paul and Silas out of their minds? Did they not know that people were mad at them? Had they forgotten that they had just been beaten?
Paul and Silas practiced praising God! They demonstrated that there is never a bad time to praise Jesus.
This was not something that they just worked up and turned on in time of trouble.
Paul and Silas were servants of the Lord that were surrendered to the Lord.
R. Kent Hughes wrote, “Paul and his gospel companions sang because they knew God had called them across the expanse of Asia Minor. They sang because they believed rightly that they were prisoners of Christ and not of Rome.”
They also praised the Lord because they were men that were filled with the Holy Spirit.
John MacArthur wrote, “The key to having joy in every circumstance of life is to be filled with the Spirit. Joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit, and yielding to His control produces songs of joy. The problem with sad, miserable Christians is not their circumstances but the lack of living a Spirit-controlled life.”
We do not need an orchestra, choir, or praise team to praise the Lord Jesus!
We do not need guitars, drums, pianos, or organs to praise the Lord!
These instruments are good and help us, but they do not praise! It is people who praise!
Paul and Silas, at midnight and in prison, were praising God! What excuse do you have for not praising the Lord!
When is the last time that you have truly praised the Lord?
￫Has there been a midnight in your life where you praise God?
When we come to the point where we realize that we need Jesus every hour then we can praise Him at the midnight hour. Warren Wiersbe wrote, “When you are in pain, the midnight hour is not the easiest time for a sacred concert, but God gives ‘songs in the night.”
Paul and Silas had a sacred concert in their stocks in the cell. NOTICE: They were singing hymns to God!
￫They were not singing for the crowd, but for the King!
￫They were not on Philippian Idol! They were not trying to win a talent contest!
￫They were not trying to impress the jailer!
￫They were not showing off their vocal range!
￫They were not singing to one another or for one another!
￫They were singing to God!
When we come together we need to sing to the Lord and praise the Lord.
Jesus loves to hear His people praise His name!
He deserves for His people to praise His name!
The Bible tells us of the time of their worship.
We also learn of:
2. The testimony in their worship (25c)
“and the prisoners were listening to them.”
The Bible tells us that the Christian’s were singing and the convicts were listening.
The prisoners were listening to Paul and Silas praise the Lord and pray to the Lord.
When we witness and testify and sing to the Lord people will listen.
The prisoners didn’t riot, rebel, or rail at them for singing at midnight!
Nobody yelled through the blackness of the night for them to shut up and keep quiet.
The prisoners were astonished that these men, after being treated like they had been treated, didn’t have a bad attitude. The prisoners would have wondered “what in the world would make these men sing at midnight after being beat half to death?”
God uses the faith and the faithfulness of His saints in dark times to shine His light into the world.
Illustration: Before he became D.L Moody’s famous song leader, Ira Sankey was assigned to night duty in the American Civil War.
While on duty one night, he lifted his eyes toward heaven and began to sing, praising the Lord while he was alone. At least, he thought he was alone.
Years later, after the war had ended, Sankey was on a ship traveling across the Atlantic Ocean. Since he was now a famous singer a crowd of people approached him and asked him to sing.
He lifted up his eyes toward heaven and sang a beautiful hymn.
After his song, a man from the crowd asked him if, on a certain night during the Civil War, he had performed night duty for a certain infantry unit.
Sankey said, “Yes, I did.”
The man continued, “I was on the opposite side of the war, and I was hiding in a bush near your camp. With my rifle aimed at your head, I was about to shoot you when you looked toward heaven and began to sing.
I thought, ‘Well, I like music, and this guy has a nice voice. I’ll sit here, let him sing the song … and then shoot him. He’s not going anywhere.’ But then I realized what you were singing. It was the same hymn my mother used to sing at my bedside when I was a child. And it’s the same hymn you sang tonight! I tried, but that night during the Civil War, I was powerless to shoot you!”
Ira Sankey pointed that man to Christ. He and thousands of others were saved under Sankey’s ministry. All this stemmed from the fact that Sankey praised the Lord at all times.
A lost world is watching what we do and listening to what we say.
Paul and Silas had the ears of these prisoners.
What kind of testimony do we have in the world?
We’ve learned about the reason the jailhouse rocked. We also note:
II. The result: the jailhouse rocked (26)
A. The power to shake the foundations of the prison (26a)
“Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken”
The Rock of Ages rocked the jailhouse long before Elvis sang the “jailhouse rock.”
Paul and Silas had a rock concert in the cell of that jail as they praised the Rock of Ages and the power of God fell on that place!
Paul and Silas depended on the Father and demonstrated their faith.
The Lord’s power shook the foundations of that prison. The Lord has the power to shake foundations!
The Lord knows where His servants are and what His servants are going through!
Remember that He always has the power to intervene and set us free!
God shook the house! God rocked the house at midnight!
Paul and Silas had a midnight worship service and God showed up! God sent a great earthquake which shook the foundations of the prisons.
Illustration: One Easter morning a Pastor in Chicago was preaching and he dramatically called out, “And the last enemy to be conquered is death!”
Just at that time a huge slab of ice came loose and fell from the steeple and crashed into the roof of the church, shaking the whole building.
The pastor said, “Thank You, Lord, for the sound effects!” This was not sound effects in the Philippian jail! The very foundations were really shaken by a God sent earthquake!
The men of God where in jail because of their faith in God, but they were not in jail without God!
The Lord was pleased to show His power and inhabit the praises of His people.
The Bible tells us that the Lord has power to shake the foundations of the prison. We also note:
B. The power to set free all the prisoners (26b)
“and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.”
Immediately all the doors of the prison were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed!
God zeroed in on the jail at Philippi!
With heavenly precision the foundations of the jail was rocked and the doors were opened!
God didn’t swallow the jail up in the ground, though He could have.
God didn’t shake the jail so much that the walls fell in on the prisoners! This was a heaven sent miracle!
God did the right amount at the right time.
He displayed the power to set free all the prisoners.
The power of God can shake the foundation of any prison you may be in.
The foundation was shaken, the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were loosed.
God has the power to set us free from any prison!
The power of God can set you free from:
◾ Addiction to pornography
◾ Lust and covetousness
◾ Addiction to tobacco and drugs
◾ Lying and cussing
◾ Infidelity and unfaithfulness
◾ Ungodliness and worldliness
◾ Hate and envy
People need the power of God to be set free from the prisons they are in.
Do you need the Lord to shake the foundations of your prison?
Do you know someone that needs the foundations of their prison shaken?
He also has power to set free the prisoners.
Jesus came to set the captives free!
He came to give us freedom, forgiveness, eternal life, and eternal freedom!
The jail was shaken by the Lord’s power!
• ￫Has the Lord shaken your jail, opened your prison’s doors, and loosed your chains?
• ￫Do we live like we been set free or are we still sitting in the open prison?
The Lord is not concerned with concrete and steel! He is not concerned with rock, marble, or cement!
His servants were wrongfully arrested, arraigned, and afflicted!
They were rightfully praising and praying!
God shook the house!
We’ve learned about the reason the jailhouse rocked, the result of the jailhouse rock, and we also note:
III. The response to the jailhouse rock (27–28)
A. The jailer’s reaction (27)
1. He awoke from sleep (27a)
“And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep”
The keeper of the prison was working the 3rd shift and was asleep on the job when the earthquake woke him up.
This jailer probably fell asleep listening to Paul and Silas pray to the Lord and praise the Lord.
The prisoner was not only in a physical sleep, but he was also in a spiritual slumber.
He needed to be awakened! His world needed to be shaken!
God is good at shaken up our world and waking us up!
There’s no doubt this ole boy jumped to his feet startled.
The train coming through town often wakes me up! I still am no use to the train rumbling through town!
No one could sleep through an earthquake!
This wasn’t just any earthquake, but it was a “great earthquake” sent by our Great God!
The Bible tells us that the jailer reacted by getting up! We’ve noticed that he awoke from sleep.
We also note:
2. He assessed the situation (27b–d)
a. What he saw (27b)
“and seeing the prison doors open”
The jailer awoke from sleep, got up, got his bearings, and assessed the situation!
Everything was fine when we fell off to sleep, but everything was a mess when he awoke!
The Bible tells us what he saw. He awoke and immediately saw the prison doors open.
We will learn that panic ensued.
The Bible also tells us:
b. What he supposed (27c)
“supposing the prisoners had fled”
The jailer came to a quick conclusion, but we will learn that he had reached a wrong conclusion.
Not everything is as it appears!
It would do us well to look into and investigate things further before we act rashly.
(Supposing) means “to regard, to think, to suppose.”
The doors of the prison were opened and the guard concluded that all the prisoners had escaped.
Not just the missionaries, but the murderers.
Not just the preachers, but the perverts.
Not just the Christians, but the criminals.
Fled: ekpheugo, ek-fyoo’-go; to flee out:- escape, flee.
If the prisoners every had an opportunity to flee it was now!
If they ever had a way of escape it was then!
All the doors had been opened up by the earthquake!
They had a free pass to leave, but they didn’t!
They stayed in their cells! They had heard the men of God pray to God and sing praises to God and then in response they saw the power of God displayed!
It effected the prisoners and we will learn it will have an effect on the jailer as well.
The Bible tells us that the jailer assessed the situation.
He saw the doors opened and he concluded that the all the prisoners had fled.
We’ve learned about what he saw, what he supposed, and we also note:
c. What he sought (27d)
“drew his sword and was about to kill himself.”
Why was the jailer about to kill himself?
The jailer concluded that he had allowed all the prisoners to escape and according to Roman law he would die for his actions.
According to the Code of Justinian (9, 4.4) a jailer that allowed prisoners to escape would suffer the same fate that was awaiting the prisoners.
The Roman law was strict on prisoners and on those who guarded prisoners.
The guards who allowed prisoners to escape would have the prisoners sentences carried out on themselves.
The guard’s first thought was that he was going to die for allowing all the prisoners to escape.
He was frightened and fearful of what would happen to him.
The Bible says that he drew his sword and was about to kill himself.
The jailer was so shaken by what he saw and what he supposed that he sought to kill himself.
Unlike Paul and Silas, this man was not praying or praising. He was fretting!
￫There is never a bad time to praise Jesus and there is never a good time to kill yourself!
So we’ve learned about the jailer’s reaction. I believe he overreacted. He got the cart before the horse and it about cost him for all eternity!
After the jailer’s reaction, Luke then records:
B. The missionary’s response (28)
1. The intensity of his call (28a)
“But Paul called with a loud voice, saying”
Thank God that Paul spoke up! He called out loudly to the man!
This was an intense call to the jailer.
Obviously, Paul could see the jailer and what he was about to do.
Paul’s intense call to the man was an urgent response!
• ￫It would be like a mother rushing in front of an oncoming car to rescue her child.
• ￫It would be like a father running into a burning house to rescue his child.
• ￫It would be soldiers rushing to the aid of a fallen comrade.
There are times that we need to be urgent and intense in our response.
Paul used a loud voice to get the jailers attention!
The prisoners had heard his voice in praise and the jailer would hear his voice in a plea!
The Bible tells us about the intensity of his call. Lastly, we note:
2. The instruction in his call (28b)
“Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”
Paul called out to the jailer from the dark cell and called for him to stop his destructive path.
He instructs the jailer to do himself no harm.
Often in ministry we have to counsel others to do themselves no harm.
The jailer acted rashly and wrongly and was about to take his own life.
He supposed that all the prisoners had fled, but he supposed wrongly.
The open doors for the prisoners didn’t give them a right to flee! They stayed put—that was a miracle to the jailer just as much as the earthquake and that shook the jail.
Satan loves to destroy people’s lives. He is a thief and he has come to steal, kill, and destroy!
He had possessed the slave girl—he had enraged the her masters, he had inspired the attack on the missionaries.
Now he was about to encourage this man to kill himself.
The jailer would rather kill himself than face the Roman authorities. Paul called out to him to tell him that he would have to do neither!
He didn’t need to kill himself and he didn’t have to give an account for the prisoners escaping because they did not escape!
God was working on this jailer and He was working for this jailer!
The missionaries were used by God because they were available to God, they were obedient to God, they were Spirit-filled by God, and they were responsive to God.
Are we available to God? Are we obedient to God? Are we Spirit-filled by God? Are we responsive to His will and His word?
Do we seek the Lord in prayer? Do we lift up our praise for Jesus?
Are we obedient and faithful no matter what?
Have we experienced the power of God to set us free?
Has your prison doors been opened by the Lord?
Have your shackles of sin been loosed by God?
Have you been set free from sin’s power?
Have you experienced victory in Jesus?
Has the Lord rocked your jailhouse?
Would you respond to the Lord Jesus in faith and be saved?
Would you respond to the Lord Jesus and be of service?
Would you call on Jesus in prayer?
Would you lift up Jesus in praise?
God took the worse prison experience of his life and turned it into a prison of praise and hope.
Paul and Silas found themselves in a difficult prison of oppression and suffering. In that prison they experienced the great grace of God. They received everything they needed transform a prison of pain into a prison of praise. I would like to examine their experience for a little while today. It may be that someone here is locked away in a prison of pain. I want you to see that God can take your pain and turn it into praise for His glory. Let’s notice some of the facts pointed out in this passage as we think on the subject: The Prison Of His Praises.
I. v. 16-24 IT IS A PLACE OF MISERY
(Ill. When Paul and company arrived in Philippi, they expected great things to happen. After all, the Lord had very clearly sent them to that city, v. 6-12. His will was further revealed when Lydia and some others came to faith in the Lord, v. 13-15. As soon as the Lord started blessing, however, the devil began his work. Ill. The Context of verses 16-24. These men were in the Lord’s will, doing the Lord’s work and still trouble came into their lives. They found themselves in a place of misery. Let’s examine that place together.)
A. v. 19-21 The Misery Of The Accusations – Ill. The context. Paul and Silas are falsely accused by selfish men, who cared for nothing but money. These men did not care for the poor demon possessed of whom they made their living. They were not above lying and scheming to exact revenge on those they felt had done them wrong.
The problem with their story is the fact that nothing those men said about Paul and Silas was the truth. All they had done was preach the Gospel and set a poor tortured soul free from bondage. They were doing their best to serve the Lord and still trouble came. Have you ever been there?
B. v. 22-23 The Misery Of The Arrest – Ill. The Context. When the rest of the people of Philippi heard the false accusations of the men, they turned on Paul and Silas like a pack of rabid dogs. They hauled them into court; there they were beaten and thrown into prison. The word “cast” means “to throw something with no concern for where it lands”. These men were beaten like common criminals and thrown into prison. All they had done was preach the Gospel and try to help someone and their troubles got worse and worse. Have you ever been there?
C. v. 24 The Misery Of The Accommodations – Ill. The Context – Paul and Silas were handed over to the jailer and “thrust” then into the inner prison, and then their feet were locked in the stocks. This was no prison like anything we have in this country. Our modern prisons would have been like a five-star resort compared to where these men found themselves.
Most likely, they would have been thrown into a deep, dark cell that would have been the nastiest place you could ever imagine. They would have been chained amid mud, filth and human waste. It would have been a dank, dark, dreary, dirty, disgusting, dangerous dungeon. They were there for no other reason but for faithful, obedient service to the Lord Jesus Christ. Have you ever been there?
(Note: I know that I touch this note a lot in my preaching, but God never said this life would be easy. The Bible is very clear that the opposite would be true. Ecc. 2:17, “Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” Ecc. 2:23, “For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.” Other verses teach the same truth, Job 14:1; 5:7.
Jesus told His disciples that trouble was not a possibility; it was an absolute certainty, John 16:33! I guess you have noticed by now that this life is hard. It seems sometimes like God’s children bear more than their share of trials and troubles, Ill. Asaph and Psalm 73.
There are going to be some rough times along the way. There will be some hard times, times when trials and suffering will dominate you life. There will be times when you will do your best to serve the Lord, but He will still put you in a prison situation. It will be a place of misery and suffering. Sometimes it will be worse than you can ever imagine. Spouses die, diseases come, children rebel, marriages fail, and sometimes life hurts. And all the good deeds, good prayers, good hopes, good wishes, and good thoughts will not be able to prevent you from going into a prison experience from time to time.
I know that is not what anyone wants to hear, but those are the facts as the Bible declares them. There will be some places of misery along the path of life. Have you ever been there?
If you have, I need to tell you that you will probably go there again. If you haven’t I can say that you will go there some. If you are there right now, I want you to know that there is hope in your place of misery.)
II. v. 25 IT IS A PLACE OF MINISTRY
A. A Place Of Personal Ministry – When Paul and Silas found themselves in this prison experience, they were hurting, humiliated and in need of some encouragement. After all, they had followed the Lord to Philippi and now they are sitting, chained in a cruel Roman prison. In their hour of need they had no man to whom they could turn for help. They turned to the only source of help available to them. They turned to God and lifted their hearts to Him in prayer.
These men knew something that so many saints never get a handle on. They knew the best place to find the help of a Friend in a difficult situation is to turn to the throne of grace. The saints have a Friend Who cares deeply about them, Heb. 4:15-16. He has promised to hear their prayers, Jer. 33:3. He has promised to answer their prayers, 1 John 5:14-15.
When you find yourself locked away in a prison experience, you can always find a friend Who cares and Who is available to help you. Learn to lean on Him in prayer and your prison will be transformed.
B. A Place Of Profound Ministry – As they prayed, their prison was transformed from a place of pain into a place of praise. Paul and Silas began to sing songs of praise unto the Lord. We do not know what they sang, but we can be sure that they did not sing “Gloom, despair and agony on me. Deep dark depression, excessive misery. If it weren’t for bad luck we’d have no luck at all. Doom, despair and agony on me.”
These men are in a terrible predicament. They have been serving the Lord faithfully. They followed Him even when His will did not make sense to them. Now they are in a prison because they did the right thing. They are in a prison because they have been lied about. They are in a prison, wounded, bleeding and chained. Yet, they are filled with the praises of the Lord. They had learned the profound truth of Job 35:10 and Psa. 42:8.
Ill. Charles Spurgeon said, “Any fool can sing in the day. It is easy to sing when we can read the notes by daylight; but the skillful singer is he who can sing when there is not a ray of light to read by.... Songs in the night come only from God; they are not in the power of men.”
When we find ourselves in one of the bitter prisons of life, and we turn to the Lord for the help we need to make it through that prison, God can turn our sighing into song. He can turn our trials into testimony. He can turn our pain into praise. He can take a time of profound heartache and transform it into a time great help.
May God help us to do as many of the great saints of God have done. May He help us to have a song in the midnight hour. May He help us to be like Job, Job 1:20-21. May He help us to be like Paul, 2 Cor 12:9-10. May He give us grace to praise Him when the pressure is on!
C. A Place Of Powerful Ministry – “and the prisoners heard them” – This phrase means that the other prisoners were “listening intently” to Paul and Silas as they prayed and praised the Lord. They were amazed by what they were hearing! Here were two men who had been severely beaten, carelessly thrown into the inner prison and fastened down in the stocks. Yet, they are not moaning and groaning. They are praising their God and singing love songs to him. That is a powerful ministry!
I would just remind you that a lost world is watching you and me as go through our prison experiences. They could care less about us when we are filled with joy and everything is going well; but they are all eyes and ears when trouble comes into our lives. They watch us to see how we will react when the pressure is place on our lives. They want to see if our faith is real when we go into the prison house of suffering.
(Ill. I have seen saints on both sides of this thing. I have seen some fall to pieces when trouble comes. I have seen others lean on the strong arms of a loving God and praise Him in the face of overwhelming pain and suffering. I can tell that those who can praise the Lord in their trials have a powerful testimony. Their testimony says, “My God is real when things are going well and my God is real when everything falls apart. He is God and He is sufficient!” That is a powerful testimony; and it is a testimony that we should all strive to have in our lives! Ill. Psalm 84:6)
III. v. 26-33 IT IS A PLACE OF MAJESTY
(Ill. How you and I respond in the prisons of life is something we should pay close attention to. After all, God may have sent us there just so we could help someone else to see that God is an ever present, all-sufficient, all mighty God. Let’s notice how God used this prison to get glory to His name and to bring others to Himself.)
A. v. 26 The Majesty Of God’s Power – Notice the language of this verse: Suddenly, foundations of prison shaken, immediately – This is a verse packed with action! All of a sudden, God moved in power and one moment all the prisoners were chained down and the next moment, they were all free! One moment, things looked bleak, but in the next moment, the power of the Lord changed the situation and things began to look better!
(Ill. Whether you recognize it or not, the prison is a place of power! God may change your situation as He did for the Disciples on the ship, John 6:17-21. Or, He may change you in your situation as He did Paul and Job. Either way, you can be sure that He will move in power when the time is right and set you free. He has a plan to set you free! He has not forgotten about you. He knows where you are. He knows the pressure. He knows about the horrors of the prison and He knows how to set you free.
Did you notice that even though they were free, they were still in prison? They were made free while they were still in their prison experience. God can and will do that in your life. When He does, it is a display of awesome, Almighty power!)
The Acts of the Apostles (King James Version) (E. Philippi (Part II): The Power of Sin and Money versus the Power of Jesus’ Name, 16:16–24)
3. There is the young slave girl and the evil spirit of deception within her. Note three things.
a. The testimony of the evil spirit was a true testimony. Paul and the others were “the servants of the most high God.”
b. The testimony of the evil spirit was also a false testimony. This is seen in the Greek which reads, “a way of salvation,” not “the way.” The word “the” (the definite article) is not in the Greek. The evil spirit is proclaiming that Paul preaches only one of many ways to reach God. (How like today!)
c. The testimony, although partly true, is unacceptable. Such acknowledgement is a false witness, a profession only. The evil spirit was not confessing from the heart or will that he would follow Jesus. He had not been born again. The only confession Jesus accepts is the confession of a man who makes a deliberate decision to follow Him as Lord. (See note—Mk. 1:25–26.)
The point is the power of human sin. Sin is so powerful that it can enslave a person and swamp him in the dark world …
• of divination and the occult
• of greed and materialism
• of deception and false witness
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (Jn. 3:16).
“Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life” (Jn. 6:68).
“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (Jn. 8:24).
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2).
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11).
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Tim. 2:5–6).
2 (16:18) Jesus Christ: the power of Jesus’ name. Note four facts.
1. The false witness was a barrage that lasted many days. The slave girl followed Paul and his companions day by day when they went to prayer. As she followed she shouted out the great but false oracle:
“These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us [a] way of salvation” (v. 17).
Note: her proclamation was a barrage that would be embarrassing, and it went on for many days. Why Paul did not act sooner is not known. It could be that he feared a reaction from the worldly-minded, sensing from God that it was not yet time to stop the false witness.
2. The day arrived when Paul became “grieved” (diaponetheis). The word means pained, deeply troubled, worked up, annoyed, and angry (a righteous anger). He was troubled and hurting …
• over the girl being enslaved by sin
• over the girl being so used by greedy and lustful men
• over the false witness to the Lord’s name
• over the mockery and ridicule of his ministry as the servant of Christ
3. The moment came when Paul called upon the strong name of Jesus Christ. He whipped around and healed the girl. Note exactly what Paul did.
a. He addressed the evil spirit within the girl. She was gripped by an evil spirit of divination or of the occult. The power she had was not her own, but of an evil spirit. It was the evil spirit that was the problem, not the girl. Therefore, Paul addressed the evil spirit.
b. Paul called upon “the name of Jesus Christ.” The power to cast out the evil spirit was of Christ, not of Paul (See DEEPER STUDY # 2, Name—Acts 3:6 for discussion.)
4. The enslaved girl was immediately and completely delivered. It was the very same hour that the evil spirit came out.
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Lk. 19:10).
“But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim. 1:10).
“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25).
3 (16:19–24) Greed—Wealth: the power of money and greed is pictured in what follows.
1. Money and greed caused an outcry and opposition against the gospel. And note why: because the owners of the enslaved girl had lost their top money-maker. She had been delivered by the power of Christ. They were frustrated and angry, full of wrath and vengeance. They caught Paul and Silas and dragged (heilkusan, the idea is violently) them before the magistrates of the city. The magistrates in a Greek city were the governors or rulers. They were equal to the consuls in Roman government.
2. Money and greed caused false charges. The preachers were said …
• to be dangerous
• to be troubling people and disturbing the public peace
• to be teaching different customs and carrying on illegal religious activities. Strict Roman law allowed conquered nations to continue their own religious practices, but did not allow the foreign religions to evangelize among Roman citizens
The same charges are often brought against Christian believers by the world. Even in free democracies where the rights of free speech are so loudly proclaimed, these same charges are made by the world against true Christianity.
Note the emphasis upon “these men, being Jews.” This is a slur of racial prejudice. The emporer Claudius had just expelled all Jews from Rome (Acts 18:2). The Romans’ hatred of the Jews was at a peak when Paul and his company were ministering in Philippi.
3. Money and greed caused corruption of public officials. Note the officials gave in to the influential owners and to the public. True justice was bypassed. Paul and Silas were not allowed to answer for themselves; in fact, they were not even allowed to speak. If the court had been interested in true justice, the magistrates would have discovered that the two men were Roman citizens much sooner than they did (see v. 37–40), and they would have found out that the two men had only helped a poor enslaved girl. An open and thinking mind would have seen the enormous contribution the preachers could have made …
• in helping to deliver people from sin, hopelessness, and darkness
• in strengthening society through righteousness and justice
• in guiding people to harness their energies in creativity and development instead of focusing them upon immorality and pleasure
However, the officials and rulers were neither open-minded nor honest. They allowed themselves to be influenced and guided by their own selfish purpose. They gave in to the money and greed of influential people and the cry of the duped populace who were following the influential.
4. Money and greed caused shameful, unjust, and evil treatment (see 1 Th. 2:2). Paul and Silas, the great servants of God who had done such a glorious deed …
• had their clothes torn off
• were beaten with rods “many” times (see 2 Cor. 11:23)
• were cast into prison—a dark, dirty, rat and roach infested dungeon
• were thrust into the inner cells—a solitary confinement type of situation
• had their feet locked in chains
The point is this: the two godly servants were treated this way because of some men who were consumed with the dark spirit of money and greed. Such a dark, evil spirit has great power, but God has greater power.
“Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 Jn. 4:4).
“If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Ro. 8:31).
Thought 1. The great tragedy of so many in the world is that they put selfishness, greed, and money before people. It is because of selfishness that so many influential people attack genuine believers. But Christ changes lives. He changes …
• the immoral to the moral
• the unjust to the just
• the dishonest to the honest
• the prideful to the humble
• the powerful to the servant
• the wealthy to the benevolent
• the authoritarian to the helpful
So many of the influential, wealthy, and powerful are unwilling to become servants of mankind—servants who sacrifice all they are and have for the needy. They are unwilling to truly sacrifice themselves and their money to help the desperate of the world. Therefore, they oppose anything that requires them to sacrifice their selfishness. They will give and help enough to salve their consciences, but not sacrificially.
“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col. 3:5).
“Let your conversation [behavior] be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5).
“He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live” (Pr. 15:27).
“Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!” (Hab. 2:9).
Thought 2. Much of what man does and enjoys is built upon the immoral, unjust, dishonest, and selfish treatment of others, such things as:
⇒ gratification
⇒ money
⇒ position
⇒ employment
⇒ pleasure
⇒ social life
Therefore, when the believer proclaims righteousness, he can expect to be opposed.
“But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues” (Mt. 10:17).
“Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also” (Jn. 15:20).
“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake” (Ph. 1:29).
“That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto” (1 Th. 3:3).
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12).
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange things happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Pt. 4:12–13).
The Acts of the Apostles (King James Version) (F. Philippi (Part III): A Jailer and Salvation, 16:25–40)
1. There was the strong witness of the disciples through terrible difficulties. Paul and Silas had just been stripped, beaten with rods, imprisoned, and put in chains. Their backs were a lacerated, bloody, swollen mass of human flesh. We can just imagine the excruciating pain. But note: sitting there in the dark, smelly, rat and roach infested dungeon, they bore a strong testimony to the wonderful grace of God.
a. They prayed. They probably asked God what every dedicated servant would ask: for God …
• to strengthen and help them
• to forgive their persecutors
• to use their suffering to reach others for Christ
b. They praised and thanked God for …
• His salvation
• the privilege of suffering for the name of Christ Jesus
• His presence and strength through all the suffering
Note: all this took place at midnight (see Ps. 119:62), and they sang so loudly that the other prisoners could hear them. They were unashamed of their Lord (see 2 Tim. 1:8). The idea is that the praying and singing went on for a long time.
The point to see is the strong testimony they bore through the terrible trial. Their faith in the Lord Jesus was a strong witness that prepared the heart of the unsaved for the gospel. Note this: when Paul later wrote to the Philippians, he told them to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Ph. 4:4; 3:1).
“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19).
“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17).
“Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul” (Ps. 66:16).
“I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence” (Is. 62:6).
2. There was the movement of God. In this instance God moved through an earthquake. In other instances He will move in other ways. God can move upon a person’s soul through …
• a happening in nature
• a tragedy
• sensing a lack or need
• the reading of Scripture
• a miracle
• an event in a person’s life
• thinking about life or death
• the preaching of the gospel
• an innumerable list of ways
The point to see is this: God moves events to prepare man’s soul for salvation. One of the major reasons for causing the earthquake was to stir the jailer to cry out for salvation.
3. There was the desperate plight of man—his fear, helplessness, and insecurity. In the case of the jailer, he felt that he faced a hopeless situation because …
• the earthquake had sprung open the jail doors, allowing the prisoners to escape
• he had fallen asleep while on duty
• the penalty for allowing prisoners to escape was death (see Acts 12:19; 1 Ki. 20:39, 42)
The jailer, feeling helpless and hopeless, drew his sword to kill himself. He knew the terrible shame and punishment awaiting him and the shame coming upon his family due to his letting the prisoners escape. Therefore, he preferred to go ahead and die the less painful death of suicide. It would look like he was murdered by one of the prisoners when they escaped and this would spare his family the shame of his having been derelict in his duty.
Circumstances differ; but every person experiences serious problems that cause fear, helplessness, hopelessness, and insecurity in life. In every instance of serious need, a person either turns to God or farther away from God. A person either becomes softer toward God or harder in reacting against God. A person either seeks God for help or approaches some humanistic answer.
The point is this: helplessness and hopelessness are used by God to prepare the human soul for salvation. But we have to turn to God when impossible situations confront us. The choice is up to us.
“And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?” (Mk. 4:38).
“And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse” (Mk. 5:25–26).
“And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; and wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not” (Mk. 9:17–18).
“And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity” (Lk. 13:11–12).
“There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?” (Jn. 6:9).
“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day” (Jn. 6:44).
“And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away” (Acts 27:20).
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Ro. 5:6).
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not” (Ro. 7:18).
4. There was a call of hope by the believer. The jailer was standing out in the hallway or corridor in the light. Paul, in the dark dungeon cell, saw him and shouted out for the jailer not to kill himself. No greater voice or call was ever heard by the jailer. It saved his life. This is a picture of the human soul sensing helplessness and being prepared for salvation. The believer must cry out, proclaiming hope to the helpless and hopeless of the world. The cry of hope is part of the preparation for salvation, a part so desperately needed. Without it the world hurts and ruins itself and dies in its helpless state.
“For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard” (Acts 22:15).
“These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee” (Tit. 2:15).
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Pt. 3:15).
2 (16:29–30) Salvation: the cry for salvation. Note two significant points.
1. There was the immediate and reverent search for salvation. The jailer …
• called for a light
• sprang in
• came trembling
• fell down before Paul and Silas
The stress is immediate reverence for the God of these men. Their God had caused the earthquake and had saved him from being executed by keeping the prisoners in their cells. (Most likely the other prisoners had gathered in Paul’s cell.) He had heard that Paul and Silas had been preaching about salvation throughout the city, that is, that people could be forgiven their sins and delivered from sin and death. And since being in jail, he had heard the two preachers praying for strength and deliverance and for the forgiveness and salvation of their persecutors (which included himself). He feared the God who answered a man’s prayer so quickly and who had such enormous power. He must waste no time in seeking this God and having Him forgive his sins lest he face the judgment of such a God. A significant fact is this: the man was repenting out of fear. Fear is a legitimate reason for seeking salvation despite the minimizing of it by so many.
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mt. 10:28).
“And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation” (Lk. 1:50).
“But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him” (Acts 10:35).
“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Ps. 34:18).
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Ps. 51:17).
“Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread” (Is. 8:13).
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Is. 55:7).
“For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word” (Is. 66:2).
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death” (2 Cor. 7:10).
2. There was the urgent cry for salvation. Note: the man knew to whom to go. He had heard Paul and Silas praying and singing about salvation. He knew.…
• that salvation was what he needed
• that he desperately needed to know this God of theirs
• that he and everyone else needed to be cared for by a God who looks after His followers as He did Paul and Silas
The jailer cried out “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” The disciples were God’s instruments for proclaiming salvation. They were tired and sore and it was the wee hours of the morning, yet they did not put the matter off until morning. They took time right then and there to meet the man’s need.
“Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength” (Ps. 54:1).
“Show us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation” (Ps. 85:7).
“Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation” (Ps. 106:4).
“Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word” (Ps. 119:41).
3 (16:31–33) Salvation—Believe: the proclamation of salvation—believe. Note three critical points.
1. The necessity of believing (see DEEPER STUDY # 2, Believe—Jn. 2:24 for discussion). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” is the answer to the jailer’s question. What is not said is of extreme importance. Note what Paul did not say:
• Saved? My good man, such is superstition, a delusion. There is nothing to be saved from
• Saved? Well, if you have done wrong, right it. And do the best you can from now on
• Saved? Go to work for God. Put your hands to the wheel. Labor and toil for God and mankind
• Saved? Man, don’t trouble yourself about such whims. Life is too short. Live! Eat, drink, and be merry. Make the most of what life you have
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (Jn. 1:12).
“That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:15–16).
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (Jn. 5:24).
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Ro. 10:9–10).
Note the promise that the jailer’s whole house would be saved. The influence of the head of a household in spiritual matters cannot be over-emphasized. A strong spiritual leader almost assures the salvation of his family (see note also DEEPER STUDY # 3—Acts 16:15 for discussion).
2. The necessity for understanding the Word of the Lord. The man and his household were utterly ignorant of Christ. Apparently they had never heard anything about Him, so Paul and Silas had to instruct the jailer and his household in the basics of salvation. Note the jailer’s living quarters were within the prison walls.
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mk. 16:15).
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:1–4).
3. The necessity of repentance and baptism. The man and his family believed, trusted Christ as their Savior (v. 34), and they repented of their sins. This is not mentioned, but it is clear, for the very first act of belief and repentance is baptism. Note: they were immediately baptized (v. 33). (See DEEPER STUDY # 1, Baptism—Acts 2:38.) Also note the man demonstrated repentance by caring for the wounds of the men whom he had treated so badly.
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
“Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee” (Acts 8:32).
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Is. 55:7).
4 (16:34) Salvation: the fruits of salvation. Three fruits are clearly seen.
1. There was the privilege of ministering to fellow believers. The jailer brought Paul and Silas into his house which apparently was within the prison walls, and then he fed them. What he was doing, of course, was showing his appreciation for what God had done for him. A believer cannot sit still and ignore people around him, not if they have desperate needs, not if he is a genuine believer. When God had helped him so much, he could not shut his eyes to those who needed his help.
“For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in” (Mt. 25:35).
“I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
“Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality” (Ro. 12:13).
“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification” (Ro. 15:1–2).
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2).
2. There was the joy of rejoicing. God had saved him and his whole family, saved them all from the grip of sin, death, and condemnation. He could not help experiencing the joy of rejoicing.
“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (Jn. 15:11).
“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Pt. 1:8).
“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels” (Is. 61:10).
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts” (Jer. 15:16).
3. There was the salvation of his family. He was faithful. He knew the importance of salvation, so he insisted his whole family come together to hear the gospel. And note it was in the wee hours of the morning. God honored his spiritual hunger and leadership and saved the whole family. (See DEEPER STUDY # 3, Home, Religion—Acts 16:15 for more discussion and verses.)
5 (16:35–40) Salvation: the effect of salvation upon the world. Three effects are seen in this experience.
1. The world had a sense of guilt over the injustice done. What caused this? Apparently the movement of God in the earthquake. As usually happens in any natural disaster, most men’s minds turned toward God. These men had just committed a serious evil; they were the judges and rulers and they had allowed themselves to be swayed by the influential and wealthy of the city. They had punished and imprisoned two men without a trial. Their consciences bothered them and they decided to do what they could to right their wrong. They released the men.
Thought 1. The Spirit of God will convict every man who ever mistreats a believer. No man will ever escape His convicting power. But note: repentance is up to the man. God cannot repent for the man. Repentance is the man’s responsibility. And if the man does not respond to God’s conviction by repenting, he will be judged and condemned eternally.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (Jn. 3:16–19).
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live” (Jn. 5:25).
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Ro. 1:18–20).
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
“Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee” (Acts 8:22).
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30).
2. The world feared and was humbled. Paul revealed that he was a Roman citizen. It was against the law for a Roman citizen to be denied trial and to be flogged. If the rulers were reported to Rome, they would be removed from office and could be tried for treason.
The point is this: God was using natural events to strike fear and humility into the city of Philippi. God wanted the church at Philippi left alone so it could grow and become one of the great ministering churches in the first century.
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mt. 10:28).
“He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree” (Lk. 1:52).
“And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear” (1 Pt. 1:17).
“Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king” (1 Pt. 2:17).
“Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord” (Josh. 24:14).
“Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread” (Is. 8:13).
3. The disciples were released and delivered by the hand of God.
⇒ They went to the house of Lydia.
⇒ The word “they” is used instead of “we.” Luke stayed behind in Philippi.
⇒ The first fruit in Europe was born. There was now a Christian fellowship or church in Philippi: Lydia, the slave girl, the jailer, and perhaps Clement. Euodia and Syntyche were also saved on this first mission to Philippi (see Ph. 4:2–3).
Thought 1. God is able to deliver the believer through all trials, and He will deliver and work all things out for good until He is ready to take the believer on home to heaven.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Ro. 8:28).
“There hath no temptation [trial] taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13).
“Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us” (2 Cor. 1:10).
“And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever” (2 Tim. 4:18).
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb. 2:14–15).
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:15–16).
“The Lord knoweth how to deliever the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished” (2 Pt. 2:9).