3.3.21 4.22.2018 Acts 16.11-40 Philippi-Empire Unchained!

A long time ago in an Empire far, far away....

▾ Start:

Entice:

▾ Entice:

Acts 16:11–12 ESV

11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days.

Acts 16.11-12

• Acts 16.11.12

Today we will follow Paul and his team as they take the gospel into a new environment.

• Paul and his team take the gospel into a new environment. The group they meet by the river evidently comprise the entire community. As an Imperial Roman

Acts 16:11–12 ESV

11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days.

While there they take the initiative to tell the story of Jesus

Acts 16:13–15 ESV

13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

Colony Philippi's civic pride is different from the more mixed Hellenistic cities Paul is familiar with. This is the first time that his own Roman citizenship will be put at

This group they meet by the river evidently comprise the entire Jewish community in a synagogue-less City. As an Imperial Roman Colony Philippi's civic pride is different from the more mixed Hellenistic cities Paul is familiar with. This is the first time that his own Roman citizenship will be put at issue; likely because this is the first place that he has been that his citizenship is significant.

Philippi was in a sense the cradle (or at least the bank roll) of Hellenism. The city was named after Philip of Macedon who annexed the area, gave it sound government and stability, & helped himself to the gold. The gold funded the expansion of his armies. His son Alexander used those armies to become "great" by conquering the empires of the east. Spreading his ideology of Hellenistic inclusive-ism. Ironically it was more Roman than Greek due to the impact and influence of the Roman soldiers who were given land there and for whose sake the region was designated a Roman Colony.

issue; likely because this is the first place that he has been that his citizenship is significant.

• Philippi was in a sense the cradle (or at least the bank roll) of Hellenism. The city was named after Philip of Macedon who annexed the area, gave it sound

government and stability, & helped himself to the gold. The gold funded the expansion of his armies. His son Alexander used those armies to become "great" by

Expand: Paul and his party encounter a strange mix of Jewish devotion, oriental religious practices, Hellenistic culture, and Roman practical government.

conquering the empires of the east. Spreading his ideology of Hellenistic incluseivism. Ironically it was more Roman than Greek due to the impact and influence of

Acts 16:16–40 ESV

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. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. 19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. 35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” 38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

the Roman soldiers who were given land there and for whose sake the region was designated a Roman Colony.

• Expand: Paul and his party encounter a strange mix of oriental religious practices, Hellenistic culture, and Roman practical government. They meet with Jewish

Paul found that the gospel could make a profound difference even in this very new and different soil. Philippi became the spring-board for expanding European evangelism.

women who made up but a small faith community and come into conflict with occult practices which were embraced less from religious awe than pure profit

motive. Paul found that the gospel could make a profound difference even in this very new and different soil. Philippi became the spring-board for expanding

Engage: Christianity's entry to Europe introduced realities we continue to struggle with to this day. What is really at stake in a culture with so much exploitation? So many prisoners? Powerful inequities? So many who are lost and adrift?

European evangelism.

• Engage: Christianity's entry to Europe introduced realities we continue to struggle with to this day. What is really at stake in a culture with so much exploitation? So

What is at stake?

many prisoners? Powerful inequities? So many who are lost and adrift?

Someone’s Eternity!

• Excite:What is at stake? Eternity. And the solution to the dilemma is the Gospel Paul brought into Europe. A gospel of liberated captives whose hearts become

Somebody’s Liberty!

Somebody’s Liberty!

And the solution to the dilemma is the Gospel Paul brought into Europe. A gospel of unbound captives whose liberated hearts become captive to the Gospel.

The power of God liberates all those who are enslaved by Empire.

captive to the Gospel.

• Explore: The power of God liberates all those who are enslaved by Empire.

Explain: Let's get specific and identify exactly who is liberated from what in this passage.

• Explain: Let's get specific and identify exactly who is liberated from what in this passage.

Fist we can identify those who are

1 Exiled Seekers.

1 Exiled Seekers.

▾ 1 Exiled Seekers.

1.1 Paul & his party were seeking a new field of service…in effect the Holy Spirit exiled them to Macedonia.

• 1.1 Paul & his party were seeking a new field of service…in effect the Holy Spirit exiled them to Macedonia.

1.2 They found a small group of seekers, exiled beyond the city wall because there was no place for them in the well-ordered, pagan, powerful, colonial city.

1.2 They found a small group of seekers, exiled beyond the city wall because there was no place for them in the well-ordered, pagan, powerful, colonial city.

1.2.1 The Word was spoken.

• 1.2.1 The Word was spoken.

1.2.2 Faith bore fruit.

• 1.2.2 Faith bore fruit.

1.2.3 The Church in Europe was born.

• 1.2.3 The Church in Europe was born.

Where were you stranded when someone approached you with a message that liberated you and plotted the path for your divine destiny?

• 1.3 Where have you been stranded when someone approached you with a message that could end your estrangement from God and plot the path for your divine

Next, think about the

destiny?

2 Exploited Victims.

▾ 2 Exploited Victims.

2.1 One poor girl exploited in so many ways:

▾ 2.1 One poor girl exploited in so many ways:

Children were considered burdensome to begin with.

• 2.1.1 Children were considered burdensome to begin with.

She was a slave.

• 2.1.2 She was a slave.

2.1.3 She was a girl.

She was a girl.

• 2.1.3 She was a girl.

She was used to create wealth for others.

• 2.1.4 She was used to create wealth for others.

She was possessed by a demon that enabled divination, prediction and ventriloquism.

• 2.1.5 She was possessed by a demon that enabled divination, prediction and ventriloquism.

2.2 And God was able to use one of the methods of exploitation to proclaim the truth!

• 2.2 And God was able to use one of the methods of exploitation to proclaim the truth!

2.3 Paul, agitated by what He saw, followed the Master in liberating those bound by the demonic.

• 2.3 Paul, agitated by what He saw, followed the Master in liberating those bound by the demonic.

And how can we forget Paul and Silas who in this story are

3 Exhausted Laborers

Exhausted Laborers

3.1 The wrath of our culture exhausts us.

3.1 The wrath of our culture can beat us, bind us, and hider us.

It beats us, binds us, and hiders us because

3.1.1 Those who profit from the exploitation of others want deeper pain not deliverance.

• 3.1.1 Those who profit from the exploitation of others need deeper pain not deliverance.

3.1.2 The economic and social reality is that Freedom costs. It costs Jesus, It costs those who seek it and it costs those who preach it.

• 3.1.2 The economic and social reality: Freedom costs.

However in observing Paul & Silas we find that

3.2

• 3.2 The power of God can refresh us.

he power of God can refresh us.

The power of God can refresh us.

• 3.3 The Presence of God can liberate us.

3.3

The Presence of God can liberate us.

and

• 3.4 The Grace of God can engage us.

3.4

The Grace of God can engage us.

▾ 4 Exonerated Prisoners

In this text every individual, at some point and in some way illustrates

4 Exonerated Prisoners

• 4.1 Lydia…freed from questions.

4.1 Lydia…

• 4.2 Slave girl….freed from demonic possession and economic exploitation.

freed from questions.

4.2 Slave girl…

• 4.3 Paul & Silas…freed from jail.

freed from demonic possession and economic exploitation.

4.3 Paul & Silas…

freed from jail.

• 4.4 The Jailor….freed from his sin.

4.4 The Jailor…

freed from his sin.

You Look just Like a Prisoner...

Prisoner in Disguise...

You must be a prisoner Look just like a prisoner Well you must be a prisoner in disguise

You must be a prisoner Look just like a prisoner Well you must be a prisoner in disguise J.D. Souther

This is not a sermon about them. I see the liberated in this audience today and I see prisoners. Prisoners in disguise. You may be the Jailor, your own jailor or maybe you have been exploited and wounded by a increasingly barbaric culture.

This is not a sermon about them. I see the liberated in this audience today and I see prisoners. Prisoners in disguise. You may be the Jailor, your own jailor or maybe you have been exploited and wounded by a increasingly barbaric culture.

Lydia found Liberty.

The Slave Girl found Liberty.

The Jailor found Liberty.

Liberty is here today

Throw down your disguise feel the chains drop away!

throw down your disguise and feel the chains drop away?

Won’t you throw down your disguise and feel the chains drop away?