Transforming a City
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Transformation
Transformation
Politicians promise change. Effective change doesn’t come through legislation but through the heart. Abortion will never be stopped through laws, supreme courts, politicians, it will stop when people understand the sanctity of life and how taking that life mars the imago dei.
Luke gives us an example of how to change a city; not by a huge billy graham revival, but through sharing the gospel to individuals.
Here in Acts 16, in Philippi, we see a typical cross section of the population that the missionaries would experience.
A Gentile worshiper
Demonic and secular opposition
Government official
Getting to Philippi
Getting to Philippi
Luke’s fascination with sailing. He uses a lot of nautical terms.
εὐθυδρομέω (Euthy dro mao) to sail straight (as opposed to hugging the shore.)
156 miles from Troas to Neapolis
Stop at Samothrace overnight
Why do you think Paul didn’t stay and share the gospel at Samothrace? Neapolis?
Perhaps no synagog or place of prayer
Perhaps to purse the vision in previous verses.
Neapolis served as the port for Philippi
via Egnatia (Egnatian way) (major trade route) still can be seen present day in places in Neapolis.
Philippi, Gold in them hills
Seeker
Seeker
Synagog formation requires a minimum of 10 men.
Lydia (Gentile, God fearer)
Hospitality
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.
The Acts of the Apostles 1. Lydia and Her Household (16:11–15)
The importance of practising hospitality, especially to encourage Christian ministry and fellowship, is stressed in Romans 12:13; 1 Timothy 3:2; Hebrews 13:2; 1 Peter 4:9; and 3 John 5–8
13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
Possessed slave
Possessed slave
Like Lydia, she earns money, but it belongs to someone else.
There is no indication that she became a Christian, only that she was exorcised by Paul.
spoke as a medium for a god; divination
Why is consulting a fortune teller prohibited?
14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
What is untrue with her proclamation in vs 17?
Most High God would be familiar to polytheistic pagans in Philippi
a way of salvation.
The Acts of the Apostles 2. A Fortune-Teller and Her Masters (16:16–24)
What the slave girl was saying was true at one level, but it doubtless lacked these gospel perspectives. Her message was false because it was being proclaimed by someone who did not really know what she was talking about.
Humorous play on words
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.
ἐξέρχομαι exerchomia (come out, gain was gone)
Resulting conflict
Resulting conflict
Notice that their accusations were not regarding their loss of income.
The rabel roused the crowd.
The Acts of the Apostles 2. A Fortune-Teller and Her Masters (16:16–24)
Luke shows that the preaching of salvation and the practice of healing in the name of Jesus had profound economic and political implications
Jailer Saved
Jailer Saved
Some have used this pericope as support for infant baptism? Why is that wrong.
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.
The text indicates that those who were baptized had heard the word of the Lord and believed.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The only way we can truly affect the culture is through evangelism.
The Ministry of the Church–Her mission is evangelizing sinners by preaching the gospel (Matt. 28:19; Luke 24:45-47), baptizing those who believe (Acts 2:41; 8:12, 35-38), and maturing them by instruction (Matt. 28:20; Acts 2:42) and discipline (Matt. 18:17, 18; I Cor. 5:1-5).