What Must I do?

Scripture

13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women gathered there. 14 A God-fearing woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying. 15 After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

PAUL AND SILAS IN PRISON

16 Once, as we were on our way to prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She made a large profit for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 As she followed Paul and us she cried out, “These men, who are proclaiming to you a way of salvation, are the servants of the Most High God.” 18 She did this for many days.

Paul was greatly annoyed. Turning to the spirit, he said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out right away.

19 When her owners realized that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. 20 Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews 21 and are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.”

22 The crowd joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23 After they had severely flogged them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to guard them carefully. 24 Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.

A MIDNIGHT DELIVERANCE

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison standing open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped.

28 But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Don’t harm yourself, because we’re all here!”

29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 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 along with everyone in his house. 33 He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized. 34 He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had come to believe in God with his entire household.

AN OFFICIAL APOLOGY

35 When daylight came, the chief magistrates sent the police to say, “Release those men.”

36 The jailer reported these words to Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders for you to be released. So come out now and go in peace.”

37 But Paul said to them, “They beat us in public without a trial, although we are Roman citizens, and threw us in jail. And now are they going to send us away secretly? Certainly not! On the contrary, let them come themselves and escort us out.”

38 The police reported these words to the magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. 39 So they came to appease them, and escorting them from prison, they urged them to leave town. 40 After leaving the jail, they came to Lydia’s house, where they saw and encouraged the brothers and sisters, and departed

Verse 13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women gathered there

Phillipi was a place that was hostile towards jews and the church. But this did not stop them from finding a place to fellowship and have church.

I think back on the pandemic and how many folks were paralyzed from worship because they didn’t have a building to worship in. That was exactly want the devil wanted.

They did not allow the restrictions of the government stop them from worshipping.

They had church outside of the 4 walls of the church and God showed up.

Verse 14 A God-fearing woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying. 15 After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us

The lydian kingdom was a place restricted from the Gospel, but God allow Paul to come in contact with Lydia so that she could reach area's he couldn't. YOu never know who you share the gospel with where they will take it.

Lydia was an amazing business woman she had an ability to make a purple cloth that was in demand for roman soldiers who needed this cloth on their clothing to show their rank.

The bible describes her as a worshipper of GOd which means she was a gentile that came into the Jewish faith.

Verse 16-18  Once, as we were on our way to prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She made a large profit for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 As she followed Paul and us she cried out, “These men, who are proclaiming to you a way of salvation, are the servants of the Most High God.” 18 She did this for many days Paul was greatly annoyed. Turning to the spirit, he said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out right away

Paul and Barnabas continued to teach by the river.

The python the gauraded Delpha a roman temple priestess who uttered prophecy while under a trance.

This young lady made alot of money because roman leaders depended heavily on shamans and fortune tellers for direction.

The demon was hoping to secure goodwill so avoid confrontation with God. They were hoping to connect the two togather to look like they were walking along side with God.

Paul spoke to the demon not the girl.

immediately the spirit left her but what also left was her ability to fortune tell which upset her Masters. They didn't care about her well being only the money she could make for them.

Verses 19-24 When her owners realized that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. 20 Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews 21 and are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.”

22 The crowd joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23 After they had severely flogged them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to guard them carefully. 24 Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.

In the market place there was a judgement seat where cases could be heard.

The couldn't tell the judge that the girl was released from a spirit. what's wrong with that?

The old Mary J ?

Paul should be commended for this.

Instead they accused them of stirring up controversey and labeling them as trouble makers. knowing that jews were hated in their community they knew this would put them away.

They were not given an opportunity to state their case or have any witnesses come forward.

no cross examiniation instead just stripped and beaten.

Put in stocks and thrown in the pit of the prison.

Verses 25-28 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison standing open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Don’t harm yourself, because we’re all here!”

bloodied, beated and hurt in the innder most prison bound with stocks did not stop them from praising God

How do you hsndle situations in hard times?

This would of knocked the wind of the average person but this led them to prayer.

They didn't curese God for the situation they we in they just praised him.

And other prisoners were observing how they handled their situation.

Then the Lord showed up, he shook the whole foundation and the doors of the priosn opened.

The could of escpaped especially after how they were treated

but they stayed and stopped the jailer for killing himself.

Verses 29-34 The jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 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 along with everyone in his house. 33 He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized. 34 He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had come to believe in God with his entire household.

The jailer asked what must I do to be saved. that can go two way for his soul or for his life from the leaders of the city

There answer - Believe in the Lord.

still bloody and stinky, they preached the gospel to his family then the jailer washed him up and then they shared a meal in fellowship.