Study No. 19 - Citizens of Heaven (Php 3:20) Chapter 16:1-40
Paul chooses Timothy to be his assistant.
We learn in 2 Timothy 1:5 That his mother’s name is Eunice, his grandmother is Lois. His father is a Greek.
He has been a believer in God and known the scriptures since childhood. (2Tim 3:15) Timothy’s home is Lystra. He was very likely converted to Christianity on Paul’s first visit with Barnabas, some months or years earlier. Timothy could very possibly have been in the group that surrounded Paul’s apparently lifeless body.
2Ti 3:10 ¶ But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, (11) persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra——what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.
Paul had Timothy circumcised … because of the Jews in the region … who all knew that his father was a Greek. This begs the question, if they had not known that his father was a Greek perhaps Paul would not have required it. It would seem that this was an act of expediency.
1Co 9:20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law;
(Galatians 2:3-7 Paul takes an opposite view regarding circumcision … for a particular reason.)
The Jerusalem Decrees are delivered by Paul as he goes from church to church
Paul has written to the Galatian churches previously expressing his surprise or shock that they could have so quickly moved away from the gospel of grace. We learned in a previous study that this had been the work of Judaisers who sought to undermine and discredit Paul and his ministry. Now Paul takes the Jerusalem decree and repairs the damage of the Judaisers.
The “Macedonian” Call
Paul is ‘forbidden’ by the Holy Spirit to go to certain places. We have no elaboration regarding this. This may sound a little foreign to us, but I think we need to consider certain things about the leading of the Spirit.
He does not lead everyone in the same manner.
Some of us need to be ‘pushed’ or ‘pulled’ into service. Some need to be held back, depending on our personalities. Some people wait for ‘an impression’ or a ‘word’. Some sense God’s leading in a circumstance. God can call us from within by speaking to our hearts. In one instance Paul said to Timothy, ¶ This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 1Ti 3:1. In this verse the key word is ‘desires’. This can be ‘God-placed.’
Paul is one who simply tried to go many places without waiting for specific leading or direction. By the way, much of the will of God is like that. It is general, not specific. Sort of like the story Jesus gave, “Son, go to work in the field today”. Matt 21:28
Phrygia, Mysia and Bithynia are mentioned specifically.
Then, Troas is mentioned. From here on the pronoun changes from ‘they’ to ‘we’. It appears that Troas is the home of Luke. Troas is mentioned again in scripture: 20:5,6, 2 Cor 2:12, 2 Tim 4:13.
It is likely that Paul and Silas preached and planted a new church here. I say this because in a short while they will be on their way back home and they will stop in at Troas and ‘break bread’ with the brethren there.
After a time God reveals His specific will in a night vision. God has been known to use this method at times: (Acts 2:17)
“Come into Macedonia” - an area, not a city. Without a more definite word Paul goes to the capital, Philippi.
Philippi was a Roman settlement. Some historians called it a ‘miniature Rome’. This will be the first church planted in Europe.
The Macedonian ministry – This is an expansion of Paul’s original tour with Barnabas.
After several days of no results … if you had been one of the group, what might you have been thinking about determining the will of God? I wonder if they had expected to meet the man of Paul’s vision.
-The team meets Lydia. She appears to be a Jewess, devout, praying. She becomes the first convert to Christ. A ‘home-base’ is established in her house.
-Casting out a spirit of divination (and the negative results)
A young woman announced that these men were from God. What was so wrong about that? Why did Paul let it go on for ‘many’ days before he put a stop to it?
Note, what the girl was saying was true. Perhaps Paul at first thought that she was some kind of a gift from God to help the spread of the Gospel. But when the work was the rather hindered, he perceived this to be an evil spirit.
It stands to reason that Paul and his company would far rather be in control of the way they introduce the gospel, than to have this loud and careless approach. Jesus said, Mt 10:16 ¶ "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
A night in prison
Paul casts out the demon spirit from the girl … and they find themselves in a kangaroo court being lied about, misjudged and punished. They are locked up in a prison and shackled with chains.
Conversion of the Jailor
Bruised and bleeding, no doubt unable to sleep, they are singing at midnight. I wonder how many other prisoners stayed awake to listen. They likely did more than sing for most of the evening. When a freak earthquake sets everyone free, and when no one tries to escape, and when Paul urged the jailor to do himself no harm, the jailor immediately knew what to ask; “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
The jailor takes them to his own house and Paul preaches salvation to everyone in the house … and they all go to the river and get baptized … then back to the house for refreshment. Together with Lydia (and household?) we now have the nucleus for a church.
Honorable release
The magistrates send an announcement early in the morning to have Paul and Silas released. (This tells us that Paul and Silas, after having spent time with the jailor in his house, after having been washed and bandaged and refreshed, after fellowshipping and sharing the Word with the jailor's family, they went back to the prison. The doors were relocked. They sat in the cell and waited to be released by the Roman officials... personally.
Why this sudden turn-around?
I think a number of things may have caused their change in attitude. It probably began to change when the jailor came to give an account to his superiors. He would have mentioned the earthquake and opening of every door. He would have mentioned the character of Paul and Silas, as men who could have escaped but intentionally remained, and perhaps were instrumental in the rest of the prisoners staying as well.
Paul refuses to leave. Why? This is the first time that Paul uses his Roman citizenship for his own personal benefit. There might be other reasons he called attention to his citizenship, such as using this as a door to bring the gospel and Christianity to the attention of the Roman government. The turn around in attitude by the magistrates would speak volumes to people of Philippi. They would have to admit Paul and Silas’s right to be there and preach. The net effect of this ending likely would result in the new church being able to function with less threat from the city and people.
Departing for new territory
The magistrates ‘beg’ them to leave town. I think included in this is begging them to not press charges. This could be very embarrassing for them if Paul and Silas went further with this. Paul and Silas go back to Lydia’s house. After a time of ‘encouragement’ they leave. This is a very young church. How will they fare? We don’t have to go too far to find that out.
Extra Study
Read the book of Philippians this week (it is quite short) and list a few of the positive traits that stand out to you as being marks of a healthy church.
We learn in 2 Timothy 1:5 That his mother’s name is Eunice, his grandmother is Lois. His father is a Greek.
He has been a believer in God and known the scriptures since childhood. (2Tim 3:15) Timothy’s home is Lystra. He was very likely converted to Christianity on Paul’s first visit with Barnabas, some months or years earlier. Timothy could very possibly have been in the group that surrounded Paul’s apparently lifeless body.
2Ti 3:10 ¶ But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, (11) persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra——what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.
Paul had Timothy circumcised … because of the Jews in the region … who all knew that his father was a Greek. This begs the question, if they had not known that his father was a Greek perhaps Paul would not have required it. It would seem that this was an act of expediency.
1Co 9:20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law;
(Galatians 2:3-7 Paul takes an opposite view regarding circumcision … for a particular reason.)
The Jerusalem Decrees are delivered by Paul as he goes from church to church
Paul has written to the Galatian churches previously expressing his surprise or shock that they could have so quickly moved away from the gospel of grace. We learned in a previous study that this had been the work of Judaisers who sought to undermine and discredit Paul and his ministry. Now Paul takes the Jerusalem decree and repairs the damage of the Judaisers.
The “Macedonian” Call
Paul is ‘forbidden’ by the Holy Spirit to go to certain places. We have no elaboration regarding this. This may sound a little foreign to us, but I think we need to consider certain things about the leading of the Spirit.
He does not lead everyone in the same manner.
Some of us need to be ‘pushed’ or ‘pulled’ into service. Some need to be held back, depending on our personalities. Some people wait for ‘an impression’ or a ‘word’. Some sense God’s leading in a circumstance. God can call us from within by speaking to our hearts. In one instance Paul said to Timothy, ¶ This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 1Ti 3:1. In this verse the key word is ‘desires’. This can be ‘God-placed.’
Paul is one who simply tried to go many places without waiting for specific leading or direction. By the way, much of the will of God is like that. It is general, not specific. Sort of like the story Jesus gave, “Son, go to work in the field today”. Matt 21:28
Phrygia, Mysia and Bithynia are mentioned specifically.
Then, Troas is mentioned. From here on the pronoun changes from ‘they’ to ‘we’. It appears that Troas is the home of Luke. Troas is mentioned again in scripture: 20:5,6, 2 Cor 2:12, 2 Tim 4:13.
It is likely that Paul and Silas preached and planted a new church here. I say this because in a short while they will be on their way back home and they will stop in at Troas and ‘break bread’ with the brethren there.
After a time God reveals His specific will in a night vision. God has been known to use this method at times: (Acts 2:17)
“Come into Macedonia” - an area, not a city. Without a more definite word Paul goes to the capital, Philippi.
Philippi was a Roman settlement. Some historians called it a ‘miniature Rome’. This will be the first church planted in Europe.
The Macedonian ministry – This is an expansion of Paul’s original tour with Barnabas.
After several days of no results … if you had been one of the group, what might you have been thinking about determining the will of God? I wonder if they had expected to meet the man of Paul’s vision.
-The team meets Lydia. She appears to be a Jewess, devout, praying. She becomes the first convert to Christ. A ‘home-base’ is established in her house.
-Casting out a spirit of divination (and the negative results)
A young woman announced that these men were from God. What was so wrong about that? Why did Paul let it go on for ‘many’ days before he put a stop to it?
Note, what the girl was saying was true. Perhaps Paul at first thought that she was some kind of a gift from God to help the spread of the Gospel. But when the work was the rather hindered, he perceived this to be an evil spirit.
It stands to reason that Paul and his company would far rather be in control of the way they introduce the gospel, than to have this loud and careless approach. Jesus said, Mt 10:16 ¶ "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
A night in prison
Paul casts out the demon spirit from the girl … and they find themselves in a kangaroo court being lied about, misjudged and punished. They are locked up in a prison and shackled with chains.
Conversion of the Jailor
Bruised and bleeding, no doubt unable to sleep, they are singing at midnight. I wonder how many other prisoners stayed awake to listen. They likely did more than sing for most of the evening. When a freak earthquake sets everyone free, and when no one tries to escape, and when Paul urged the jailor to do himself no harm, the jailor immediately knew what to ask; “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
The jailor takes them to his own house and Paul preaches salvation to everyone in the house … and they all go to the river and get baptized … then back to the house for refreshment. Together with Lydia (and household?) we now have the nucleus for a church.
Honorable release
The magistrates send an announcement early in the morning to have Paul and Silas released. (This tells us that Paul and Silas, after having spent time with the jailor in his house, after having been washed and bandaged and refreshed, after fellowshipping and sharing the Word with the jailor's family, they went back to the prison. The doors were relocked. They sat in the cell and waited to be released by the Roman officials... personally.
Why this sudden turn-around?
I think a number of things may have caused their change in attitude. It probably began to change when the jailor came to give an account to his superiors. He would have mentioned the earthquake and opening of every door. He would have mentioned the character of Paul and Silas, as men who could have escaped but intentionally remained, and perhaps were instrumental in the rest of the prisoners staying as well.
Paul refuses to leave. Why? This is the first time that Paul uses his Roman citizenship for his own personal benefit. There might be other reasons he called attention to his citizenship, such as using this as a door to bring the gospel and Christianity to the attention of the Roman government. The turn around in attitude by the magistrates would speak volumes to people of Philippi. They would have to admit Paul and Silas’s right to be there and preach. The net effect of this ending likely would result in the new church being able to function with less threat from the city and people.
Departing for new territory
The magistrates ‘beg’ them to leave town. I think included in this is begging them to not press charges. This could be very embarrassing for them if Paul and Silas went further with this. Paul and Silas go back to Lydia’s house. After a time of ‘encouragement’ they leave. This is a very young church. How will they fare? We don’t have to go too far to find that out.
Extra Study
Read the book of Philippians this week (it is quite short) and list a few of the positive traits that stand out to you as being marks of a healthy church.