ACTS SERIES: AND AT MIDNIGHT – CHAPTER 16

Traveling from town to town and sharing the decrees and instructions given to him by James, the apostles and elders for the Gentile converts, Paul and his companion Silas finally arrived in Derbe and Lystra. There, they met Timotheus, the son of a believing Jewess mother and a Greek father. Receiving a good report concerning Timotheus Paul decided to have him accompany them on their missionary journey. However, before departing, Paul had Timotheus circumcised to appease the Jewish believers, and as they continued in their mission, the churches were established in faith and membership.

Forbidden by the Holy Spirit to go to Asia and Bithynia, they traveled throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia until they came to Troas, where Paul had a vision of a man saying, “Come over into Macedonia, and help us.” Thus, they traveled through Samothracia and Neapolis to Philippi, a city in Macedonia.

Since there was no synagogue in Philippi Paul and his fellow laborers went to the riverside to pray. There, they met a prosperous woman named Lydia, who was born in Thyatira but had an established textile business in Phillipi. Hearing and responding to the gospel message, Lydia and her household were baptized. Furthermore, she invited Paul and his fellow laborers to stay in her home.

Eventually, while going to prayer, a girl possessed with the spirit of divination repeatedly followed Paul and said, “These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.” Becoming annoyed with her behavior, Paul casts the spirit of divination out of her. This upset her masters when they realized she was no longer profitable to them, and they caught Paul and Silas and took them to the city magistrates. The masters accused Paul and Silas of causing a disturbance in the city by teaching an unlawful message that the Romans were not to receive or observe. With the approval of the multitude, the magistrate had Paul and Silas stripped, beaten, and put in prison.

Placed In the innermost part of the prison with their feet in stocks, the scriptures revealed at midnight. Paul and Silas were heard by the other prisoners praying and singing praises to God. An earthquake occurs, shaking the prison, causing the prison doors to open and all the prisoners’ bands to be loosed.

Awaking out of his sleep, seeing the prison doors open, assuming the prisoners had escaped, and knowing he would be held accountable, the jailer pulled out his sword to commit suicide. Paul, however, yelled out to him not to harm himself, and the jailer came with a light trembling and knelt before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out of the prison and asked them, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul and Silas responded, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Furthermore, they ministered to the jailer’s household, who happily was baptized. The jailer washed their stripes, brought Paul and Silas into his house, and fed them as he and his household rejoiced and believed in God.

In the morning, the magistrate sent word to the jailer to let Paul and Silas go, but Paul refused to go quietly. He sent word to the magistrate that they, being Roman citizens, were beaten and imprisoned illegally. Fearing the consequence of their actions, the magistrates came to the jailer’s home and requested that Paul and his companions depart Phillipi. Thus, after leaving the prison, Paul and Silas went to Lydia’s home, encouraged the believers, and left the city, which concludes this chapter.

Here are the nuggets I gleaned from Acts 16:

Before including someone in your ministry assignment, know that they are credible.

God gives His servants directions in various ways.

Listen for directions; what you want to do may not be what God wants you to do.

The roads that lead to ministry are not always smooth.

Share the gospel wherever you go.

God will send His servants where the gospel is needed to be heard.

Be hospitable, especially to those in the ministry.

You can pray and share the gospel outside.

People from all economic backgrounds are open to the gospel message.

The enemy knows how to speak the truth.

When you witness someone who is bonded, if you can cast out the spirit of bondage and set the captive free.

You become a financial liability when you are no longer profitable to your employer.

At the darkest and most painful time of your life, pray and sing praise to God.

Your prayers and praise can set those held captive free.

God will shake the earth on behalf of His faithful children.

Some people prefer to commit suicide rather than be killed by someone else.

Desperate people will take desperate measures.

Miraculous occurrences can lead to conversion.

Responding to allegations without questioning all involved may lead to a false arrest.

Accepting Jesus as your Savior can also lead your household to accept Him.

Feed the hungry and soothe those who are bruised.

Roman law reveals you cannot be condemned if your case is not heard.