May 18, 2008...7:10 am
Sunday, May 18th - Acts 16
First of all, I hope to see all of you at the BBQ today, 12:20 in the Commons!
Okay…to the text…
INSIGHTS
Timothy…half Jew, half Gentile. A young convert, somehow known in two cities. He was circumcised…not because he should be as a Gentile convert, but because of his Jewish lineage. Paul wanted to bring him along…why? What purpose did he serve? I’d love to know the details…but the Word gives us only this vital statistic: that as they ministered together, “the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.”
Paul originally worked with Barnabas, and now with Silas. With Timothy, we see Paul the recruiter begin to build his team, which will consist of Timothy, Titus, Apollos, and many more (My secret historical ambition has always been to be a part of Team Paul!).
“Kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia…the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to [enter Bithynia].” First, how did the Spirit get this message to Paul? Second, I find it interesting that He is called “Holy Spirit” once, then “Spirit of Jesus” second…
“Come over to Macedonia and help us.” I’m trying to figure out what I would do if I had some sort of vision where the people of Apache Junction called out to me for help. I would likely have a hard time believing my own vision. And I almost certainly wouldn’t do what Paul did - “we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia.” Paul knew what “help” they needed though:“God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” Always the gospel.
Interesting that, as we go about doing the right things, God opens doors. Paul thought it was time to pray, but God turned it into time to evangelize…which then turned into a group baptism, and an evening spent enjoying Lydia’s hospitality. Good thing Paul had flexibility in his schedule!
Wow…the fortune-telling servant girl. Her owners would rather see her bound up in evil to line their pockets than to be freed from the tyranny of the devil! Unfortunately, our world is surrounded by such thinking. Their resulting antagonism gave cause for Paul and Silas to be publicly scorned, then stripped, beaten, flogged, imprisoned, and put in the stocks.
Then the prison story! Midnight hymns…the other prisoners stayed up to listen!…quite an earthquake - one that opens doors, and even picks locks!…open doors, loosed locks - yet Paul and Silas don’t flee!…the jailer knows an act of God when he sees one…“they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house”, which means they must have gone over to his house (who was left to mind the ransacked prison?)…“When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: ‘Release those men.”‘ - that’s funny, since they’ve already been dining at the jailer’s house!…and one last encouragement of Lydia and the new believers before they leave town. Great stuff!
CHALLENGES
1. When we receive Christ, there are circumstances in our lives that need to be put in order for the sake of the gospel. For Timothy, it was his lack of circumcision. What is it for you? What area of your life still looks B.C. instead of A.D., and could therefore confuse people who hear the Word?
2. Have you ever been “kept by the Holy Spirit” from speaking with someone? Or, as is my case, do you lack the initiative to begin with, so there’s never the chance for the Spirit to say “stop”? Paul has far more “gos” than “stops”, which I think should be the case for us, too…ya think?
3. I find this very challenging…the Prince of this world, the Devil, would like to “own” (possess) you. Those in line with the world’s ways also want you to be a product of the culture. Christ and His gospel can set you free - but it may cause repercussions in the world’s context. Are you ready to give up your bondage, even if your bondage is profitable?
That was a long one…and on a Sunday, too! Thanks for reading, and leaving your comments. On to chapter 17 tomorrow, where we meet three great churches: Thessalonica, Berea and Athens. Hang in there…only 12 chapters to go!
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Bill Hartley
4 Comments
May 18, 2008 at 11:18 am
Bill,
I thoroughly enjoy and look forward to reading your commentary each morning! It is awesome to see the Holy Spirit speaking through you!
Thanks for all you do!
May 18, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I was struck by Paul’s ability to recognize that the slave girls proclamations were not from God. How interesting though that these proclamations weren’t made without God’s allowing them to be made. And then the jail scene. It appears that after the release and baptism at the jailers house they must have returned to the prison, and demanded an apology! Also, what a difference between these two, the slave girl and the jailer. They both believed, but it appears only one came to faith.
May 18, 2008 at 11:46 pm
God chooses the elect and who are we to question God?
May 20, 2008 at 2:44 am
Ron, your “simple” statement is profound.
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