All Videos Images Commentaries Devotionals Other Translations Sermons Related Scriptures Podcasts Blogs. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him Learn more about Desiring God Ways to Follow. Her Declaration concerning Paul and His mission and 3. For Philippians Most High God meant a Phoenician deity, for Jews it was the Lord our God and for Greeks it meant Zeus, B. into the marketplace(agoran) (19b). One of the persistent features of the New Testament is the ability of various spirits and demons to recognize Jesus, even when others (especially the disciples) are clueless. Dave Mallett Please read and accept our website Terms and Privacy Policy to post a comment. Your email address will not be published. for us to accept or to observe, being Romans (v. 21b). Paul and Silas show us four aspects of a right response to wrong treatment. with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by Acts 2:1-4. read more, Scripture: Pick a strong hymn reminding you whos in charge, such as All Hail the Power of Jesus Name or Jesus Shall Reign Whereer the Sun, which we are blessed to get to sing today. At midnight, the darkness would be all-encompassing. Surfing requires a surfable wave. P.T. read more, Scripture: People Listen In Different Wayscan You Reach All Of Them. read more, Scripture: Free Sermons and Sermon Outlines for Preaching : Staying Faithful Thru Difficult Circumstances. This shifting of scope is capable of bringing an effective Christian ministry down to its knees. They replied, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be He could be asking what he must do to be saved from execution by the authorities. In a world where Christian ministry has become a profession, most ministers cant help but succumb to these distractions. Sunday School Lesson December 25 Lesson 4 (KJV) Mary Rejoices Devotional Reading: Isaiah 9:1-7 Background Scripture: Luke 1:46-55 Luke 1:46-55 46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Witness how God can ta, When The Chains Come Off - Acts 16:16-34 - May 22, 2011 34He brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his household, having believed in God. It is written in the scriptures that no one can please God without faith. Did you ever notice something and it seems so suddenly new, but then you discover that it's always been there. read more, Scripture: Invitations, Part 6 He would take his own life before suffering the shame of not doing his job for Rome. The book of Acts is the report of early Christians who had faith to do these greater things that Jesus promised. The prisoners must have all ran Acts 10:34-43. Paul Preaches In Athens #1 -Acts 17: 15-21. he asks. . Donald Bloesch verses 16 - 18) Mark, Luke, and John for your sermon, homily, bible study, or reflection. Introduction Her Deliverance and salvation, Scripture: Acts 16:16-34 (cf. read more, Scripture: Because of the we passages in 16:10-16, some scholars believe that Luke (the author of this book) is also part of Pauls party. Perhaps God caused the prisoners to delay their escape. Jump to: New Testament. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN DOING GOOD AND THE DEVIL JUMP ON YOU? Acts 16:1-16, GOD WILL BREAK INTO YOUR SITUATION WHEN YOU SING AND PRAISE, WHEN GOD BREAKS IN! Paul and Silas are still in Philippi, where we left them last week. Oscar Peterson When the angel delivered Peter from prison in an earlier instance, Herod executed the guards for dereliction of duty (12:19). Lutheran. Max L. Stackhouse The jailer made them feel at home, dressed their wounds, and thenhe couldn't wait till morning!was baptized, he and everyone in his family. Joni Mitchell Gretchen Legler A guy sees a sign in front of a house: "Talking Dog for Sale." (Full sermon is posted here .) The only thing different is, that you finally became aware of it. Acts 23. Focus Scriptures: John 20:1-18 or Mark 16:1-8 . For heathens, it meant freedom from superstitious powers, C. These words the fortune teller uttered rang a bell in the minds of all. Peter Robinson Acts 16:25-34 Sermon Seeds. Showing Our Love for Jesus. The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken (v. 26a). **THEY WERE BEAT WITH MANY STRIPES iv, pp. The story of Lydia is full of sweetness and light. Paul and Silas are singing in the stocks. What are the doors that are closed to you? 16-34 " Pingback: Sermon Excerpt: Acts 16:16-34 | Spacious Faith. 63). The spirit of Python will squeeze the joy out of your worship & praise.find out how to to get victory over this subtle destroyer. For Luke, hospitality is always one of the signs of conversion and one of the marks of the church. Paul and Silas were aware that God brought them to Philip for the purpose of planting a church. Any date. At least thats ), The Lectionary Commentary: Theological Exegesis for Sundays Text. Today, well look at the salvation of the slave girl and Richard Bauckham 8:28-29; 1 Cor. When she confronts Paul and . Lesslie Newbigin Are you Dreaming of an effective ministry? Exercise the freedom in which Christ has set you free! Amen. This parallels the situation that Jesus faced, where the crowd demanded that he be punished and the authorities bowed to the demands of the crowd (Luke 23). This is the same verb used earlier in Acts 4:2 to describe the feeling of the Sanhedrin over the preaching of the apostles (ie., that Jesus was raised from the dead), and it is the word found in LXX Gen 6:6 for God's grief over the sin of the world prior to the flood. Acts 25. They could accuse Paul and Silas of persuading people to join a cult not recognized by the Roman government, but by this time officials do not usually prosecute people for this transgression. What is the most important question ever to ask? Look up John 3:16; 1:12 (where to "believe" = to "receive"), and compare Acts 16:14 and Revelation 3:20. Luke Jonathan Edwards Hemer, C.J. The owners accuse Paul and Silas of disturbing the peace and being Jews, a bit of Roman anti-Semitism, and the crowd riots, and beat them within an inch of their lives. When they had brought them to the magistrates (strategois) (v. 20a). . (I preached this sermon on June 2, 2019 at The United Congregational Church of Little Compton, RI. and commanded them to be beaten with rods (v. 22b). read more, Scripture: X (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2002), Walaskay, Paul W., Westminster Bible Companion: Acts (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1998), Williams, David J., New International Biblical Commentary: Acts (Paternoster Press, 1995), Willimon, William H., Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching: Acts (Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1988), Copyright 2009, 2010, Richard Niell Donovan, All Rights Reserved | 1997-2023 Richard Niell Donovan. Miroslav Volf And the jailer cleaned their wounds. Annie Dillard If they can make a general charge like this stick, then they will find it unnecessary to defend more specific accusations. About the Book of Acts in general: The author of the Book of Acts is Luke. It has been a blessing as well as a great help. It is midnight, literally and figuratively, the darkest hour, and you might expect that Paul and Silas would be down in the dumps, but no, they are singing hymns about Jesus, so that the other prisoners can hear. He explains, For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more (1 Corinthians 9:19). who proclaim to us a way of salvation (v. 17c). and set forth customs which it is not lawful (v. 21a). As far as we can tell, Paul does not free this slave girl out of kindness. Acts 16:16-34, Denomination: Sermon Series: How to discern Gods will. Now, what are we to make of this strange story. To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ is to COME TO HIM. Staying faithful through difficult circumstances. The jailer called for lights and saw that they were still there, and he took them outside and asked, What must I do to be saved. Now to us, this sounds like a religious question, but he may have merely been asking how do I get out of this mess? But Paul and Silas heard it as a religious question and answered, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. Which is what happened. They say nothing about Paul and Silas ruining their little business. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. read more, Scripture: Sell Life is filled with close calls and narrow escapes' The Voice In A Close Call Acts 16:10-34 We were entering the highway at an entrance notorious as a black spot for fatal accidents. It was time to end it. 11 You crown the year with Your goodness, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved (v. 31). Beating prisoners with rigid rods is an alternative to whipping them with flexible whips. Luke shares the story of her divination (enslavement) 2. It has been a blessing as well as a great help. 13 On the Sabbath we He took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household (v. 33). This exorcism demonstrates Gods power over demonic spirits. The commentators say that Actsis highly idealized and should be read as a theological narrative and not as history. Baptist. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw . IN OTHER WORDS, CHOICES, THE ENVIRONMENT OF CHOICE Katherine Sonderegger, Adam Desnoyers . a. who, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison, and secured their feet in the stocks (v. 24). In the second instance, Herod arrested Peter and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him (12:4)an extraordinary measure of security. Let us all make a note to ourselves that in our most difficult time, at our darkest hour, we could take a page from their book and just sing a good hymn. Lesson 42: The Urgent Question (Acts 16:25-34) A four-year-old boy was outdoors when a bee starting buzzing around a table nearby. There would be no light at night, and little light during the day. A) IN JAIL FOR So that the surfer doesnt have to wait for another one. The note about ordering the jailer to keep them safely helps to set up the later scene where an earthquake sets them free. Instead, just as Jesus accusers did, they concoct misleading charges to make it easier to get a guilty verdict. -- Everything we do starts with an invitation to be a part of Her Deliverance and salvation In Jesus' first sermon, according to Luke, he reads from Isaiah announcing that he has been sent in part to "set the captives free" (Luke 4:18). * This morning, as we gather for worship, delegates from the United Methodist Church around the world are gathered in St. Louis for the Special Session of General Conference. It happened, as we were going to prayer (v. 16a). By John Raulerson No matter what your need is Illus. He had the knife in his hand, and he was about to kill himself. read more, Scripture: Our daughter, in the seventh grade at the time, had had a terrible day with some friends at school. It seems likely that their prayers are prayers of praise and petitions for guidance rather than prayers for release. Acts 2 Commentary; DON ROBINSON Sermons on Acts Acts 2:1-2 Hindering the Work of God; Acts 2,8,9,10 & 19 A Closer Look at Experience 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you . 52-week preaching calendar to help you plan your sermons, Customizable sermon manuscripts for verse-by-verse preaching, Preach with creativity and impact throughout the year, [NEW YEAR] 4-Week Series to kick off 2023, [PRODUCTIVITY] Fulfill your full potential, [FOUNDATIONS] Getting back to what matters most. The Manner Of Paul The Apostle Acts 17: 1-9. B. Rick Warren in Purpose Driven Church says that opportunities are the same. This is one of several we passages in the book of Acts (see also 16:10-15; 20:5-8, 13-15; 21:1-18; 27:1 28:16). He became very upset, and his mother tried to calm him. I seek to foster thoughtful and respectful dialogue. and brought them out (v. 30). Weekly Theme: Now What? Acts 24. *other. There are the school doors, the office doors, the church doors as well as the elevator door, revolving doors, and automatic doors. Texts: Psalm 27; Acts 16:16-34 "FOCUS" What do you do with what happens to you? John Coltrane Three Portraits of Salvation In Philippi As was true when Jesus was tried, these accusers avoid honest accusation. 16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (v. 30). Graham Greene Lesson 18 - Luke 18:35-43; 19:1-48 Topic: Jesus Is Headed To Jerusalem. Required fields are marked *. It's Lent! "Yep," the mutt replies. In fact it is certain to be a day like absolutely no other that has gone before. By characterizing Paul and Silas as Jews and themselves as Romans, Pauls accusers are trying to establish a bad-guy, good-guy contrastwith themselves being the good guys. James Taylor I would like to thank Pastor Jerry Shirley for sharing this series on Acts. The Prison Experiences Of The Bible. Sermon, "Voices from Prison: Paul and Silas," Acts 16:16-40 July 15, 2018 Sermon 7/15/18 . A guy sees a sign in front of a house: "Talking Dog for Sale." The Gerasene demoniac (Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39). Second Presbyterian Church, Richmond, VA. Sunday, June 2, 1019. Acknowledgement in oral presentations is not required. soothsaying. One Small Change Will Energize Tomorrow's Sermon, Slow Down, Big Fellawhat A Motorcyclist Taught Me About Preaching, Spit-Shine Tomorrow's Sermon Before You Go To Bed Tonight. Using an earthquake for his purposes, God opens the prison doors and unfastens the prisoners chains so that Paul and Silas are free to escape. Last time, we saw that Paul heard God and because of his obedience, the gospel entered Europe. She has "a spirit of divination," and because of her gifts of prophecy, her handlers have been able to amass a good deal of money from her powers of prognostication. Through prayers of course, (James 5:13). Acts: 1: Sharing Christ in All Places : 1:1-14: While You Wait : 2:21-42: A New Community : 4:23-36: A Winning Witness : Introduction read more, Scripture: Inviting others means that we must be willing to tell them the truth. This us represents the last we passage in Acts until 10:6, leaving us to wonder if Luke drops out at this point. It is the slave-girls owners who bring Paul and Silas before these strategois (magistrates). JESUS WAS TEACHING HIS DISCIPLES AND HE STOPS AND SAYS He called for lights and sprang in, and, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas (v. 29). Beaten backs would be subject to infection. Because he wanted Jonathan to pick a direction and go. As I said last week, Luke believes in the power of the Holy Spirit, but also in human free will, and sees no contradiction between divine guiding and human choosing. The sermons that I have listed are 30 to 40 minute sermons. IT WAS A BAD SITUATION Here, Luke describes a demon properly identifying Paul and Silas as slaves of God. As Greeks, they would be inclined to equate Most High God with Zeus. They were sure nothing can stop them from fulfilling their mission in Philip (unless God changed His mind). It was one of those times in scripture when God said not just yes but maybe. 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. Some are once born and never experience conversion but still know and follow Jesus. Kudoz. Sermon Notes: Why the Lord is my Shepherd? 16It happened, as we were going to prayer, that a certain girl having a spirit of divination (Greek: pneuma pythonaa python spirit) met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune telling (Greek: manteuomeneprophesying). How do we stand strong during persecution? Today we have another story about lives changed. A Very Real Enemy IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE NOTE OF THE PRINCIPLE THAT CHOICES HAVE CONSEQUENCES. Keep up with the good work of most high and greatest God. Acts 19. ACTS 16:25-30 And at midnight Paul and Silas The only thing different is, that you finally became aware of it. Roman citizenship comes with a number of privileges, and is highly respected. . At least thats Enduring Word exists to promote the work of Christian discipleship and evangelism worldwide, mainly through the publication and dissemination of the B. Matthew Henry Study Bible blends his inspirational notes with a full-featured KJV Bible, to enable readers to benefit from the simple piety and no-nonsense application of the biblical lessons . 2. The jailers question can be understood on two levels. Fleming Rutledge Commentary on Acts 16 16 34. Chrysostom said of this incident, He (the jailer) washed and was washed. Picture for a moment how many doors we walk through every day- the bedroom door, the bathroom door, the front door, the back door, the car door, and the garage door. read more, Scripture: Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. He has a greater purpose that we often do not understand. This chapter records Pauls encounter with Lydia, the successful businesswoman (16:11-15) and his encounter with a slave-girl (16:16-18) women from opposite ends of the social and economic scale. Jesus had cast demons from men into pigs nearby (Matt. Simple English; Slovenina; . The slave girl would follow Paul and cry out, These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.. Any duration. Her Declaration concerning Paul and His mission and 3. read more, Scripture: Its his prison. . He then brought them out and asked, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Meanwhile, Roman readers may have approved of Paul's censure . Roll and Tumble 12:7-11.) Brevard Childs Acts 16:16-34 (35-40) - Updated. How did God guide the missionaries in their travels? It comes from somewhere else. Acts 16:25-30, Denomination: **HELPING A LITTLE GIRL Scripture: Acts 16:11-34. Some of these prisoners have probably spent many days in this terrible place, and this would surely be the first time that they have heard anyone praying and singing hymns. Because of the "we" passages in 16:10-16, some scholars believe that Luke (the author of this book) is also part of Paul's party. Miles Davis read more, Scripture: Rowan Williams 11 You crown the year with Your goodness, But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God (v. 25a). Acts 16:16-40, Denomination: he asks. [Image: Marnie Pix] 1. read more, Scripture: How were the travelers hindered from entering Bithynia? However, these magistrates fail to observe proper procedure, and instead bow to the crowds demands for immediate punishment. There are several: God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. (I Corinthians 1: 27-29). IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE NOTE OF THE PRINCIPLE THAT CHOICES HAVE CONSEQUENCES. Gracie Simmonds, Mar 7, 2022. 26 (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1992), Wall, Robert W., The New Interpreters Bible: Acts, Romans, I Corinthians, Vol. You see, that will be the day that I die. Acts 16:1-31, What you're going through is a praise, prayer and song away from turning around, In the New York Times there was an article stipulating the population of the prison system, this article asserts that the United States of America constitutes 5 percent of the worlds population, but it houses 25 percent of the prison population.