Paul and Barnabas have parted ways. Barnabas has taken John Mark under his wing, and Paul has left with Silas to go on this second missionary journey.
Acts 16:1-2- Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
Paul and Silas ran into a young man named Timotheus. This man was a Christian and he wanted to learn more about Jesus. It was a very odd circumstance for this young man since his mother was a Jew, and his father a Gentile. He was like a Samaritan, a half-breed.
But, he had something that not many of them could claim, and Paul talks about it in a letter that he writes to Timotheus later in life.
II Timothy 1:3-5- I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
Timotheus, also called Timothy, had a Christian mother and grandmother, Eunice and Lois. This young man couldn't claim to be fully Jew or fully Gentile, but he was unbelievably lucky to be raised by two godly Christian women!
Acts 16:3-5- Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek. And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Paul wanted to take Timothy with them on their missionary journey. He saw something in this young man that he believed would grow into a mighty ambassador for Christ!
But, Timothy was uncircumcised, and Paul knew that the journey would be rough enough without the Jews attacking this young man over his Gentile persuasions. So Paul had him circumcised like a Jew to avoid the trouble.
Acts 16:6-8- Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
While on his expedition, Paul listened to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He went where God told him to go and didn't go where God wouldn't allow. You might wonder why God said don't go a certain way, and I don't have the answers, but God had His reasons.
Acts 16:9-10- And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
Perhaps the reason God said "No" to a certain area was so that Paul would be able to make it to where people were actively searching.
Acts 16:11-13- Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
Paul knew that this would be a good place to learn about the city and what the people were in need of or seeking.
While there, Paul gave the gospel to a God-fearing woman named Lydia. She and her entire house received Christ as their Savior and were baptized.
Acts 16:14-15- And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
She was so grateful to have the gift of salvation that she opened her house to Paul, Silas, and Timotheus so that they would have a place to stay.
Paul met many different people who had many different problems. There were even some demon possessed people with whom Paul came into contact.
Acts 16:16-18- And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
One of those demon possessed was a girl who would tell people's fortunes. She started following Paul around and yelling that these men were sent by God to show salvation to the people.
Why would Paul be grieved about that?
Well, Paul didn't want the devil making claims and accepting thanksgiving for something that should only go to God. God should be the one working on these people's hearts, not a demon.
But, Paul didn't immediately turn around and cast the devil out. He waited a few days allowing this demon possessed person to harass them day after day. Do you know why he would wait?
When Christ was on earth, there was a time when his disciples brought a demon possessed person to him and they said the devil wouldn't obey and come out of the person. Jesus answered them in Matthew 17:21- Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
There are certain devils that have become very powerful, that you have to put down your flesh and build up your strength in the Holy Spirit before you can have commandment over them.
I believe that Paul was fasting and praying for those days that he just allowed this girl to follow them because he realized that he needed something more than usual to cast out this devil.
Acts 16:19-21- And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
Once the devil was gone out of the girl, the men who had made a profit off of her fortune telling were angry! The grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the rulers of the city. Then they started to tell lies!
What paul and Silas were teaching were not wicked things. They weren't telling the people not to obey laws or pay taxes. They were just preaching the gospel!
Acts 16:22-24- And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
The rulers didn't even listen to hear Paul or Silas' side of the story. They ripped their clothes off, had the men beat, and then threw them into prison.
But that didn't make Paul and Silas quit or even to pout! They realized that there would be opposition to the truth, and that sometimes you would have to suffer for Christ's sake. They also knew that they were going to get rewards in heaven for this.
So, guess what they did.
Acts 16:25- And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
They sang! They sang loud enough for all the prisoners to hear.
And, when God heard their praises He did something amazing!
Acts 16:26- And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
God shook the entire prison so hard that the chains they had put on the prisoners came apart and fell off!
Acts 16:27-28- And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
The jailor knew the punishment for losing a prisoner on his watch. He would rather kill himself quickly than live with the public shame and execution.
But, before he could harm himself, Paul called out to stop him. He wasn't going to be killed, because no one had ran.
The jailor was amazed. When had prisoners never tried to escape before? I'm betting he had never heard of such a time!
Acts 16:29-30- Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
The jailor realized that there was something different about Paul and Silas. Perhaps he had been present during the public beating. Maybe he had heard them singing in the jail cell.
Whatever it was, the jailor knew that they possessed something he needed to obtain.
How can I be saved?
Acts 16:31-32- And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
Paul and Silas told him that he had to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ if he wanted to be saved. They told him and his entire house!
Acts 16:33-34- And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
The jailor brought them home and cleaned them up, fed them, and he and his family listened to the gospel and were saved!
Do you think the jailor's household would have gotten saved if Paul and Silas had moped in their cell? Would an entire family escape hell's flames if Paul and Silas had sat indignant because they were punished unjustly?
Nope. And, not only did they earn rewards in heaven, but they were taken care of, bandaged up, and fed!
Acts 16:35-37- And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
Acts 16:37-38- But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
Paul told the men to go let the rulers know that they were Roman citizens who had been beaten publicly without trial or due process. This was a big deal! If word got back to the Roman Empire that a city had done that to one of their citizens, it could mean war! Soldiers could come and destroy half the city and kill the people who were living there.
And, they had wrongfully treated not one, but two Roman citizens!
Acts 16:39-40- And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city. And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
The ruler came quickly and humbly escorted Paul and Silas out of the jail.
Paul knew that once the town saw this they could come back and be listened to by these people because they would realize they weren't criminals.
Paul and Silas went to Lydia's house to encourage those Christians in the faith. They were going to move on to the next town, but they'd be back!
Some times we go through things as a Christian that we wish we didn't have to endure. But, even during those terribly rough times we can be assured that Christ is there with us and has reason for it.
Romans 8:28- And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Yes, God can use anything and everything that we go through for His glory- even going to jail!
