Acts 16
Second missionary journey verse 1- 5
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
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
Places the Holy Spirit forbad verse 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
Call to Macedonia verse 9- 13
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 endeavored to go into Macedonia
assuredly gathering that the Lord
had called us for to PREACH
the gospel unto them
THEREFORE loosing from Troas
we came with a straight course to Samothracia
and 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 the river side
where PRAYER was wont to be made
and we sat down – and spoke to the women
which resorted thither
Lydia had a heart that was open verse 14- 15
And a certain woman named Lydia
a seller of purple – of the city of Thyatira
which worshiped God
heard us – whose heart the Lord opened
that she attended unto the things
which were spoken by Paul
And when she was baptized – and her household – she besought us
saying
If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord – come into my house
and abide there
And she constrained us
Demon possessed woman healed verse 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 show 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
Masters of demon possessed woman complained verse 19- 24
And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone
they caught Paul and Silas
and drew them into the market place unto the rulers
and brought them to the magistrates saying
These men – being Jews
do exceedingly trouble our city
and each customs
which are not lawful for us to receive
neither to observe – being Romans
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 jailer to keep them safely
WHO – having received such a charge
thrust them into the inner prison
and made their feet fast in the stocks
Paul and Silas in prison verse 25- 28
And at MIDNIGHT Paul and Silas PRAYED
and SANG PRAISES unto God
and the prisoners heard them
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
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 he prisoners had been fled
BUT Paul cried with a loud voice – saying
Do thyself no harm – for we are all here
Jail and his family saved verse 29- 34
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?
AND they said – BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ
and you shalt be SAVED and your house
AND they spake unto him the word of the Lord
and to all that were in his house
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
Paul stated his rights as Roman citizen verse 35- 40
AND when it was day – the magistrates sent the sergeants
saying
Let those men go
AND the keeper of the prison told them saying to Paul
The magistrates have sent to let you go
now therefore depart and go in peace
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 sergeants told these words unto the magistrates
and they feared
when they heard that they were Romans
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
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. (1577 “churches” [ekklesia] means congregation, assembly, gathering of persons with a purpose, gathering, or a calling out)
DEVOTION: The people who gathered on the day of Pentecost started what is called the congregation of the righteous in the New Testament. They gathered around the belief that Jesus Christ came as the Messiah and died for the sins of those who accepted HIS sacrifice.
One the day of Pentecost there were three thousand plus in the assembly of Jerusalem. They met in house churches. They met in other locations. It continued to grow to a group of about ten thousand believers.
Next came the persecution of those who believed which caused them to scatter away from Jerusalem. The apostles stayed in Jerusalem to give the assembly a center leadership position.
The next stage of the growth of the assembly happened as the LORD led the apostles to Samaria and Caesarea where those who were mixed and Gentile joined the church. The Holy Spirit made it plain that everyone needed to know the LORD.
Missionaries were sent out to help the church grow. This caused the assemblies to be established with a Biblical faith. They taught what Jesus taught. This also caused the number in the assemblies to increase DAILY.
The LORD still wants the church to increase daily with believers. This can only happen if all believers are out witnessing for the LORD. Each believer is either helping the growth of the congregation they are a member of or hindering the growth. There is no status quo in Christianity. New people coming into the church as visitors will either be greeted friendly by all of the congregation or will be looked at as intruders in the church.
CHALLENGE: You have to ask yourself if you are a good welcoming committee to new visitors or grouches. We either have a smile on our face or a look that says “why are you here.”
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 6 Now when they had gone throughout Phryia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia. (2967 “forbidden” [koluo] means hinder, withstand, keep from, to be prevented from doing something or being in a certain state, forbid, withhold, or restrain)
DEVOTION: Many of us don’t like any restrictions in our life. We want to do what we want to do when we want to do it. We take our selfishness and our laziness with us into our spiritual life in Christ.
Here we find that Paul and Silas are on their second missionary and they were prevented or forbidden by the Holy Spirit to go certain places. They probably thought that they could go anywhere and preach the Gospel. This was not true. Remember that God has a plan that HE made before the foundation of the world as to what was to happen and when.
They were to go to certain places that were prepared ahead of time for them to be, so that they could win many to the LORD. The Holy Spirit was showing them the way they were to go.
Today it is the same. The LORD opens doors and closes doors. We don’t understand it but we accept it as HIS plan. Does that mean that some people will never be reached with the Gospel? The answer is NO!! No one will have an excuse when they stand before the LORD. No one will be able to say I never had a chance to know YOU.
When the LORD opens the door for you to talk to someone about HIM, you need to go through it. When the LORD closes a door you shouldn’t try to go through the closed door. Ask the LORD to give you wisdom regarding what doors are open to you and what doors are closed.
In verse fourteen we see that Lydia’s heart was opened by the LORD. She became a believer.
CHALLENGE: People with open hearts hear the Word of God and respond. God chooses to use HIS people to witness to open hearts.
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: 16 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. (4436 “divination” [puthon] means be a fortuneteller, soothsayers, diviners, denotes the spirit that speaks through, or ventriloquist)
DEVOTION: Many times, we think that demon possession is only something that happens to people in Africa. That is a lie of the devil. His demons or fallen angels are possessing people in every nation of the world. He knows that his time is short and he must act to prevent the Gospel from reaching every soul he can possibly reach. He knows he is in a battle against the LORD Jesus Christ and that he is going to lose the war but hopes to win many battles.
We have many fortune tellers in our world. They have businesses in every major city. They are on television on a regular basis to encourage people to think they know what is going to happen in the future. We have many games in the marketplace that help people practice the black arts. We have some that openly worship the devil. We live in a time period where the “walking dead” is used in many movies and television shows. Our society makes a joke of it. Satan likes this to happen.
Now Satan and his angels, know who Jesus Christ is and who HIS genuine servants are that are in our world. He tries to get those who claim Christ to deny HIM. He has many pastors and religious leaders in his camp. They say they believe the Bible but teach things that are contrary to the Bible. This is especially true regarding birth and marriage today.
If Satan can get genuine believers sidetracked from witnessing for the LORD by making them just concerned about social issues, he has won a battle. Our main concern should be salvation of souls. The demons in the girl knew who Paul and Silas were and what their mission was.
CHALLENGE: Our mission should be the same. Don’t let Satan sidetrack your outward expression of salvation.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. (5214 “sang praises” [humneo] means sing a religious ode, to celebrate in song, sing songs from the Jewish psalms, song addressed to God or sing a hymn.)
DEVOTION: Paul and Silas are on the second missionary journey. They are joined by Timothy. As they travel the Holy Spirit directs them on which way to go. They were told not to go in two directions by the Holy Spirit. Paul had a vision regarding going to Macedonia. They ended up in Philippi in this chapter.
They went to the riverside where women gathered for prayer. They met Lydia who as a business woman. She had her heart opened to the message of the Word of God. She was saved and baptized. She had Paul and company stay at her house.
One day as they were going to the prayer meeting at the river side, they were bothered by a woman who was possessed of an evil angel. She continued daily to bother them until Paul turned around and cast out the demon in the name of Jesus.
Her masters were angry because they were earning a lot of money with her comments. They stirred up the crowd which ended with Paul and Silas receiving a beating and being cast into jail.
While in jail they acted like you and I would have acted if we were falsely accused and put in jail. They sang praises to the LORD. We would do that too. Right???
Paul and Silas were put in prison without a trial. Paul and Silas were put into the inner prison. Paul and Silas had stocks on their feet. If this were us, what would our reaction be? We were preaching the word. We were seeing people follow Jesus. We cast out a demon in Jesus’ name. Now we were in prison because we were doing the Lord’s work. What would we be saying to one another?
Here we have Paul and Silas praying to the Lord. Here we have Paul and Silas celebrating with praises to God. They were having a worship service in prison. The other prisoners were watching.
God sent an earthquake. All the chains fell off. All the doors of the prison were opened. The jailer woke up and was going to kill himself but Paul yelled out that everyone was still there.
The jailer asked what he had to do to be saved. The jailer was converted and baptized. Praise the LORD.
When our circumstances seem hopeless. When we have things go wrong in our lives, what should we do? Sing? Pray? Have a worship service? YES. YES. YES.
CHALLENGE: Watch people at the next service that you attend to see how much excitement they have when they sing praises to the LORD. Also, examine your singing. Should we have more excitement than Paul and Silas in jail????
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Men of Macedonia prayed verse 9
Prayer meeting at river side verse 13, 16
Paul and Silas praying in prison verse 25
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Sabbath verse 13
Lydia worshiped God verse 14
Prayed in prison verse 25
Sang praises in prison verse 25
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Gospel verse 10
Word of the Lord verse 32
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God verse 14, 17, 25, 34
Worship God verse 14
Most High God verse 17
Believing in God verse 34
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Lord verse 10, 14,15,31,
Heart the Lord opened verse 14
Jesus verse 18, 31
Christ verse 18, 31
Name of Jesus Christ verse 18
Lord Jesus Christ verse 31
Word of the Lord verse 32
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Holy Ghost verse 6
Holy Ghost forbids Paul to preach in Asia verse 6
Spirit verse 7
Spirit doesn’t allow them to go to Bithynia verse 7
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Possessed of a spirit (demon) verse 16
Evil spirit came out at command of Paul verse 18
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Derbe verse 1
Lystra verse 1, 2
Greek verse 1, 3
Iconium verse 2
Phrygia verse 6
Galatia verse 6
Asia verse 6
Mysia verse 7, 8
Bithynia verse 7
Troas verse 8, 11
Macedonia verse 9, 10, 12
Samothracia verse 11
Neapolis verse 11
Philippi verse 12
Lydia verse 14, 15, 40
Seller of purple
Worshiped God
Gathered for prayer
Heart open to Lord
Baptized with her household
Faithful to the Lord
Invited Paul to her house
Thyatira verse 14
Masters of woman with evil spirit verse 16- 20
Rulers verse 19
Magistrates verse 20, 22, 35, 38
Romans verse 21, 37, 38
Jailer verse 23- 36
Prisoners heard Paul and Silas singing verse 25, 27
Earthquake verse 26
Jailer asked “What must I do to be saved” verse 30
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Kill self verse 27
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Disciple verse 1
Believed verse 1, 31, 34
Well – reported verse 2
Decrees to keep verse 4
Ordained verse 4
Faith verse 5
Prayed verse 9, 13, 16, 25
Help verse 9
Preach verse 10
Called verse 10
Gospel verse 10
Worship verse 14
Heart opened verse 15, 33
Faithful verse 15
Servant verse 17
Salvation verse 17, 30, 31
Grieved verse 18
Sang praises verse 25
Rejoiced verse 34
Comforted verse 40
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Jewess verse 1
Circumcised verse 3
Jews verse 3, 20
Jerusalem verse 4
Church (New Testament people of God)
Timotheus verse 1
Brethren verse 2, 40
Paul verse 3, 14, 17- 40
Decrees verse 4
Ordained of the apostles and elders verse 4
Churches verse 5
Established verse 5
Increased in number daily verse 5
Paul had a vision verse 9
Preached the gospel verse 10
Worship verse 14
Servants of the most high God verse 17
Paul spoke to evil spirit verse 18
Silas verse 19, 25, 29
Paul beaten verse 22
Paul in prison verse 23
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
16:6 Having completed their visit of the churches established on Paul’s first mission, the three now headed north, probably from Antioch in Pisidia. Somewhere along the way they determined to go to “Asia.” Just what is intended by “Asia” is uncertain. The term was used in various ways. It could refer to the Roman province of Asia, which included Lycia, portions of Phrygia, and Mysia, as well as ancient Asia. It could be used in a much narrower sense as the cities along the Aegean coast, with Philadelphia as the eastern limit. It probably is in this narrower sense that Paul determined to go to Asia, perhaps to the major city of Ephesus, where he eventually did spend the greater part of his third mission. At this point he was stopped from so doing by the Holy Spirit. The medium of the Spirit’s revelation is not given. The important point is that he was stopped. God had other plans for him at the time. (Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 344). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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The region of Phrygia and Galatia (την Φρυγιαν και Γαλατικην χωραν [tēn Phrugian kai Galatikēn chōran]). This is probably the correct text with one article and apparently describes one “Region” or District in The Province of Galatia which was also Phrygian (the old-ethnographic name with which compare the use of Lycaonia in 14:6). Strictly speaking Derbe and Lystra, though in the Province of Galatia, were not Phrygian, and so Luke would here be not resumptive of the record in verses 1–5; but a reference to the country around Iconium and Antioch in Pisidia in North Galatia is not included. This verse is hotly disputed at every point by the advocates of the North Galatian theory as represented by Chase and the South Galatian theory by Ramsay. Whatever is true in regard to the language of Luke here and in 18:23, it is still possible for Paul in Gal. 1:2 to use the term Galatia of the whole province of that name which could, in fact, apply to either South or North Galatia or to both. He could, of course, use it also in the ethnographic sense of the real Gauls or Celts who dwelt in North Galatia. Certainly the first tour of Paul and Barnabas was in the Province of Galatia though touching only the Regions of Pisidia, Phrygia, and Lycaonia, which province included besides the Gauls to the north. In this second tour Lycaonia has been already touched (Derbe and Lystra) and now Phrygia. The question arises why Luke here and in 18:23 adds the term “of Galatia” (Γαλατικην [Galatikēn]) though not in 13:14 (Pisidian Antioch) nor in 14:6 (cities of Lycaonia). Does Luke mean to use “of Galatia” in the same ethnographic sense as “of Phrygia” or does he here add the province (Galatia) to the name of the Region (Phrygia)? In itself either view is possible and it really matters very little except that the question is raised whether Paul went into the North Galatian Region on this occasion or later (18:23). He could have done so and the Epistle be addressed to the churches of South Galatia, North Galatia, or the province as a whole. But the Greek participle κωλυθεντες [kōluthentes] (“having been forbidden”) plays a part in the argument that cannot be overlooked whether Luke means to say that Paul went north or not. This aorist passive participle of κωλυω [kōluō], to hinder, can only express simultaneous or antecedent action, not subsequent action as Ramsay argues. No example of the so-called subsequent use of the aorist participle has ever been found in Greek as all Greek grammarians agree (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 860–63, 1112–14). The only natural meaning of κωλυθεντες [kōluthentes] is that Paul with Silas and Timothy “passed through the region of Phrygia and Galatia” because they were hindered by the Holy Spirit from speaking the word in Asia (the Province of Asia of which Ephesus was the chief city and west of Derbe and Lystra). This construction implies that the country called “the region of Phrygia and Galatia” is not in the direct line west toward Ephesus. What follows in verse 7 throws further light on the point. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Ac 16:6). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
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16:6–7. God’s guidance was at first negative. Evidently the missionary party first attempted to go to the western province of Asia whose leading city was Ephesus. So they went throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia (cf. 18:23). Possibly this should be understood as the Phrygian region of Galatia. They then proceeded north to eastern Mysia and tried to enter Bithynia, but again they were prevented from doing so by the Spirit of Jesus. How these hindrances were accomplished is not stated. It may have been circumstances, a word of prophecy, a vision, or some other phenomenon. At any rate, God planned for people in both Ephesus and Bithynia to hear the gospel at a later time (cf. 18:19–21, 24–19:41; 1 Peter 1:1). (Toussaint, S. D. (1985). Acts. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 398). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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God opened the way (vv. 6–12). After visiting the churches he had founded, Paul tried to enter new territory for the Lord by traveling east into Asia Minor and Bythinia, but the Lord closed the door. We don’t know how God revealed His will in this matter, but we can well imagine that Paul was disappointed and perhaps a bit discouraged. Everything had been going so smoothly on this second journey that these closed doors must have come as a great surprise. However, it is comforting to know that even apostles were not always clear as to God’s will for their ministries! God planned for the message to get there another time (Acts 18:19–19:41; see 1 Peter 1:1).
In His sovereign grace, God led Paul west into Europe, not east into Asia. It is interesting to speculate how world history might have been changed had Paul been sent to Asia instead of to Europe. At Troas, Paul was called to Macedonia by a man whom he saw in a night vision. “Nothing makes a man strong like a call for help,” wrote George MacDonald, and Paul was quick to respond to the vision (compare Acts 26:19).
Note the pronoun we in Acts 16:10, for Dr. Luke, who wrote the Book of Acts, joined Paul and his party at Troas. There are three “we sections” in Acts: 16:10–17; 20:5–15; and 27:1–28:16. Luke changed from “we” to “they” in Acts 17:1, which suggests that he may have remained in Philippi to pastor the church after Paul left. The next “we section” begins in Acts 20:5 in connection with Paul’s trip from Macedonia. Luke devoted a good deal of space to Paul’s ministry in Philippi, so perhaps he was a resident of that city. Some students think Luke may have been the man Paul saw in the vision.
From Troas to Neapolis, the port of Philippi was a distance of about 150 miles, and it took them two days to make the journey. Later, the trip in the opposite direction would take five days, apparently because of contrary winds (Acts 20:6). Philippi lay ten miles inland from Neapolis, and the way Luke described the city would suggest that he was indeed one of its proudest citizens.
Philippi was a Roman colony, which meant that it was a “Rome away from Rome.” The emperor organized “colonies” by ordering Roman citizens, especially retired military people, to live in selected places so there would be strong pro-Roman cities in these strategic areas. Though living on foreign soil, the citizens were expected to be loyal to Rome, to obey the laws of Rome, and to give honor to the Roman emperor. In return, they were given certain political privileges, not the least of which was exemption from taxes. This was their reward for leaving their homes in Italy and relocating elsewhere. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 467). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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16:6. Luke tells us that the missionary trio continued north and west through Phrygia and Galatia. In some way, the Holy Spirit kept them from preaching the Word in the province of Asia. Geography grabs the utmost importance in studying Acts, and especially the missionary journeys. Here we must make a distinction between northern and southern Galatia.
Southern Galatia, including the towns of Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, received the letter to the Galatians. Northern Galatia was made up of Celtic people (who later immigrated to the British Isles). The Roman province of Asia (not to be confused with the continent to which we ascribe that name today) was located west of Antioch and contained principal cities along the Aegean Sea. The Holy Spirit directed Paul away from that area and sent him instead north and then west on a course for Troas.
It is useless to ponder how the Holy Spirit conveyed this message. From what we already know in Acts, it could have been through a vision, an inner understanding of God’s will, or even the prophetic utterance of a local Christian somewhere along the way. (Gangel, K. O. (1998). Acts (Vol. 5, p. 268). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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16:6–10 Divine steering. Somewhere along the way, the trip to strengthen the churches became a missionary venture, but one with a few false starts. 6 They travelled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia or ‘the Phrygian region of the province of Galatia’ (see also 18:23). They had intended to preach in the province of Asia (roughly modern Turkey) but were kept from doing so by the Holy Spirit. 7 Again, when they tried to enter Bithynia, the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to, so they went down to Troas. The unique phrase the Spirit of Jesus may imply a vision of the Lord. On the other hand, Paul was travelling with Silas, a man known as a prophet (15:32), and the directions may have come through him. 9 It is Paul himself who received more positive leading in Troas, when during the night he had a vision of man of Macedonia asking for help. 10 Having come to the conclusion that this was no mere dream, the party prepared to leave. The author himself appears to have joined the group in Troas, as indicated by the use of the pronoun we for the first time in the book. The so-called ‘we-passages’ are 16:10–17; 20:5–21:18; 27:1–28:16. (Gempf, C. (1994). Acts. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 1090). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.)
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Ver. 6. Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia, &c.] See the note on ch. 2:10. To which may be added, that this country had its name either from the river Phryx, as Pliny observes, or from the word Phrygios, which signifies dry; this being a very dry and sandy country: it was famous for marble stone; hence we read of Phrygian stone or marble, of which pillars and statues were made: according to Josephusy, the original of the Phrygians was Togarmah the son of Gomer, and grandson of Japheth, Gen. 10:3 whom he calls Thygrammes, and his people from him, Thygrammeans, and who, adds he, as it seems by the Greeks, are called Phrygians. Herodotus reports, that the Phrygians (as the Macedonians say) were called Briges or Brygians, so long as they were Europeans, and dwelt with the Macedonians: but when they went into Asia, together with the country, they changed their names into Phrygians: of one Philip a Phrygian, whom Antiochus left governor at Jerusalem, mention is made in 2 Maccab 5:22 here dwelt Jews, as appears from ch. 2:10 and here the apostle preached and made converts. And the region of Galatia; in Asia Minor: it had Cappadocia on the east, Bithynia on the west, Pamphilia on the south, and the Euxine sea on the north. The inhabitants of this country were originally Gauls, who under Brennus their captain, came out of some parts of France, and invaded Italy, and came to Rome, and took it all but the capitol; from whence being sallied out upon by the Romans at an unawares, they were obliged to retire; and from thence they sailed into Greece, and went into Asia, into this part of it where they settled, which was first called after them Gallo Græcia, and in process of time Galatia; though some say the Grecians called them Galatians from Gala, which signifies milk, because of their milky colour: of the Galatians, mention is made in 2 Maccab. 3:20 here the Gospel was preached, and many believed; for we afterwards read of disciples both in this country and in Phrygia, ch. 18:23 and here were churches formed, and to whom the apostles preached, and delivered the decrees of the apostles and elders. And were forbidden of the Holy Ghost; not by an articulate voice, but by a secret and powerful impulse upon their minds; to preach the word in Asia; that is, in that country which was properly called Asia, or pro-consular Asia, otherwise Phrygia, and Galatia, were provinces in Asia Minor. Beza’s most ancient copy, and the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions read, the word of God: the reasons why it was prohibited to be preached here, at this time, cannot be said, and must be referred to the sovereign will of God; it seems, that at this instant, there were no chosen ones to be called by grace, and there was work for the apostle and his companions to do elsewhere, namely, in Macedonia. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 2, p. 292). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
Walk Before Me
“I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” (Genesis 17:1)
Abraham had been “walking” in the land of Canaan nearly 25 years when God gave this command to him. He had experienced the shameful rebuke in Egypt by Pharaoh and a marvelous victory against Chedorlaomer—and then had demonstrated both humility and obedience before Melchizedek.
God had been explicit in His promises to Abraham, but the promised heir had not yet come. Now, in spite of the awful lapse of faith with Hagar and the nagging burden of Ishmael, God insisted that Abraham “walk before” Him and “be perfect.”
The Hebrew language here is unusual. The word translated “before me” is panyim, basically meaning “the face.” This is the term used in the first commandment where we are told to “have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).
In Genesis 17:1, the phrase could well be translated “walk, looking at my face.” The first commandment could also be translated “don’t let any other god get between your face and my face.”
The implication is obvious. God expects us to live in such a way that His “face” (person, character, presence) is always “before” us so that our “walk” (lifestyle, behavior) is “perfect” (complete, whole, healthy), with nothing inhibiting the relationship “of him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13).
“Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations” (Genesis 6:9). After warning Israel of the dangers of the pagan nations surrounding them, Moses still insisted that they should “be perfect with the LORD thy God” (Deuteronomy 18:13). No matter what the circumstances may be, if we are looking at God’s “face,” we will walk perfectly.
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Revelation 15
John begins a description of the earth’s judgment that continues in the following chapters.
INSIGHT
One of the sobering realities of Scripture is the prophecy of judgment on mankind at the end of time. While theologians debate timetables and exact meanings, they generally agree on one thing: Judgment is a central feature of the end times. While the depiction of judgment in Revelation is shrouded in symbolism and mystery, it is clear that it is paralyzingly unpleasant. Accounts of judgment are accompanied by warnings to men to take heed and prepare themselves to meet the Lord. (Quiet Walk)
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TRANSGRESSION AND INIQUITY
Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Psalm 51:2-3
The second step when we become convicted of sin is a recognition of the exact character or nature of what we have done. This is put here [in Psalm 51] perfectly in three words. The first is the word “transgressions,” the second is “iniquity,” and “sin” is the third.
What does “transgression” mean? It means rebellion; it means the uprising of the will against authority, and especially against a person of authority. “Blot out my transgressions” (verse 1). In other words, David admits he has transgressed. He has rebelled against an authority. His own will has risen up within him, and he has asserted himself. He has been governed by desire and has allowed himself to be swayed by lust. Transgression means a desire to have our own way, a desire to do what we want to do.
“Iniquity”—what does that mean? Well, iniquity means that an act is twisted or that it is bent. It means perversion, and this is obvious in the case of David. “Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity”—the foul thing, that dastardly thing. “What was it in me that made me do it? How perverted I must have been to do that!” I ask you as you examine yourself, do you not see that so many things you do are twisted and perverted? Jealousy and envy and malice—how horrible the twist! The desire that evil may come to someone, the dislike of praise of another—evil thoughts, bent, twisted, ugly, foul—“iniquity”! And we are all guilty of iniquity.
“Sin” means “missing the mark.” We are not living as we ought to be living. A man aims at a target; he shoots, but he misses it. That is what sin always means. A man is not treading the path God has marked out for him.
A Thought to Ponder: We are all guilty of iniquity.
(From Out of the Depths, pp. 25-26, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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J.C Ryle, a nineteenth-century Bishop of Liverpool, was right: “We must be holy, because this is one grand end and purpose for which Christ came into the world…Jesus is a complete Saviour. He does not merely take away the guilt of a believer’s sin, he does more – he breaks its power (1Pet.1:2, Rom. 8:29; Eph.1:4; 2 Tim. 1:9; Heb.12:10). My fear is that as we rightly celebrate, and in some quarters rediscover, all that Christ has saved us from, we are giving little thought and making little effort concerning all that Christ has saved us to. Shouldn’t those most passionate about the gospel and God’s glory alos be those most dedicated to the pursuit of godliness? I worry that there is an enthusiasm gap and no one seems to mind.
(p. 11, The Hole in Our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung)
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But the masters of the slave girl now lost their lucrative business and brought Paul and Silas before the magistrates who ordered them beaten with rods. What was the charge? Proselytizing Romans. Although Judaism was a legitimate religion, they were not allowed to proselytize Romans (A. T. Roberson, Word Pictures of the New Testament). (June 6, Living The New Testament by Paul Enns)
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