A New Voice of Freedom

Podcast 155, Acts, “Pt 16, Ch 16”Since circumcision was not a requirement to become a Christian, Chapter 16 has a rather peculiar beginning.Acts 16:1-4Then 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.The Jews did require circumcision, and Timothy’s mother was Jewish. It was a pragmatic decision of Timothy. He became a missionary companion to Paul and together they went into Jewish synagogues. The church prospered even in the Jewish community.Act 16:5And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.Still persecution was rampant, and the missionaries could not safely travel anywhere. The Grand thing is how the Holy Ghost protected those brave souls who willingly risked their lives for Christ.  Acts 16:6-7Now 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.They were also helped through the Holy Ghost by visions. We are suddenly introduced to the first person pronoun, ‘we,’ who is the narrator of Acts. We may only assume that Luke, who is the acknowledged writer of Acts, accompanies Paul on his missionary travels. Expert writer that he is, Luke remains in the shadows, objectively recording events that not only shaped the moment, but because of Luke’s dedication as a writer, eventually shaped the world. What good is a sacred record if no one can read it?Acts 16:8-15And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 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. 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. 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.We come across another strange dilemma, devil possession. It could probably accurately be said that there is nothing so sacred or profane that someone cannot exploit and turn a profit.  Idol worship, for example is definitely an opportunity for great profit. Who makes and sells the idols? When I was in India, my wife and I were shopping at our favorite antique store. We were Christians, of course, but we were struck by Ganesh, the God of prosperity. When I purchased a bronze of Ganesh, the owner, who by then had become familiar with us, knowing we were Christian, said with an almost impish smile, “You cannot have too many gods.”He made a nice profit, and we still have the bronze idol. There is also that incident with the silversmiths at Ephesus who were angry with Paul’s preaching.  Acts 20:24-28For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.One wonders about the sincerity of their worship when they are more concerned with their profit than they are for their own gods. All religions are exploitable and priestcraft is a constant threat to true worship. Such is the case with the casting out of an evil spirit.Acts 16:16-22And 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. 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. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.Clearly they cared only for money, using the popular religion for profit. It was unlawful imprisonment, but so was the imprisonment of John the Baptist and Jesus. Where a cause is concerned, justice is the first thing to die. Paul and Silas are delivered from prison miraculously. Acts 16:23-26And 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. 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.However, Paul and Silas, though free of the bonds, remained which saved the prison keeper’s life.Acts 16:27-28And 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.This, of course, reminds us of a similar incident with Peter, though with different results. After beheading James, Herod finding his act was popular with the people, put Peter in prison with the intention of executing him, but Peter, like Paul, was miraculously saved. Acts 12:6-8And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.Peter escaped but the poor prison keepers were put to death by order of Herod. With the situation with Paul and Silas, however, the keeper’s life was not only spared because of the heroism of Paul and Silas, but the keeper also became converted to Christianity. Acts 16:29-34Then 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 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. 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, an indominable soul, stood his ground with the magistrates. He sought justice through the law. He had an advantage Peter didn’t have. Paul had Roman citizenship through birth, though he was a Jew.