CSSA 1-5-14 - PAUL AND SILAS AT PHILIPPI

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114. PAUL AND SILAS AT PHILIPPI

"If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house"

Aim

To show how the Truth was preached at Philippi despite much suffering and many were converted.

Paul commenced a second journey to preach the Gospel and this time he took Silas with him,. Setting out from.Antioch in Syria once again, they went on land to the towns he had visited before, Derbe, Lystra, Iconium and Antioch in Pisidia. It was on this journey that Timothy joined them.

Acts. 16:9-22

PAUL SEES A VISION OF A MAN FROM MACEDONIA (vv. 9-12)

Eventually the brethren reached Troas, a seaport on the Aegean Sea. There one night Paul saw in a vision a man from Macedonia standing and begging him for assistance: "Come over into Macedonia, and help us".

Realising that this call was from God to spread the Gospel in that area, Paul wasted no time in setting sail. Two days later they came to Philippi, the chief city of Macedonia.

MAKING DISCIPLES IN PHILIPPI (vv. 13-15)

It does not seem that there was a synagogue in Philippi, as on the Sabbath day people used to go to the riverside to pray Among the women gathered there was Lydia, "a seller of purple", an expensive dye for material. She was already a worshipper of God and as she listened carefully to Paul's message, Lydia was convinced of the Truth concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. God had "opened her heart" to hear the way of salvation and she and her household believed and were baptised.

Lydia was so grateful to Paul and the brethren for the hope they now shared, that she insisted on inviting them to her home. "If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house." Therefore Lydia fed them and cared for them while they continued to serve God in Philippi.

A MIRACLE OF HEALING (vv. 16-18)

One day as Paul, Silas and Timothy were going to prayer, they were followed by a slave girl, who was obviously sick in her mind. She imagined she could tell a person's fortune or, in other words, what would happen to them in the future. No one can do this, of course, but some wicked men had used her mental sickness to make themselves rich. This girl followed Paul and the disciples for several days crying out, "These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation." What she shouted was true, but Paul felt very sorry for her because she did not realise what she was saying. He was worried too, because the Truth should not be spoken about in this manner.

So one day, when she still followed them, he turned and spoke to her. Straight away she was healed. The power of the Holy Spirit was able to cure her through the words of the apostle and she became a normal, sensible girl, perhaps for the first time in her life.

PAUL AND SILAS ARE BEATEN (vv. 19-23)

When her masters found that they could no longer use her to make themselves rich, they were very angry. Little did they care that this poor girl had been cured. They thought only of themselves. Catching hold of Paul and Silas, they dragged them into the market place to the rulers of the city, who in turn sent them to the magistrates. "These men, being Jews", they said, "do exceedingly trouble our city" (v. 20). Because Paul and Silas were strangers in Philippi it was not hard to make up some false charge against them. Thus they were accused of teaching things which were against the Roman law. In no time an angry crowd had gathered, all anxious to see Paul and Silas punished. They did not have time to give any answer to the magistrates before their coats were ripped off and the order was given for them to be beaten. The unfortunate brethren were thrashed with rods many times and, with backs bleeding and sore, they were thrown into prison. The jailor, who had been ordered to keep them safely, fastened their feet in the stocks.

LESSON FOR US

In his letter to the Thessalonians (1 Thess. 2:2), Paul reminds the brethren that though they were shamefully treated at Philippi, "we were bold in our God to speak unto you the Gospel of God". Even the shame of being treated so unfairly and the agony of the thrashing they were given did not change their minds about preaching. They were completely humble and unselfish, knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ had suffered more than that for them. We must always think of our trials and difficulties like that. It will make us better servants of Christ and more thankful towards God.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

What an example it is for us to see the keenness with which Lydia listened to and learned the Truth. It appears that no men in Philippi took any interest in the things of God to this point of time but this did not stop Lydia from gathering the women together by the riverside on the Sabbath day for prayer and worship.

Not only did Lydia take on this responsibility, but her work as a "seller of purple" would have made her days busy. She let none of these things come before the Word of God. Because our Father looks on the heart He knew what a genuine woman Lydia was and as she eagerly listened to Paul, God "opened her heart" and helped her to understand.

Even back in the times of the tabernacle in the wilderness, God gave special wisdom to some of those whose heart was stirred to willingly work on the various items for God's sanctuary (Exod. 35:30-35; 36:1-2).

We can see then that God will be a very present help when we prayerfully open His Word and try to understand it. If our hearts are stirred to seek out God's Truth, we shall surely find it.

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