From Mark Copeland... The Conversion Of The Jailer (Acts 16:25-40)

                          "THE BOOK OF ACTS"

               The Conversion Of The Jailer (16:25-40)

INTRODUCTION

1. In Ac 16:25-40, we have another example of conversion...
   a. Commonly called "The Conversion Of The Jailer"
   b. Which included the conversion of his household

2. In Ac 16:30 we find a familiar passage...
   a. In which Paul is confronted by the Philippian jailer
   b. Who asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

3. This is a very important question...
   a. Salvation from sin is our greatest need - cf. Ro 6:23
   b. The answer must be according to the Word of God

4. The answer given is often limited to what is mentioned in Ac 16:31...
   a. Without consideration of all that is said in the context
   b. Without noting what is taught elsewhere in the Scriptures

[If one were to ask today, "What Must I Do To Be Saved?", how should we
reply?  Shall we limit our response to the words of Ac 16:31?  Well,
consider first of all...]

I. WHAT IS NOT MENTIONED

   A. THE NEED TO REPENT OF SINS...
      1. Yet Jesus wanted repentance to be preached in His name - Lk 24:46-47
      2. And so the apostles often preached the need to repent of sins
         a. As Peter did in his first two sermons - Ac 2:37-38; 3:19
         b. As did Paul in his sermon in Athens - Ac 17:30-31
      -- Shall we conclude that repentance is not necessary because it is
         not mentioned in the conversion of the Philippian jailer?

   B. THE NEED TO CONFESS CHRIST...
      1. Yet Jesus taught of the necessity of confessing Him before
         others - Mt 10:32-33
      2. And so the apostles often mentioned the importance of confessing
         Christ
         a. Confessing with the mouth the Lord Jesus leads to salvation 
            - Ro 10:9-10
         b. Confessing that Jesus is the Son of God leads to abiding in
            God - 1Jn 4:15
      -- Shall we conclude that confession is not necessary because it is
         not mentioned in the conversion of the Philippian jailor?

[We would be mishandling the Scriptures to suggest because repentance
and confession are not mentioned in Ac 16:31 that they are not necessary
to salvation.  But now let's consider...]

II. WHAT IS MENTIONED

   A. BELIEVING ON THE LORD...
      1. The jailer was told to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ - Ac 16:31
      2. This is consistent with what Jesus Himself taught
         a. Believing in the Son is key to having eternal life - Jn 3:36
         b. Unless we believe in Him, we will die in our sins - Jn 8:24
      3. And so the apostles often proclaimed the importance of faith in
         Jesus
         a. That one might have life in His name - Jn 20:30-31
         b. That believing with the heart leads to righteousness - Ro 10:9-10
      -- Faith in Christ is imperative to salvation, because of what the
         Bible says about it

   B. BAPTISM IMMEDIATELY...
      1. We notice that the jailor and his family were baptized 
         immediately - Ac 16:33
      2. Similar to what we read elsewhere in other cases of conversion
         a. The 3000 baptized on the day of Pentecost - Ac 2:41
         b. The Ethiopian eunuch was baptized as soon as he saw water
            - Ac 8:35-38
         c. Paul encouraged not to delay - Ac 22:16
      3. Why were they baptized immediately, even when it was after
         midnight? - cf. Ac 16:25,33
         a. Peter said it was for the remission of sins - Ac 2:38
         b. Paul was told it was to wash away sins - Ac 22:16
         c. Paul later wrote that it was a cutting away of the body of
            sins - Col 2:11-13
         d. Peter later wrote that it saves us through the resurrection
            of Christ - 1Pe 3:21
      -- When one sees what is revealed about baptism in the New 
         Testament, we can understand why it was received as soon as 
         possible by those who heard the gospel

   C. INCLUDING HIS HOUSEHOLD...
         1. Some appeal to the mention of "household" to infer infants 
            were included in the baptism
      2. Yet the text states that:
         a. Paul "spoke the word of the Lord...to all who were in his
            house", implying that all were able to listen and understand
            what was said - Ac 16:32
         b. The jailer rejoiced, "having believed in God with all his
            household"; i.e., everyone believed, implying the ability of
            all to believe what they heard - Ac 16:34
      3. There is nothing here to preclude what we have already concluded
         as necessary requirements to be a subject qualified for baptism:
         a. Repentance - Ac 2:38
         b. Whole-hearted faith - Ac 8:37
      -- Infants are incapable of faith and repentance, and nothing in 
         the text implies that infants were in the household of the 
         jailer

CONCLUSION

1. Why does Paul only mention faith in answer to the question in Ac 16:31...?
   a. Because the answer takes into consideration one's spiritual state
      or condition
   b. For the jailor, he first needed to be told to believe in Jesus
   c. For the 3000 on Pentecost, they already believed by the time they
      asked their question, so faith is not even mentioned (but implied
      nonetheless) - cf. Ac 2:36-37

2. What answer should we give to those who ask today, "What must I do to
   be saved?"...
   a. Our answer depends upon what the spiritual state or condition the
      person is in
   b. If they have yet to believe in Jesus, then the need to believe in
      Him - Ac 16:30
   c. If they believe in Jesus, then the need to repent, confess, and be
      baptized for the remission of their sins - Ac 2:38; 22:16; 

      Ro 10:9-10; Ga 3:26-27

3. Our answer should entail all found in the Word of the Lord...
   a. Paul proceeded to speak the word of the Lord to the jailor and his
      family - Ac 16:32
   b. Such evidently included the need to be baptized immediately - Ac 16:33

A proper answer to "What must I do to be saved?" will take into 
consideration both the spiritual state of the inquirer and all that
that the Word of God reveals on the subject.  

Have you responded to what the Bible teaches regarding salvation in
Christ...?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2013

 

From Mark Copeland... Persecuted For Righteousness' Sake (Acts 16:16-25)

                          "THE BOOK OF ACTS"

             Persecuted For Righteousness' Sake (16:16-25)

INTRODUCTION

1. Jesus spoke of being persecuted for righteousness' sake... - Mt 5:10

2. The apostles of Christ certainly suffered much persecution...
   a. As Paul alluded to in his epistles - 1Co 4:9-13
   b. Paul especially endured much suffering for Christ - 2Co 11:24-25

[Such persecution came as a result of trying to live godly or righteous
lives (cf. 2Ti 3:12).  At this point in our study of Acts, we find an
example of Paul being "Persecuted For Righteousness' Sake"...]

I. PAUL EXPELS A SPIRIT

   A. THAT POSSESSED A SLAVE GIRL...
      1. She possessed "a spirit of divination" - Ac 16:16
         a. The Greek speaks literally of a "python spirit."
         b. The python was the symbol of the famous Delphic oracle and
            represented the god Apollo, who was believed to render 
            predictions of future events. 
         c. The serpent had thus become a symbol of augury, and anyone
            who was seen to possess the gift of foretelling the future 
            was described as led by the "python." 
         -- Polhill, J. B. (1995). Vol. 26: Acts. The New American
            Commentary
      2. She brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling - Ac 16:16

   B. THAT GREATLY ANNOYED PAUL...
      1. The possessed girl followed Paul and his companions on the way
         to prayer - Ac 16:17
      2. She would cry out "These men are the servants of the Most High
         God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation." - Ac 16:17
      3. This she did for many days, which annoyed Paul - Ac 16:18; cf.
         Lk 4:34,41
      4. Why was Paul annoyed ("grieved", KJV)?
         a. The acclamations may have been true in one sense
         b. But they were open to misunderstanding by pagan hearers
         c. The term "Most High God" was commonly applied to Zeus, and
            "the way of salvation" could also be misconstrued by Gentiles
            - Polhill, ibid.
      5. "The course pursued by Paul was the same with that of Jesus,
         who invariably stopped the mouths of demons when they attempted
         to testify to his claims. The propriety of this course will be
         apparent upon observing:
         a. "First, That to have permitted demons to testify for the
            truth would have convinced the people that there was an 
            alliance between them and the preachers.
         b. "Second, This supposed alliance would have caused all the
            good repute of Jesus and the apostles to reflect upon the 
            demons, and all the evil repute of demons to reflect upon 
            them.
         c. "If Christ and the apostles had given countenance to demons
            while telling the truth, they could have used their 
            endorsement to gain credence when telling a lie; and thus,
            believers would have been left to the mercy of seducing 
            spirits, fulfilling, with the apparent sanction of Christ, 
            the prophesy of Paul that, 'In the latter times men shall 
            depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and 
            teachings of demons, speaking lies in disguise, having the
            conscience seared with a hot iron.' (1Ti 4:1-2)
         d. "To guard against this result, it was necessary to exorcise
            all demons who ventured to speak in favor of the truth."
         -- McGarvey, J. W. (1872). A commentary on Acts of Apostles
      5. So Paul commanded the spirit to come out, and it did that very
         hour - Ac 16:18

[In exorcising the spirit, Paul was doing the slave girl a kindness, an
act of righteousness if you will.  But as Jesus implied, righteousness
can often lead to persecution...]
 
II. PAUL AND SILAS ARE PERSECUTED

   A. BY MASTERS AND MAGISTRATES...
      1. The slave girl's masters motivated by loss of profit - Ac 16:19-21
         a. Seized Paul and Silas, dragging them to the marketplace and
            the authorities
         b. Accusing them as Jews troubling the city, teaching customs 
            not lawful for Romans
      2. The magistrates (normally two per colony) motivated by the
         multitude - Ac 16:22
         a. As the multitude rose up together against Paul and Silas
         b. The magistrates tore off Paul and Silas' clothes, commanded
            them to be beaten with rods 

   B. WITH BEATINGS AND IMPRISONMENT...
      1. Beaten with rods - Ac 16:22-23
         a. Probably by lictors; lit., rod bearers (the "officers") - cf.
            Ac 16:35,38
         b. With many stripes; likely one of the three times Paul
            mentions - cf. 2Co 11:25
      2. Imprisoned with stocks - Ac 16:23-24
         a. Securely in the inner prison
         b. With feet fastened in stocks

   C. FOLLOWED BY PRAYER AND PRAISE...
      1. Despite pain of beaten skin, discomfort of fastened feet - 

         Ac 16:23-25
         a. They prayed, likely with thanksgiving - cf. Php 4:6-7
         b. They sang hymns to God (hymns are songs of praise and joy) 
            - cf. Ep 5:19
      2. Thus Paul and Silas rejoiced when persecuted for righteousness'
         sake!
         a. As Jesus told His disciples to do when persecuted - 

            Mt 5:11-12; Lk 6:22-23   
         b. As other apostles did they were persecuted - Ac 5:41
      
CONCLUSION

1. By precept, we're told how to respond when persecuted for 
   righteousness' sake...
   a. Jesus:  "Rejoice...be exceedingly glad; leap for joy!" - Mt 5:12;
      Lk 6:23
   b. Peter:  "Rejoice...glorify God" - 1Pe 4:12-16

2. By example, we're told how to respond when persecuted for 
   righteousness' sake...
   a. Pray, as Paul and Silas prayed to God in prison
   b. Sing, as Paul and Silas sang hymns to God in prison

May the example of Paul and Silas inspire us to keep the precept...!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2013

 

From Mark Copeland... The Conversion Of Lydia (Acts 16:11-15)

                          "THE BOOK OF ACTS"

                  The Conversion Of Lydia (16:11-15)

INTRODUCTION

1. One of the best reasons to study Acts is to take note of the examples
   of conversion...
   a. In which the gospel was preached and people responded
   b. Noting what was preached, and how people responded

2. For today, many people in the name of Christianity...
   a. Preach a false gospel of Christ
   b. Or proclaim a false response to the gospel

[We have examined several conversions already in our study of Acts. Now 
we come to "The Conversion of Lydia", perhaps the first convert to Christ
in the continent of Europe...] 

I. OCCASIONED BY THE MACEDONIAN CALL

   A. PAUL'S VISION AT TROAS...
      1. He and his company had been making their way through Asia 
         (Turkey)
      2. The Spirit had limited their options - Ac 16:6-8
      3. In Troas Paul had a vision ("The Macedonian Call") - Ac 16:9
      4. Taking the vision as a call from the Lord, they depart for
         Macedonia - Ac 16:10

   B. PAUL'S ARRIVAL AT PHILIPPI...
      1. Sailing from Troas - Ac 16:11
         a. They sail to Samothrace, a small mountainous (5000+ ft.)
            island
         b. And then to Neopolis, seaport for the city of Philippi 
      2. Arriving at Philippi - Ac 16:12
         a. Foremost city of that part of Macedonia
         b. Made a Roman colony in 42 B.C.

[Arriving at Philippi, Paul and his companions (including Luke, note
"we") were staying in the city for several days (Ac 16:12).  On one of
those days, they went down to the river...]

II. THE BAPTISM OF LYDIA AND HER HOUSEHOLD

   A. AT THE RIVERSIDE FOR PRAYER...
      1. Paul and his company go down to the riverside on the Sabbath
         - Ac 16:13
      2. Paul's custom was to find a synagogue on the Sabbath - Ac 17:1-3
         a. To reason with Jews about Christ        
         b. Evidently there were not many Jews in Philippi, and no
            synagogue
         c. According to Jewish custom, at least 10 male Jews were
            required for a synagogue
      3. But women met at the river to pray, and Paul's company speaks to
         them

   B. LYDIA HEEDS THE WORD OF GOD...
      1. Lydia was a successful business woman - Ac 16:14
         a. A seller of purple (goods, dye), suggesting wealth on her
            part
         b. From Thyatira, a city of Asia (Turkey) known for its
            expensive purple dyes
      2. Lydia was a religious woman - Ac 16:14
         a. One who worshipped God
         b. Her name is Greek, so perhaps a convert to Judaism 
      3. She heard Paul, and the Lord opened her heart to heed what he 
         said - Ac 16:14
         a. In what way the Lord opened her heart is not stated
         b. But she "heard" what Paul was speaking - Ac 16:13,14
         c. We know that "faith comes by hearing the word of God" - Ro 10:17
      4. Through the gospel, one's heart can be opened to be receptive
         a. For the gospel is God's power to save - Ro 1:16
         b. It tells of God's goodness, that should lead one to repent 
            - Ro 2:4
      5. Lydia was willing "to heed the things spoken by Paul" - Ac 16:14-15
         a. I.e., to do or obey whatever Paul had said
         b. We can infer that it included baptism - cf. Mk 16:15-16; Ac 2:38
         c. For she and her household (family, servants) were baptized 
            - cf. Ac 8:12,35-38

[At this point, allow me to make some...]

III. OBSERVATIONS RELATED TO LYDIA'S CONVERSION

   A. RELIGIOUS PEOPLE NEED SAVING...
      1. Throughout Acts, the gospel was proclaimed to religious people
         a. The thousands of devout Jews in Jerusalem on Pentecost - Ac
            2:1-41
         b. The many Jews gathered on Solomon's Porch at the temple - Ac 3:1-26
         c. The Ethiopian eunuch who had travelled to Jerusalem to 
            worship - Ac 8:26-40
         d. Saul of Tarsus, a devout Jewish rabbi - Ac 9:1-19; 22:1-16;
            26:1-13
         e. Cornelius, a devout Gentile who feared God, prayed always
            - Ac 10:1-48
      2. Without Jesus, religious people are lost!
         a. He is the way, the truth, the life; there is no way to God 
            but through Him - Jn 14:16
         b. There is no other name but Jesus whereby one can be saved
            - Ac 4:12
         c. He is the only Mediator between God and man - 1Ti 2:5-6
      -- It is not enough to be religious; we need Jesus Christ as our 
         Savior!

   B. THE LOGICAL CONCLUSION TO GOSPEL PREACHING...
      1. In every case of conversion described in Acts with detail,
         baptism occurs quickly
      2. In most cases, after hearing just one lesson about Christ! 
         - e.g., Ac 8:35-38
      3. Referring to Peter's sermon on Pentecost, a respected Baptist 
         scholar wrote:  "Baptism is here a part of the proclamation of 
         Christ. In an Apostolic sermon it comes as its logical 
         conclusion.  An effort ought to be made to restore this note in
         our [Baptist] preaching." - Baptism In The New Testament, George
         Beasley-Murray, p. 393
      -- Indeed, the command of baptism needs to be restored to all
         gospel preaching!

   C. AN INDICATION OF FAITHFULNESS...
      1. In asking Paul and his companions to stay with her, Lydia asks 
         "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord..." - Ac 16:15
      2. What evidence was there to determine whether she was faithful?
      3. At the very least, her willingness to be baptized! - Ac 16:15
      -- Would not refusal to be baptized indicate a lack of 
         faithfulness?

   D. THE ISSUE OF INFANT BAPTISM...
      1. Some appeal to "household conversions" as evidence of infant
         baptism, such as:
         a. The conversion of Cornelius and his household - Ac 10:1-48
         b. The conversion of Lydia and her household - Ac 16:11-15
         c. The conversion of the Philippian jailor and his household
            - Ac 16:25-34
      2. The argument is that we may assume infants were present, but is
         that the case here?
         a. Lydia was a businesswoman, with no mention of a husband 
         b. She was from Thyatira, possibly in Philippi on business
            (though she did have a home)
         c. We can just as easily assume that her household was made up
            of servants, or at least children old enough to travel
      -- The burden of proof rests upon those seeking to support infant
         baptism, and the evidence in this case simply isn't there (nor
         elsewhere)

CONCLUSION

1. With the conversion of Lydia, we have...
   a. Perhaps the first gospel convert in the continent of Europe
   b. The beginning of the church at Philippi, which may have met in her
      home - cf. Ac 16:40

2. We also have an example of the Providence of God...
   a. Leading servants who are prepared to teach, to seekers who are
      praying
   b. As in the case of Cornelius, and the Ethiopian treasurer

3. Fulfilling the words of Jesus:  
   a. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for
      they shall be filled." - Mt 5:6
   b. "Seek and you will find" - Mt 7:7-8

Such individuals are like the man in The Parable of the Pearl of Great
Price:

   "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful
   pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and
   sold all that he had and bought it." - Mt 13:45-46

Lydia was a successful merchant, but she knew there was something much
more valuable than money.  Her worship and prayer gave her the
opportunity to hear the gospel, and she showed her faithfulness to God
by obeying the gospel immediately through faith and baptism (cf. Mk
16:15-16).  

How about you...?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2013

 

From Gary... The Ant

Many thanks to brother Walter Vogt for this picture!!!

I haven't seen brother Walter Vogt in many, many years and frankly had no idea he had such a talent at photography!!!  This image is simply amazing!!!  Just a simple picture, yet it is filled with a very important message to those who are acquainted with the Scriptures.  Read on to see what I am referring to...

Proverbs, chapter 6

 6 Go to the ant, you sluggard.

Consider her ways, and be wise;

 

7 which having no chief, overseer, or ruler,

8 provides her bread in the summer,

and gathers her food in the harvest.

9 How long will you sleep, sluggard?

When will you arise out of your sleep?

10 A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to sleep:

11 so your poverty will come as a robber,

and your scarcity as an armed man.

2 Thessalonians, chapter 3

6  Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in rebellion, and not after the tradition which they received from us.  7 For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn’t behave ourselves rebelliously among you,  8 neither did we eat bread from anyone’s hand without paying for it, but in labor and travail worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you;  9 not because we don’t have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us.  10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: “If anyone will not work, neither let him eat.”  11 For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don’t work at all, but are busybodies.  12 Now those who are that way, we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 

Work, it is a necessity!!!  However, today our government encourages people not to work by its welfare policies.  If you are unmarried and keep having children- you just get more and more money!!!  No responsibility, no accountability, just benefits.  If you can find the exact job you want- no problem, the government will just extend the benefits.  Now, I freely admit it is human nature to be lazy.  Consider, that the church at Thessalonica had that problem.  However, Paul gave them corrective teaching and his own example to follow to remedy the situation.  Those of you who have known me for several decades can testify to the fact that I would always work.  If I couldn't find a job that provided enough income, I would get a second job.  Life was difficult- try working two shifts days on end with rotating days off.  But somehow I did it.  It is a matter of fact that I earned my degree in Bible while working two jobs.  If you are able to work- then work!!!    

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard.

Consider her ways, and be wise;

From Jim McGuiggan... DO IT AGAIN!

DO IT AGAIN!

A few years back an older black gentleman, so I’ve read, made his first visit to Washington DC and to the Abraham Lincoln memorial. A deeply sensitive man, tried in the furnace of oppression where he and those he loved more dearly than himself had suffered greatly he looked long at Lincoln. Then he looked beyond Lincoln, to some one greater than Lincoln, someone who welcomed Lincoln’s service and he gently with deep passion prayed, “Do it again!”

God is always doing that: doing it again! He began right at our roots and offered fellowship and life in his presence and under his fatherly dominion to our parents. We went our own way and God brought curse and uncreation as a redemptive judgment as one of the ways he would keep his commitment to us.

He did it again in Genesis 9 when he gave dominion to Noah and his descendants, repeating the Genesis 1:26 commission; but the brave new world corrupted itself and we hear its God-denying insolence in Genesis 11 where the Fall narrative that began in Genesis 3 is completed.

He did it again when he brought Israel, his elect nation in Abraham, into Canaan as he did Adam and Eve into the garden but like Adam, Israel in its kings and leaders refused to exercise dominion in the image of God and he sent them into the judgment of Exile.

He did it again when he gave dominion to the Gentile powers beginning with Babylon and going through Rome. We find that rehearsed in the book of Daniel. In Daniel 2:37-38 we’re told in the terms of Genesis 1 and 9 that God gave to Nebuchadnezzar dominion which was to be exercised under God and in righteousness (Daniel 4:19-27). Like Adam, Nebuchadnezzar claimed godlike power and in his pride brought his world down with him.

The story goes on and the picture painted in the book of Judges about Israel is repeated in every age and in every nation.

It’s important to notice that the dominion speech from Genesis 1:26-27 is repeated at various times through the biblical witness and that the judgment which followed rebellion is repeatedly the speech of “uncreation”.

Babylon’s lost its dominion to the Medo-Persians almost (not quite) in silence when Cyrus’ troops entered the city via a river that ran into it but they were welcomed into Babylon by the priests who had their own bone to pick with Nabonidus and his regent Belshazzar. But that’s not how the fall of Babylon is depicted in Isaiah 13—14. There the downfall of Babylon is described in terms of a creation made mad by the God who brings “uncreation” (as he did in Egypt during the plagues).

Judah is finally judged for its sins but when Jeremiah describes it he sees it in terms of “uncreation”—the undoing of Genesis 1 (see Jeremiah 4:19-31).

In all the above and more, what does the human family experience in common in its passing ages?

We’re told repeatedly that God renewed his commission to humans to exercise dominion over the world in his image. Genesis 1 is re-enacted.

We are told repeatedly that redemptive judgment is carried out and it is spoken to us in “uncreation” terms coming from Genesis 3 and 6—8 and elsewhere.

Human sin is a single narrative; as a family we have only one story and that is of a refusal to exercise authority in the image of God; that is, in the way he exercised it in bringing creation into being and promoting life and harmony.

Human sin whenever or by whoever is linked to the original Fall and the consequent divine judgment.

Whatever the specific forms of our individual sins we all share in the essence of Sin; it has contaminated us all.

But God eternally made a commitment to his creation and in patience that defies description he refused to wash his hands of it.

In Jesus Christ he “did it again” and the dominion that Jesus now possesses and exercises in the midst of his enemies (Psalm 110) he will one day make fully public when he comes to right all wrongs and bring God’s eternal creative purpose to completion.

The NT elect has the unique destiny and mission to bear witness to the truth that God has “done it again” in Jesus.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.