Lesson 334 - Senior
Memory Verse
“We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Cross References
I Paul’s Call to Macedonia
1. In a vision, Paul saw a man who said: “Come over into Macedonia, and help us,” [Acts:16:9].
2. Paul and Silas sailed to Macedonia and held a service by the riverside, [Acts:16:10-13].
3. Lydia extended hospitality to Paul and Silas, [Acts:16:14-15]; [1 Timothy:5:10]; [Hebrews:6:10].
II Grieved by a Devil-Possessed Woman
1. She brought her masters much gain by her divination, [Acts:16:16].
2. She followed Paul and cried, “These men are the servants of the most high God,” [Acts:16:17].
3. Paul cast the evil spirit out of her, [Acts:16:18].
4. Her masters, incensed by the loss of their source of gain, laid hold on Paul and Silas, Act:16:19.
III Beaten and Imprisoned by the Magistrates
1. Paul and Silas were accused before the magistrates, [Acts:16:20-21].
2. The magistrates tore off the accused men’s clothes and commanded that they be beaten, [Acts:16:22-23].
3. They were put into the inner prison, [Acts:16:24].
IV Prayer and Praise and a Great Earthquake
1. A prayer and praise service was held while their feet were in the stocks, [Acts:16:25].
2. A great earthquake came, the prison doors were opened and the prisoners’ bands loosed, [Acts:16:26].
3. The jailer attempted to kill himself but Paul intervened, [Acts:16:27-28].
4. The jailer and his household were saved and better care was given the prisoners, [Acts:16:29-40].
Notes
Paul’s Second Missionary Journey
At the time of our lesson Paul was on his second missionary journey. He had visited a number of the cities where he and Barnabas had preached the Gospel and established churches on his first trip. Barnabas did not accompany Paul on this second trip, but went to his homeland of Cyprus instead. Paul took Silas as his companion and, in addition to visiting the areas covered on his former trip, went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. Then the two went northward and westward into Galatia and Mysia. Paul had planned to go farther north into Bithynia, but the spirit of the Lord said No, so they came to Troas and it was there that Paul had the vision that led him from Asia to Europe.
The Macedonian Call
Twice the Spirit of the Lord had forbidden Paul to go farther into Asia, and possibly he came to Troas wondering just where the Lord wanted him to go. But he was not left in doubt very long. In a vision at night, a man of Macedonia stood before him and said: “Come over into Macedonia, and help us.” The Lord knew that in the country of Greece souls were ready to receive the Gospel. The “Macedonian” call has resounded in the ears of many missionaries, to inspire them, from that day to this.
It is evident that the Holy Ghost was directing the course of these first European missionaries. We are living nearly two thousand years later, but the Holy Ghost still directs the course of true missionaries and overseers today.
A new epoch was to commence in Paul’s apostolic labours. The Macedonian call showed the deep need in that country for the Gospel and the readiness of the people’s hearts to receive it.
The First European Christian
These first missionaries to Europe made their way to Philippi, which was the chief city in that country. Apparently there were not many Jews there. But the first Sabbath found Paul and his company outside the city by the riverside where prayer was wont to be made. There a few women had gathered; some were Jews and some were Jewish proselytes.
Paul and Silas sat down and spoke to the women. Because of the surroundings, it must have been a simple service, but at least one woman in that gathering had a hungry heart. She opened her heart to the truth. Hers was the first response to the Gospel message after the Macedonian call was given to Paul. Her whole household accepted the Gospel of the new covenant. Paul must have included water baptism in his message that morning, for Lydia and her household were baptized. Immediately Lydia wanted these ministers of Christ to come and stay in her house. She used such entreaties and persuasions that they consented to go. She embraced Christianity, and was fulfilling the law of love that Jesus proclaimed -– a love for God’s ministers and for His people -– and laying up for herself a good foundation against the time to come [1 Timothy:6:19]). The Bible states: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” [Hebrews:13:2]).
Persecutions
The missionaries’ work was not going to continue without opposition. The devil is very cunning in his tactics as he attempts to overthrow the work of the Lord. Often he uses a lie wrapped up in some truth, to try to deceive. A young woman followed Paul and Silas, with the cry, “These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation” [Acts:16:17]). It was the truth, but the testimony of a devil-possessed person is not edifying. The devil was speaking through her, undoubtedly with the purpose of drawing unfavourable attention to the Apostle and his companion, and thereby trying to hinder the work that God was doing through them. It was the spirit in which she said it that grieved Paul. It was the same spirit that the Gadarene maniac had when he saw Jesus.
The Law said: “Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God” [Leviticus:19:31]). All dealing with familiar spirits, necromancers, or fortune-tellers was forbidden. God hates that, for it is from the devil. To attempt to find out through fortune-tellers and spiritualist mediums what God has not thought proper to reveal to us is a sin against His wisdom. In His great mercy, God has hidden much of the knowledge of the future from man and has given him hope in its place.
Paul cast out the unclean spirit from this woman, and it stirred her masters. The possibility of their making money from her divinations was gone. So they caught Paul and Silas and brought them before the magistrates. These magistrates heard the accusations against Paul and Silas but did not give them a trial – a chance to witness for themselves -– which was an unlawful thing for the Romans to do. After beating them with many stripes, the authorities thrust the men of God into prison and charged the jailer to keep them safely, and he, in turn, cast them into the inner prison and placed their feet in stocks.
Prayer and Praise Service
It is not always easy to sing in the midnight hour of our trials. Many times the burdens seem heavier that one can bear. But Jesus has promised to be our burden bearer. Paul and Silas prayed and cast their burden upon God, who said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” As they prayed, such joy filled their soul that they began to sing aloud the praises of God.
The other prisoners heard the song of joy. Imagine the surprise of the prisoners at being awakened at midnight by prayer and songs from men whose backs were bleeding and whose feet were in stocks. The prisoners would not have been surprised to have heard groaning and cursing, but praying and singing were unexpected. Those prayers and praises caused Heaven to bow low and listen. Suddenly the old prison shook to its very foundation. The doors swung open and the bands of every prisoner were loosed. Nothing like that had ever happened before in that Philippian jail. The power of God must have been great, for not a prisoner tried to escape.
Salvation of the Jailer
The earthquake woke the jailer who, springing out of bed, saw the prison doors standing open. “By the Roman law, the jailer was to undergo the same punishment which the malefactors who escaped by his negligence were to have suffered.” In many cases the jailer took his own life rather than be slain by an officer. Supposing that the prisoners had fled, this Philippian jailer drew out his sword to kill himself. Although it was midnight and dark, there was enough light flickering through the open doors for Paul to detect what the jailer was about to do, and he cried out, “Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.”
Conviction gripped the jailer. He wanted the salvation that Paul and Silas had. He called for a light and came trembling and fell down before the men of God. Then he brought Paul and Silas out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” It must have brought back memories to Paul of the days when he persecuted the Christians. The Lord had arrested him on his way to Damascus and he cried out, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” [Acts:9:6]).
The answer to the jailer was simple: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” The jailer was under heavy conviction for his sins and in an attitude that he could believe from his heart. It is heart-belief -– belief that embraces full obedience to God -– that brings the born-again experience. Many people give a mental assent to the truth and think they are saved, but that alone does not bring about the new birth. The Word of God says: “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” [Romans:10:9-10]).
What a memorable night! First the prayer meeting, and then the singing, the earthquake, the salvation of the jailer and his household, the bathing of the bleeding wounds of Paul and Silas, the baptismal service, and finally a great feast where everyone rejoiced and praised God for His great salvation.
This was the first great spiritual battle and the first victory won for God on European soil by these two missionaries of the early Church. Europe was destined to be the battlefield for many a future conflict between the forces of Satan and our Christ. The fight is still on, but some day martyred saints will stand triumphantly on that continent to wave the unfurled banner of Jesus Christ their King. Glorious day!
Ten years later Paul wrote his marvellous Epistle to the Philippians, which expresses the great love he had for Lydia and her household, for the jailer and his household, and for all those who were saved at Philippi. He wrote:
“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
“Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
“For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
“Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
“For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.”
“Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved” [Philippians:1:3-8]; [Philippians:4:1]).
Questions
1. What do we mean by the Macedonian call?
2. At what place was the Gospel first preached in Europe?
3. Who was the first European convert to Christianity?
4. What brought about Paul’s and Silas’ imprisonment?
5. What does the Bible say about fortune-telling?
6. Where do these necromancers get their power?
7. Tell how the jailer was saved.
8. What word did the magistrates send to Paul and Silas the following morning?
9. How did Paul answer the magistrate?
10. Name eight important things that happened the night Paul and Silas were in jail.