Timothy joins 1
Come to Macedonia and help us 6
Lydia baptized at Philippi 11
Paul and Silas in prison 16
Philippian jailer saved 22
Paul asked to leave quietly 35
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| .1
¶ 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:
.2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 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.  4
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.
5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. 1 - Disciple was there Two towns were mentioned. Perhaps his home was the general region. 1 - Timotheus Or "Timothy" as the name is generally said in English. It means "honored of God." 1 - Son of We know more about Timothy than we do of some others. He may have been converted when Paul visited the area on his first missionary journey ac1406. Paul considered him his son 1co0417 and fellow worker ro1621. He was young 1ti0412. 2 - Well reported of He may have been a support for the two churches. This is a proper objective for all of us. Picture is
of site of Lystra, apparently at foot of hill and Derbe at the left. ©
bibleplaces.com
Compare picture with old drawing for chap.
14 v19.
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| .6
¶ 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,
7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. 8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. .9 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. 10 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. |
6 -
Galatia
Land of the Gauls or the Galatians.
7 - Troas See map, right edge near top. 9 - Vision Compare an earlier vision ac2217ff. 9 - Macedonia North of Greece as it is today. 9 - Come over A clear call. 10 - We Here through verse 17. Similar "we" passages See ac2005 to ac2118 and ac2701... |
| .11
Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia,
and the next day to Neapolis;
.12 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. .13 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. 14 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. 15 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. |
11
- Troas ... Samothracia, "An island in the North-Aegean Sea,
on the coast of Thrace, nearly midway between Troas and Philippi.
On his first visit to Europe, Paul anchored for the night on the north
of the island." (ATS Dict.). See map.
12 - Philippi The city was rebuilt by Phillip of Macedon, father of Alxexander the Great (539-336 BC). 13 - On the Sabbath What a joyous time this must have been. See ac1314. 14 - Lydia She might have chosen the name from the old kingdom of Lydia which was a colony of Macedonia. 14 - Purple That is, purple cloth. See lu1619. Thyatira was a city in Asia Minor. The Lord opened her heart. She was receptive to truth and honesty. The gospel had been preached in Macedonia. The Holy Spirit was at work. 15 - Baptized Apparently in the river where she met Paul. mt0304-6, ac0836-9. The day was not necessarily on the Sabbath. |
| .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: | 16
- To prayer Apparently "to the place of prayer" or "to prayer
meeting."
16 - Damsel From paidiske, "a slave girl." 16 - Spirit of divination Or "of Python, that is, a spirit supposed to be inspired by the Pythian Apollo, or of the same nature. The reality of this demoniac possession is as undeniable as that of any in the Gospel history." 16 - Soothsaying Or "prophesying." Used only here in the NT. And only for lying prophets de1810, 1sa2808, ez1306. |
| .17 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. | 17
- Followed That is, "followed closely." Compare the experience
of Jesus with unclean spirits lu0433,
lu0826.
17 - Us This plural pronoun is not used again until upon Paul's return to Philippi ac2005. We may assume that Luke stayed behind to carry on the work there. 17 - Most high God The spirits who controlled the girl may have wanted the people to think of the greatest pagan god or, as seems more likely to me, they spoke as constrained by the Holy Spirit to witness to truth. |
| 18 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.
.19 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, .20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. |
18
- Days ... being grieved The continual repetition and distraction
was hindering the work.
18 - Command in the name Compare ac0306. The spirit came out according to the promise of Christ mr1617. Also mt1528, jn0453. |
| .22
And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent
off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. |
22
- Rose up together against Freeing the girl from the evil
spirit threatened an income source for the leaders.
23 - Their clothes Not their own but those of Paul and Silas. |
| .25
¶ And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God:
and the prisoners heard them.
26 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. 27 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 the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, |
25
- Midnight ... sang What did they have to sing about? lu0622.
Also ps04208.
26 - Great earthquake Angels came to release His faithful ones. Compare mt2802, re1618, ac0431. 27 - Would have killed himself Rather than being killed by the government as an unfaithful jailor. 28 - Paul ... loud voice An example for us. We care about both physical safety and eternal salvation. |
| .30
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. |
30
- Sirs Rather "lord" from kurios. A term of respect
also used for Christ in v31.
30 - What must I do to be saved? This is the great need of all who love righteousness. 31 - Believe Here we see a summary of the way of salvation. As we grow in Christ, we understand better and we are faced with trials to test our faith. Christ asks us to reach others for Him jn1718. He also judges us before He comes in glory to take us home ec1214, mt1341, re1413. Was the jailor ready than night long ago? Apparently so. We are accountable for what we know ac1730 and the purity of our motives ps02403, mt1237, |
| .35
¶ And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying,
Let those men go.
.36 And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace. .37 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. 38 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans. 39 And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city. 40 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. |
35
- Magestrates See verse
20.
35 - Sergeants From rhabdouchoi, meaning rod bearers. They may be been those who whipped the innocent ones. 36 - Told this saying Instead, "reported these words." 37 - Beaten us openly Sometimes wrong actions need to be politely pointed out for the sake of the gospel. 40 - Into the house of Lydia This may have been a meeting and lodging place. 40 - Comforted Or better: "exhorted." |
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