Finally, Luke sees the Gospel as shaking foundations, disrupting conventions, and overturning proscriptions. He says, For he who was called in the Lord being a bondservant is the Lords free man. Katherine Sonderegger, Adam Desnoyers Kapitulli 2: (Christ) Rescue of the Lost Lamb. Charles Dickens 52-week preaching calendar to help you plan your sermons, Customizable sermon manuscripts for verse-by-verse preaching, Preach with creativity and impact throughout the year, [NEW YEAR] 4-Week Series to kick off 2023, [PRODUCTIVITY] Fulfill your full potential, [FOUNDATIONS] Getting back to what matters most. . He would take his own life before suffering the shame of not doing his job for Rome. Real personal freedom is something else. George MacDonald Fraser, Bob Dylan The jailer, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. He explains, For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more (1 Corinthians 9:19). Surfing requires a surfable wave. Dave Mallett 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for .Download the Sunday School lessons below. 11 You crown the year with Your goodness, As a result of the numerous miracles performed through Paul and Peter, the church grows daily. There would be no light at night, and little light during the day. God was waiting for someone to choose to THE PRISON OF HIS PRAISES. Seeing that the jailer would commit suicide if they escaped, Paul and Silas chose his life and salvation over their own liberation (Acts 16:25-34). People Listen In Different Wayscan You Reach All Of Them. So, when . Chapel 3 from Acts 16:25-34 Here are some reflections from a sermon I preached in 2010. Acts 16:16-34, Denomination: He called for lights and sprang in, and, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas (v. 29). John Updike Acts 16:16-26. Reinhold Niebuhr Free Sermons and Sermon Outlines for Preaching : Staying Faithful Thru Difficult Circumstances. His family is also baptized, in keeping with a tradition that the head of a family can make a decision that is binding on the whole family. The only thing different is, that you finally became aware of it. Download the teaching notes, gather your object . read more, Scripture: If we aren't willing to tell them about Jesus, how can we ever invite them to experience all that He has for them? Showing Our Love for Jesus. read more, Scripture: The people do not accuse Paul and Silas of being Christians, because Paul and Silas have just begun to introduce Christianity to Macedonia (Greece) and the people, for the most part, have no idea that they are Christians or what that means. God was waiting for someone to choose to 13 On the Sabbath we Robertson Davies Look up Matthew 11:28, and compare John 5:40 and 6:37. Paul and Silas are bloodied from a beating, cast into a dark cell and fastened by the feet in stocks. In his Epistle to the Romans, he introduces himself as Paul, a servant (Greek: doulos) of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:1). (16:6) 643. Some are once born and never experience conversion but still know and follow Jesus. In Jesus' first sermon, according to Luke, he reads from Isaiah announcing that he has been sent in part to "set the captives free" (Luke 4:18). Anyone who thinks that slavery ended with the American Civil War is sadly mistaken. Its his prison. She has "a spirit of divination," and because of her gifts of prophecy, her handlers have been able to amass a good deal of money from her powers of prognostication. 16 And it came to pass as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed Acts 17. "You talk?" Lesson 42 - Paul's Vision of the Man of Macedonia - Acts 16:6-10 641. James The Church must "Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation" to every person in every nation to the remotest part of "the earth" before Jesus returns (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8 ESV). Acts 16:11-40 Bonnie Raitt Denomination: Church Of God Anthony Trollope In ministry see the bigger picture. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 27The jailer, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. Her Declaration concerning Paul and His mission and 3. Dorothy Sayers IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE NOTE OF THE PRINCIPLE THAT CHOICES HAVE CONSEQUENCES. Lesson 19 - Luke 20:1-47 Topic: Issues and Answers. The jailers panic and his relief on discovering that the prisoners are still present has made him receptive to guidance from Paul and Silas, whom he surely regards as his saviors in this present crisis. Pauls accusers do not specify what customs Paul is advocating that are not lawful. Miss, it means to wait for another. IN OTHER WORDS, CHOICES, THE ENVIRONMENT OF CHOICE William Shakespeare, Agatha Christie Inviting others means that we must be willing to tell them the truth. Sometimes we do our simple best, and God works through us in ways far beyond our efforts, far beyond our imaginings. People Listen In Different Wayscan You Reach All Of Them. Jesus had cast demons from men into pigs nearby (Matt. All was lost. Because of the "we" passages in 16:10-16, some scholars believe that Luke (the author of this book) is also part of Paul's party. Robert Jenson Richard Wilbur As was true when Jesus was tried, these accusers avoid honest accusation. My Top Ten Posts of 2022 | When I Survey . (Full sermon is posted here .) It is difficult to imagine a more terrible place. The quest for fame is a great distraction, (not to mention lusting after riches and women). Jane Austen [Image: Marnie Pix] 1. While that girl was following, to Paul and us she cried out saying, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you a (the)1 way of salvation.". However, even though Peter was bound with chains and sleeping between two soldiers, an angel freed him (12:6-11). Acts 16:16-30, People have always longed to know what the future holds but we don't need to know the future - we just need to know He who holds the future in His hands! Witness how God can ta, When The Chains Come Off - Acts 16:16-34 - May 22, 2011 Now they identify themselves as Romansa status that they enjoy as citizens of Philippi, a Roman colony. We get very excited at individual miracles which are not wrong by the way but not seeing that it is just a small component of a much bigger plan is dangerous because failure to grab the full picture means chances are high that we will backslide in ministry. *other. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. Hes got the keys. Paul and Silas visit Lydias home to encourage the believers, after which they do leave town. Children's Sermon (Acts 16:16-34) Paul and Silas in Prison. Acts 16:25-34 Psalm 65:11, Acts 16:26, Denomination: Being his Apostles, Paul and Silas exhibited a scene of Faith during their . Did you ever notice something and it seems so suddenly new, but then you discover that it's always been there. Overcoming any obstacle that is presented, they go about proclaiming to the world that Jesus died and was raised so that all could Continue reading "Commentary on Acts 16:16-34" The Noble Brethren Of Berea -Acts 17: 10-14. The spirit of Python will squeeze the joy out of your worship & praise.find out how to to get victory over this subtle destroyer. The First Readings: The Old Testament and Acts (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2001), Faw, Chalmer E., Believers Church Bible Commentary: Acts, (Scottdale, Pennsyvania: Herald Press, 1993), Gaventa, Beverly Roberts, Abingdon New Testament Commentaries: The Acts of the Apostles (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003). It might seem odd that this jailer did not examine the cells carefully before deciding to kill himself, but people under great stress often panicand this jailer is certainly panicked. The only thing different is, that you finally became aware of it. They say nothing about Paul and Silas ruining their little business. The only thing different is, that you finally became aware of it. and commanded them to be beaten with rods (v. 22b). A Very Real Enemy Philip Roth Not only have Paul and Silas remained in prison, but the other prisoners have done the same. ACTS 16:16-30 Three Portraits of Salvation In Philippi Illus. The proclamation of the Gospel continues, this time to the jailer and all who were in his househis family and possibly servants as well. Acts 16:16-18 Townes Van Zandt The Christian As A Citizen -Acts 16: 35-40. Middle Eastern nations often import female workers whose legal contracts constitute a form of indentured servitude. There is another reason, too, why the jailer would contemplate suicide. Roman citizenship comes with a number of privileges, and is highly respected. Please read and accept our website Terms and Privacy Policy to post a comment. The strategois could be a higher-level authority. Two weeks ago we looked at the story of Jonathan and his armor bearer charging the Philistines. Acts 8:14-17 says this now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who . Besides, if that bee stings you, his stinger will . In this latest instance, the jailer knows that his life is forfeit if even one prisoner has escapedand all the prison doors are open, so surely more than one prisoner has escaped. The magistrates come to the jail to apologize, after which they ask Paul and Silas to leave town. Look up John 10:9 and compare Luke 13:24-27. Look up John 3:16; 1:12 (where to "believe" = to "receive"), and compare Acts 16:14 and Revelation 3:20. No matter what your need is -- Everything we do starts with an invitation to be a part of It happened, as we were going to prayer (v. 16a). Ultimately the words of the demon within her were getting more of a hearing than the proclamation of the Gospel itself! The ex-fortune teller, the jailer, and his family became the first members of the new church, C. Paul and Silas even in their seemingly despairing situation did not lose morale because they were aware that God has a bigger plan. For Luke, hospitality is always one of the signs of conversion and one of the marks of the church. As far as we can tell, Paul does not free this slave girl out of kindness. Paul is accompanied by Silas (15:37-38), and they are later joined by young Mark (16:1). Gabriel Fackre To listen to an audio podcast of this sermon go to: https://anchor.fm/sunday-on-the-commons/episodes/Open-DoorsBroken-ChainsGuest-Preacher-the-RevDrRichard-LFloydJune-22019-e48v6m, Your email address will not be published. Peddlers of sex and pornography often use enslaved children, male and female, for their purposes. This verse probably summarizes a longer proclamation. The greatest message. ACTS 16:16-30 It is a dramatic story, which I think would make a great screenplay for an action movie. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN DOING GOOD AND THE DEVIL JUMP ON YOU? A. The actions of Paul and Silas, therefore, constitute a powerful witness to the rest of the prisoners. This appears to be the same place of prayer where they earlier encountered Lydia (16:13). They met Lydia, a seller of purple, there, and baptized her and her family (16:11-15). Lesson 18 - Luke 18:35-43; 19:1-48 Topic: Jesus Is Headed To Jerusalem. When God says "no" it's because He wants what's best for us. . The duumvirs would be two men appointed by Rome to administer the civil affairs of the city. Unable to shift positions, prisoners would grow more uncomfortable by the minute. who proclaim to us a way of salvation (v. 17c). (v. 27). Holiness. in Bromiley, Geoffrey (General Editor), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Volume Four: Q-Z Revised, Tarsus (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988). Michael Connelly Very often, fear of humiliation is a significant factor in suicide. Staying faithful through difficult circumstances. IT WAS A BAD SITUATION Our responsibility in such difficult times is to trust and obey Him. Lesson 20 - Luke 21:1-38 . 20When they had brought them to the magistrates (Greek: strategois), they said, These men, being Jews, are agitating our city, 21and set forth customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans. 22The multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore their clothes off of them, and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. 16:34-36: Giving Thanks for Thanksgiving: 2 Chronicles: 26:5-21: The Down Side of Worship: Preparation: Ezra: . They are not free. Sermon #7 . --Tee Jackson Contents Letter of E 8:28-29; 1 Cor. This woman, who is a slave to demonic spirits and evil men, recognizes that Paul and his companions are slaves to the Most High God. And this is what Lukes story tells us, that the power of the Risen Christ can not only transform us, but can break our self-made chains and our locked prison doors and set us free. They did not shrink in fear from the challenge of being inside prison walls, whether as inmates or missionaries. A guy sees a sign in front of a house: "Talking Dog for Sale." Acts 18. He calls out to reassure the jailer that all the prisoners are still present. C. V. 23b The Sentence - These men were cast into the prison. Bible Study & Sermon Videos; acts 2:16-36 niv; Acts 2:16-36 Niv. Beaten backs would be subject to infection. TANSTAAFL is an acronym for the old adage, "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch," reportedly coined by Robert Heinlein. Nancy Griffith - - - - -. Illus. Feb 12, 1989. He rings the bell and the owner tells him the dog is in the backyard. Acts 16:1-16, GOD WILL BREAK INTO YOUR SITUATION WHEN YOU SING AND PRAISE, WHEN GOD BREAKS IN! Scripture: Acts 16:25-34. Dire Straits read more, Scripture: As we pass through this life, we can expect our share of difficulty and trouble, John 16:33; Job 14:1. verses 16 - 18) There are several: God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. (I Corinthians 1: 27-29). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I thought about calling this sermon Singing in the Stocks. read more, Scripture: Last week I preached about Lydia, the Gentile businesswomen, who was the first Christian convert in Europe. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved (v. 31).