v.9-15
Ob and In:
1. The faithfulness of the missionaries
10 After Paul saw the vision, we attempted immediately to go over to Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.
Travel was not necessarily a leisure when it was dangerous to do. Paul and Luke immediately go because they considered that was a call of God to proclaim the Gospel. God is important and His Gospel is important to Paul and Luke.
Reflection: What will make me go immediately? Will I respond to God and His Gospel with this kind of obedience like Paul and Luke?
2. The missionary team might got disappointed at first.
Repeated word: urging v.9 A Macedonia man in the vision urging Paul to come over to M and help them. After Lydia and her household were baptized, she urged Paul to stay in her house v.15. And She persuaded them v.15b.
A vision from God brought Paul to cross the ocean and by land. He travelled for quiet a distant. (NET) From Troas to Philippi was 130 mi (208 km).
However, when Paul got there for some days v.12 they could not find a synagogues. Only a group of women gathering there v.13. What was the response of Paul? The missionary team took the opportunity and preached the Gospel anyway.
13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate to the side of the river, where we thought there would be a place of prayer, and we sat down and began to speak to the women who had assembled there.
Result: the vision with a Macedonia man was fulfilled by a woman and her household. (BKC) The members of her household probably refer to servants as well as to her children, if she was a widow.
Reflection: How do I handle my disappointment? What made Paul not fall into disappointment? What helped Paul to not despise the opportunity to preach to women? What made Paul not stubbornly thinking that it must be a Macedonia man who would welcome them in the beginning of their trip? Can I be flexible and taking all the opportunities that I have?
3. The missionary team was probably encouraged to see the work of God.
v.14b The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying.
to respond=(BDAG) to pay attention to, give heed to, follow
(BKC) Luke stressed the sovereignty of God in salvation
The key of her salvation: first, the Gospel being spoken even though they were discouraged v.10, 13, Lydia was willing to listen v.14a, The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying v.14b.
God helped the unsaved to not just hearing, but hearing with attention. That was the difference that it took for salvation.
Reflection: Although the Bible did not mentioned the work of the HS in unsaved people's hearts when they believed it was mentioned here. Perhaps, God purposely did that here to encourage His servants. When we are disappointment, God knows and He is at work.
v.16-24
Ob and In:
1. The slave girl
a. the evil of the master of her master: the slave girl were demon possessed, but her owners only cared about the great profit brought by the fortune-telling v.16. When the demon finally got cast out, her owners was upset because their hope of profit was gone v.19. They did not care about the slave girl.
b. the effective demon-casting done by Paul, v.18 “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out of her at once.
The command was followed immediately by the demon.
Summary and reflection: Paul and Silas helped the slave girl to cast out the demon, while her owners only care about the profit brought by her even when she was possessed by demon. Do I see people as a mean for my gain? Or do I care about them as a person? Do I care about people who serve me in the restaurant, as custodian, as cashier or in other service industry settings?
2. The suffering of Paul and Silas
a. they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities v.19
b. Falsely accused them v.20 NET Customs that are not lawful for us to accept or practice. Ironically, the charges are similar to those made against Jesus in Luke 23:2, where Jews argued he was “twisting” their customs. The charge has three elements: (1) a racial element (Jewish); (2) a social element (unlawful); and (3) a traditional element (not their customs).
c. the crowd attacked against them
d. the magistrates tore the clothes off and ordered them to be beaten with rods, severely
e. threw into prison
f. in the inner cell, and feet being fastened in the stocks.
Summary and reflection: While Paul and Silas has not done except helping the slave girl and cast out the demon in her, they were treated unfairly and severely. They were physically beaten down, dragged, attacked, fastened in the stocks. With the legal status of Paul, he was humiliated by tearing his clothes off, threw into prison without any legal procedures, and was kept in the inner cell.
Paul did not say a word, just like Jesus. What went through his mind? He did spoke out later, probably for the good of the new found church. But why did he not speak out at this time? Can I do that? Can I not using my right even I was severely being violated (for a cause)?
3. What the slave girl said about Paul
v.17 “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.”
"the Most High God" was used by the group of demons which eventually being cast in a large herd of pigs (Luke 8:29 and Mark 5:7). However in the gospel, the demons said, " Jesus, Son of the Most High God, " but here the servant of Jesus Christ was called the servants of the Most High God. In other words, even demons confessed that Jesus is the Most High God.
v.25-34
Ob and In:
Why did the jailer asked Paul about what to do to be saved? v.30
What Paul had done: praying and singing to God, being released by the earthquake, staying in the jail and not escaping, assuring the jailer that they were all here, telling him not to harm himself.
(BECNT) The earthquake has presented him with irrefutable evidence that God is at work with Paul’s group. He wants to know whatever more Paul can offer. Is there a way to escape God’s reaction to the injustice in which the jailer has played a role? In the face of this evidence, the jailer does not want to be found on the opposing side
29 Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell down trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them outside and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
The evidence that God is at work with Paul was more than the earthquake. Paul was able to pray and sing during his imprisonment. He did not take the opportunities to escape so that he could save the jailer's life. Those would also help the jailer to realize the divine presence with Paul and pushed him to examine his unfitted treatment to Paul.
Reflection: We may not have the evidence of the earthquake to let people see the divine presence with us, but our attitude towards suffering, our refusal of retaliation, our willing to save others in our own expanses still speak with volume. Am I willing to do that?
v.35-40
Ob and In:
1. The different offices and positions
The Magistrates sent their police officers to release Paul (and Silas)
The jailer reported their words to Paul, but refused by Paul. "(But) They themselves must come and escort us out!" 37
NET Paul was asking for the injustice he and Silas suffered to be symbolically righted. It was a way of publicly taking their actions off the record and showing the apostles’ innocence, a major public statement. Note the apology given in v. 39.
The magistrates thought the police officers were good enough to take care of Paul, but he wrong wrong. In fact, Paul was not just a Roman citizens, but a citizen of the kingdom of God. Am I like him?
2. Paul knew very clearly about his right and how the magistrates had mistreated him
37 “They had us beaten in public without a proper trial—even though we are Roman citizens—and they threw us in prison. And now they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! They
However, Paul was not controlled by hate or complaint when he was mistreated.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God
Reflection: How can I like Paul? The feeling of injustice did not need to control me. I can know about that but did not let it bother me. The most important thing is Paul knew God is in control. Even when he stated that later it was not because of himself. He did that for the church.
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