Sermon 29

Philippi: Rome Away From Rome

Acts 16:12-40

Having heard the "Macedonian call" - "come over and help us" - Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke went into the region known as Macedonia and specifically to the city of Philippi. A church was founded in this city. In fact, later Paul would write a letter to this church which we call the book of Philippians.

Tonight, we are going to meet some of the first converts in Philippi who, no doubt, we part of the beginning of the church.

Verse 16 gives a brief description of the city of Philippi. Luke describes it as "the chief city of the part of Macedonia" meaning the capital, and then he adds "and a colony" meaning a Roman colony. Philippi was Rome away from Rome. The Roman emperor organized colonies by sending Roman citizens, especially retired military people, to live in selected cities so that there would a strong pro-Roman presence in strategic areas. These Roman citizens were expected to be loyal to Rome - to the emperor, to Roman law - and, in return were exempt from taxes. These Bible cities are just that to us, just places on the map. But, in reality, we can see Paul's mission ministry taking the gospel moving to larger population centers, and more and more into the Roman world. The end of verse 12 alludes to an acclamation period after their arrival and before any evangelistic effort began - "we were in that city abiding certain days." Perhaps there was a need for physical rest as well as a time for prayer and planning. We not only need to know where we are suppose to be but also when and how God wants us to work.

God Opened Lydia's Heart, vs. 13-15.

The Jewish population in Philippi must have been very small since there was no synagogue there, only a place of prayer by the river outside the city. (Commentators say that is required 10 Jewish men who were the heads of households for the founding of a synagogue). Paul had seen a man in the vision but his first ministry was to a group of women! These Jewish women had an open air prayer meeting on the Sabbath outside the city on the river bank. Paul and the team sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there.

Lydia was a successful businesswoman from Thyatira, a city renowned for its purple dye. The commodity itself was very expensive, affordable only to the wealthy and to royalty. Apparently, it was a very profitable business. Lydia was like Cornelius. She was not Jewish herself but was a worshiper of the God of Israel, though not a full proselyte to Judaism.

Circumstances brought her from Thyatira to Philippi. Judaism brought her to awareness of the true God of heaven. Paul brought her to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through the preaching of the gospel. She had listening ears. Verse 14 says that she "heard us" and that she "attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul." And the Bible says that her heart was opened by the Lord. She was seeking God, she was listening to the gospel and the Lord opened her heart.

I've said in the past that if a person responds to whatever level of light that they have, God will give them more light. Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

We cannot leave out the work essential work of the Holy Spirit to draw men to salvation. John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him. Salvation does not depend on clever evangelistic strategies, not the skill of the preacher, nor the mastery of the presentation. Some may plant and others may water but ultimately it is God who gives the increase.

Lydia and her household showed the evidence of saving faith by being baptized and by being hospitable, v. 15.

God Opened Prison Doors, vs. 16-40.

No sooner were lost people saved, than Satan began to hinder the work. In this case, Satan used a demon-possessed girl who made her masters wealthy by telling fortunes. "Greeks and Romans put great stock in divination. No commander would set out on a major military campaign nor would an emperor make and important decreed without first consulting an oracle to see how things might turn out. A slave girl with a clairvoyant gift was a gold mine for her owner" - from The New American Commentary: Acts. As Paul and his fellow-workers went regularly (v. 18a) to the place of prayer, this girl repeatedly shouted after them, "These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation." This was a subtle and dangerous attack on the work of the Lord because what this demon-possessed girl was saying was absolutely true. She even used Biblical terminology - "the most High God" - "the way of salvation." Paul wanted no publicity from Satan; he did not want either the gospel or the name of God to be promoted by one of Satan's slaves, so he cast out the demon - something which was limited to those with apostolic authority and not in existence today.

If the message is true who cares about the messenger? Paul did. He did not want someone to assume that since she was agreeing with the Christian preachers, she was part of their group. Satan may speak the truth one minute and a lie the next.

The owners had no concern for the girl; they were interested only in the income she provided, and once the demon spirit had departed, their income was also gone, v. 19. Their recourse was the Roman law which they used to accuse these Jews of promoting a religion not approved by Rome, vs. 20-21. The powers that be commanded their arrest and beating, vs. 22-23. It looked like the end of their ministry in Philippi but God had other plans.

Instead of complaining or quoting the imprecatory psalms, Paul and Silas chose prayer and praise, vs. 24-25. These are powerful tools of evangelism. People watch you - they watch you pray and they watch you praise - they watch how you handle problems and bad circumstances. It is part of your witness.

God sent an earthquake to shake up the prison guard even more, v. 26. A Roman guard how allowed a prisoner to escape, no matter what the cause, paid with his own life. Thus, the earthquake that opened the prison doors and loosed the chains brought terror to the guard. So much that he was suicidal, vs. 26-27.

But no one had escaped, which Paul the jailor. Amazingly, this jailor had seen enough testimony by Paul and Silas that he wanted to know, "What must I do to be saved?", v. 30.

To a simple and direct question came a simple and direct answer, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.", v. 31. (See also John 20:31; Romans 10:9-10).

The phrase "and thy house" does not mean that the faith of the jailor would automatically bring salvation to his family (so-called "household salvation" - which I have heard used to justify infant baptism). Each sinner must trust Christ personally in order to be born again, John 6:53-54. The message of salvation was preached not to the jailor alone but also to the rest of his household, v. 32. His family, servants, perhaps even other relatives and guests heard the gospel, believed and were baptized.

Again, the evidence of the genuineness of their faith was their obedience with regard to baptism and their caring hospitality toward Paul and the others, vs. 33-34.

The last six verses inform us that apparently the city officials knew that they had no convincing case against Paul and Silas. They sent word to the jailor to release them. Paul, however, was unwilling in this instance to quietly sneak out of town. That kind of exit might have left the new church that was being started under a cloud of suspicion. People would have asked, "Who were those men? Weren't they guilty of some crime? Why did they leave town so quickly? Their followers must be weird."

Paul made use of his Roman citizenship and boldly challenged the legality of their treatment. Paul demanded and received a public display of respect as they left the city, vs. 37-39. All this, no doubt, was for the testimony of the church that he was about to leave behind.

The Philippians church apparently assembled in the house of Lydia which was the last place Paul went before departing for Thessalonica, v. 40.