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Studies in ACTS

"Acts031 - Acts 16 The Vision (Come Help Us)"


To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date sent: Tue, 15 Oct 2002 21:59:55 -0500
Subject: [HF] Acts031 - Acts 16 The Vision (Come Help Us)

Hebraics,

We've passed the half way mark in our Acts studies. I plan to change the
format for our future studies. Along with my personal commentary I will
ask questions that will encourage points of discussion. The questions will
be identified by Q1, Q2, Q3, etc. If you would like to respond to any or
all the questions in a study please feel your liberty. (This study has 12
questions.)

I also want to encourage you to read the Scriptures we are studying in
your Bible. In some cases I will give a brief synopsis of a Scripture
portion without presenting the Scripture portion itself.

This is Acts031 - Acts 16 The Vision (Come Help Us)

Vss1-3: "Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And a disciple was there,
named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his
father was a Greek, and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in
Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted this man to go with him; and he took him
and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they
all knew that his father was a Greek."

.... We may wonder why Paul circumcised Timothy, since Timothy and his
mother were already believers. On the other hand, Titus was not required
to be circumcised even though he met with the Church in Jerusalem.

Q1: What was the difference?

Q2: Do you consider this to be a compromise on Paul's part? (Why or why
not.)

Vss4-8: Paul returned to several churches that he and Barnabas had
pioneered, sharing the letter from the council of Jerusalem. The result
was always the same, joy and strengthening. But an interesting thing is
seen in these travels....

.... It says, "They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region,
having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia."

.... And, "...they were trying to go to Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus
did not permit them."

Notice how the Holy Spirit guides Paul and Silas to the places they are to
minister. These are deeply spiritual men.

Q3: Is it possible to be led by the Spirit of the Lord in such a clear
fashion today? (Do you have a testimony you can share in this area?)

Vss9,10: "A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was
standing and appealing to him, and saying, 'Come over to Macedonia and
help us.' When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into
Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to
them."

.... This could have been a dream which is sometimes spoken of as a
'vision of the night,' or it could have been an angel appearing to Paul in
a vision. A dream or vision from the Lord always carries a divine imprint.
Whatever the case, Paul had his new instructions.

Q4: Is there anything in the Scriptures that states that dreams and
visions are part of God's program for His people?

.... Also note that the language of Acts changes in this verse. Luke has
joined the group. It says, "Immediately WE sought to go into Macedonia."
Paul refers to Luke as "the beloved physician." (Col4:14)

Vss11,12: Paul and Silas make their way to Philippi. This city was a Roman
colony. It did not have a synagogue.

Vss13-15: "And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside,
where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat
down and began speaking to the women who had assembled. A woman named
Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper
of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the
things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household had been baptized,
she urged us, saying, 'If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord,
come into my house and stay.' And she prevailed upon us."

.... Paul and Silas were in Philippi for a number of days. At some point
the Spirit of the Lord leads them outside the city to a riverside. It is
here that we see the dynamics of the gospel. As Lydia is listening, it
says, "the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul."

Q5: How does this incident accord with what Paul said in Romans 10:8-10,
with regard to how salvation works?

.... A point needs to be made. Paul later writes that "the god of this
world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving." This alone tells us that
only the gospel has the power to unlock the closed heart.

Q6: Is it possible for a person to completely shut themselves off from the
gospel? (Give your thoughts.)

.... Notice that it says Lydia was a 'worshiper of God.' Since the
gathering took place on the Sabbath, the women who gathered were either
Jewish or proselytes to the Hebrew faith. This term implies that Lydia was
likely a proselyte.

.... Also note how baptism once again enters immediately into the picture.
Water baptism makes a statement that the person being baptized is coming
under the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is a death to the old life and
its ways, and a picture-perfect identification with God's work of the
cross. Lydia and her household were taking on Jesus as Lord and Messiah.
How many converts are in view is not known. Later in this chapter it
speaks of brethren.

Q7: In your opinion, where does water baptism fit in God's program of
redemption?

Vss16-34: In these Scriptures Paul has an encounter with a demon-
possessed slave girl. The result is a stay in jail. But the final result
is the spreading of the gospel. Rather than reference this portion of
Scriptures in total, I'll give brief descriptions of the happenings.

.... The possessed slave girl follows Paul for several days. The demon's
message is, "These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are
proclaiming to you the way of salvation." (Vs17)

Q8: What's wrong with this picture? Is there a lesson to be learned here?

.... Paul and Silas are thrown in prison. It says that at about midnight
Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God. the
prisoners are listening. Then an earthquake happens, everyone's chains
fall off, the jailer just about loses it, and when he is prepared to take
his own life, he hears a voice say, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all
here!"

Q9: Do you believe there was a relationship to the praying and singing of
hymns in regard to the earthquake?

Q10: Why do you think the prisoners didn't try to escape?

.... It says, "[The jailer] called for lights and rushed in, and trembling
with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and after he brought them
out, he said, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' They said, 'Believe in
the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.'"

Q11: In God's plan of salvation is there anything to be added or anything
to be taken away from this simple statement of believe in the Lord Jesus,
and you will be saved?

Vss35-40: These Scriptures tell the remainder of the story of Paul and
Silas in prison. When the chief magistrate send to have them released, he
was in for a shock. Paul says to those who brought him the message of his
release...

.... "They have beaten us in public without trial, men who are Romans, and
have thrown us into prison; and now are they sending us away secretly. No
indeed! But let them come themselves and bring us out."

Q12: Do you think Paul was being vindictive in his insistence that the
magistrates to come personally and bring them out? Do you see any wisdom
in this happening?

The study is open.

Blessings,

Buddy
Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org

"See to it that no one comes short of the grace
of God; that no root of bitterness springing up
causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb12:15)


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