Trans World Radio - India

III. The Lord Jesus Christ at work by the Holy Spirit through the apostles to the uttermost part of the earth, Chapters 13 — 28

Chapter 16 — Paul revisits the churches of Galatia. Having been forbiddenby the Holy Spirit to go south to the province of Asia or north toBithynia, he proceeds to Europe after receiving the vision of the man ofMacedonia. Paul arrives in Philippi where he ends up in the local jail. Atmidnight Paul and Silas pray and sing praises! An earthquake shakes thejail, the doors are opened and the jailer opens his heart to receive Christ asSavior.

vv. 1-5 — Paul finds a young disciple by the name of Timothy who evidentlyhad been converted on his first missionary journey (1 Timothy 1:2).

Timothy travels with Paul and becomes his companion and helper in his missionaryefforts.

vv. 6-13 — Paul obviously intended to enlarge the circumference of hismissionary journeys in Asia Minor, but the Spirit moves him out of Asia.When Paul reaches Troas he apparently has no leading as to where to go nextuntil he is given the vision of the man of Macedonia. He accepts this as theHoly Spirit’s moving him into Europe. Dr. Luke joins the party at Troas.

Note the change from “they” (v. to “we” (v. 10). They proceed inland toPhilippi. The conversion of Lydia, a businesswoman from Thyatira, was theopening of Europe to the gospel (vv. 14, 15).

vv. 16-40 — The incident of the demon-possessed girl following Paul andfinally being freed from the demon caused her owners to have Paul and Silasarrested. After being beaten, they are pushed into the dungeon. At midnighttheir prayer meeting brings an earthquake that opens the prison doors. Whenthe jailer sees the doors open, he assumes that all the prisoners have escaped.His life would be forfeited according to Roman law. On the verge of suicide,Paul deters him and assures him that none had escaped. Having stoodon the brink of eternity, the guard sees himself as a lost soul. When he criesout asking how to be saved, Paul gives him the gospel in a sentence. “Thyhouse” (v. 31) means that his household would have to believe separately ashe would. The jailer and his household believe and are saved. These forma part of the church in Philippi that Paul loved and which seemed closer toPaul than any other (see his Epistle to the Philippians).

Chapter 17 — Paul’s second missionary journey continues toThessalonica, Berea, and Athens.

vv. 1-9 — Paul is in Thessalonica for 3 sabbaths, and there are some converts.Opposition forces him to leave.

vv. 10-14 — Paul goes to Berea where he has a better reception and manybelieve (v. 11).

vv. 15-34 — Paul proceeds to Athens, having left Silas and Timothy inBerea. Paul observes the idolatry of Athens. He disputes with the Jews inthe synagogue and the philosophers in the marketplace daily. Finally he isgiven a public hearing on Mars’ Hill. Paul’s address is a masterpiece adjustedto his audience, as was his sermon in Pisidia. Paul’s point of contact isthe altar to the unknown god (vv. 22-29). He presents the true God as Creator(past) and the true God as Redeemer (present) (vv. 27-29); he asks men toturn to Him. Light creates responsibility. Paul presents the true God asJudge (v. 31) (future). Paul was not a failure in Athens, as some insist.

There were converts (v. 34).

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