Before this, in Acts 13:2, we read, "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them."
God, the Holy Spirit, had called them unto this work, and they were being greatly blessed of the Lord. They were doing such a great job, the devil decided he had better split them up.
At some point in that relationship they probably could have resolved their differences, but they did not and it finally reached the place they decided to go separate ways.
Illus: Experiences like this begin like a small leak in a dam. If it is fixed when it first begins, any trouble from it can be averted, but when the leak is allowed to continue, it soon reaches the place where the opening can no longer be mended.
This is one reason God's Word teaches us not to let the "...sun go down on our wrath."
WHO WAS THE BLAME FOR THE SPLIT UP?
I am sure that Paul and Barnabas both would have to share in the blame, but there are several things that imply that perhaps Barnabas was most at fault. How can we come to that conclusion?
1. Because Acts 15:37, says, "And Barnabas determined to take..."
The use of the word "determined" here, makes it sound like Barnabas was going to have his way, or else...
2. Because from the time they split up, it seemed that God continued to bless Paul as much as He always had.
This was a pretty good indication that God was pleased with Paul as much as ever. Now Paul starts off with a new partner named Silas.
I. THE SELECTION
In all fairness to Barnabas, the reason he had wanted to take John Mark with them, was because there was a need for more assistance.
Paul did not argue that fact, he just felt John Mark was not the right man for the job at that time. It was not that he did not love him. He sincerely felt that John Mark was not mature.
When Paul went to Derbe and Lystra, he continued his search for a young man, and he saw one that he felt was qualified - Timothy.
WHAT KIND OF MAN WAS TIMOTHY?
He had a:
A. GOOD REPUTATION
Verses 1-3, "Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium."
There are two things people know us by: Our name, and our reputation.
Illus: Someone said, "The easiest thing to get, but the most difficult thing to get rid of, is a bad reputation."
Illus: Someone else said, "We should so live that when death comes, the mourners will outnumber the cheering section."
Illus: Several years ago, the beautiful Wade Hampton Hotel stood across the street from the state capital building in Columbia, South Carolina. It stood tall and graceful, among all the other buildings surrounding it. It had taken hundreds of men many months to build, but that was many years ago. Progress made its demands, and that building, which had stood tall for so many years, received its death sentence. A demolition crew was called in. They chose to bring it down by means of "implosion." This method called for placing dynamite in strategic places inside the building, and when the dynamite was in all the different places, it was to be exploded in a certain sequence. The time for the implosion was announced, and when it was set off, that which had taken many men many months to build, came tumbling down as the result of just a few men taking just a short time, to destroy.
This is what can happen to one's reputation. We have all known of people who were careful to not tarnish their reputation, then they let their guard down, and in a matter of seconds, they destroyed their good testimony for the Lord.
Notice, Timothy had a good reputation. He had earned it, and guarded it, so his testimony for the Lord was not tarnished.
Look at verse 2, "Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium."
Verses 3-4 say, "Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek. And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem."
Notice Paul recognized, that since Timothy's dad was a Greek, the young man had not followed the ordinance of circumcision.
Even though Paul knew that circumcision had nothing to do with salvation, he requested that he be circumcised, because he did not want anything to block potential Jewish converts from coming to know the Lord.
Isn't it wonderful, when people love the Lord so much, they are willing to lay aside their rights, so that they will not offend others, and keep them from coming to the Lord.
What a shame, that there are some who claim to know Christ, who are not willing to give up any rights, even if the whole world perished.
Timothy had a GOOD REPUTATION, and God used him to get some -
B. GOOD RESULTS
Verse 5, "And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily."
Illus: Dr. Lee Robertson said, "Everything rises and falls on leadership."
No truer words could ever be spoken. Any time you find a church growing for the Lord, spiritually and numerically, it is because of leadership. Any time you find a church that is deteriorating, it is because of leadership.
Illus: Years ago, one pastor took a church in Greenville, South Carolina, which had been being packed to capacity every Sunday. Within a short time, he almost destroyed that church that had taken the previous pastor a lifetime to build up. His attitude about his part in leadership, was that he was to preach from the pulpit three times a week, and God would do the rest. We wonder how many times this same story has been repeated across this nation by pastors, or even Sunday School teachers, bus ministers, children's church pastors, etc..
But when people who are willing to do more than wear a title get together, look at the results they can get - verse 5, "And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily."
II. THE SUPERVISION
Wherever they went, God blessed their efforts. Look at-
A. THEIR VOYAGE
Look at verses 6-8, “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.”
This passage teaches a valuable lesson; that is, what may seem logical and good to us, may not be that way with God.
Illus: Dr. Herschel Ford, in his book on Acts, tells the story of a dedicated Christian lady who dreamed of being a missionary. She went to school and prepared for that ministry. She was accepted by a missionary board to go, but on the day she was to depart, she received a message that her sister had died and left four children. Since there was no one to care for them, with a broken heart, she stayed to provide for them. As they grew under her Christian influence, one by one they came to her and said, "Auntie, I feel that God wants me to be a missionary." She later recognized that God's hindrance was for the best. By raising her sister's children under her Christian influence, God then had four missionaries instead of just one.
When God shuts a door, it is not just for a reason, but for a GOOD reason!
B. THE VISION
Look at verses 9-12, “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis: And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.."
These verses are of great significance to Americans. God had hindered Paul from going where he wanted to go, and instead, led him to Europe. God wanted to fill Europe with the gospel, and then allow the overflow to run over into a country that one day would be referred to as, "A Christian Nation," named America!
When God finished giving Paul this vision, he hastened to do God's will! In verse 10, the Bible says, "...immediately we endeavoured to go..."
Illus: Some Christians say, "I do not know God's will for my life."
If God gave them a clear vision in cinemascope and living color, they would say, "Well, now I know what He wants me to do, and when I get time I will get around to it."
But they never get around to it. They do not recognize that God has shut door after door in front of them, to direct them.
In this passage the next thing we see is that Paul deals with-
III. THE SABBATH
In verse 13, we read, “And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.”
Notice that on the Sabbath, Paul went outside the city and met with a prayer group. He must have been surprised to find that only women were present.
Illus: Thank the Lord for faithful women. In many churches across the land, the ladies outnumber the men two to one. Why? Often men do not have the loyalty and dedication ladies have. Often women come to church with their children lined up behind them, like little ducks in a row, except for the one she holds in her arms, while husbands stay home and watch ballgames, etc..
Paul preached the Word of God to them, as if it would be the last time he would ever preach.
While he is there, he meets someone very special.
Look at verses 14-15, “And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.”
Among those great Christian ladies, there was a special woman.
Verse 14 tells us she, "...worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened..."
The Bible lists two special things about her:
1. SHE WORSHIPPED GOD
Lydia was a woman of prestige and had many servants, but she did not worship those things. She worshipped God!
2. SHE RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD
The Bible says, "...whose heart the Lord opened..."
It is God's will to open everyone's heart to His Word, but the fact is, some will not permit God to do it.
IV. THE SEDUCTION
Look at verses 16-18, “And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.”
A. THE FOLLOWER
As Paul and the others went to prayer a "certain damsel", would follow them saying, "These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation." She did this "many days."
Everything she said was true, but what she was saying was totally inconsistent with her life.
She was demon possessed, and was a fortune teller.
Paul knew that nothing hurts the work of God like followers who are controlled by Satan one day, then claim to be controlled by God the next - that is totally inconsistent with scripture.
Illus: One man sings in a choir every Sunday. As soon as church is over, he goes out and sells liquor and beer, even though it is against the law. He could never be effective for the Lord while living that kind of life.
That is like the doctor who takes an oath, and claims he wants to preserve lives with his medical skills, yet stoops to abort the birth of a child. Who would want to go to a doctor who performs abortions? If he would kill a baby, what would stop him from murdering any of his patients! All that man practices medicine for, is the money.
Paul stopped that "certain damsel". He recognized she was demon possessed, and he cast the demon out.
B. THE FAKE
Verses 19-22 “And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.”
When the woman could no longer bring her masters money, they became angry.
Then they pretended to be good citizens. They went to the magistrates, pretending to be concerned for the welfare of the city. They got the townspeople so aroused, they brought Paul and Silas in to be beaten.
V. THE STRIPES
A. THE PRISON
Verses 23-24, “And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.”
They were not only beaten, they were thrown into a secluded cell away from the other prisoners.
B. THE PRAISING
Verses 25-26, “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.”
Notice the grace of God, it never ceases to amaze us.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians, and told them what God had told him, "My grace is sufficient..." (2 Cor. 12:9)
At this point in our text, Paul and Silas were partakers of God's amazing grace. They had been beaten, jailed, and had their feet placed in stocks. You would think they would have been complaining, but instead, by the Spirit of God, they were singing praises unto God so loudly, the other prisoners could hear them singing from the inner prison.
Illus: I can just hear Paul say, "Now Silas, what would you like to sing next?" And Silas may have answered, "Paul, let's sing that favorite of mine, "Trust and Obey, ...for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."
Verse 26, tells us that there was an earthquake of about 7 on the Richter scale, and immediately all the jail's doors were opened.
Look what the Bible said took place. Look at Acts 16:27-40, we read, “And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace. But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans. And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city. And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.”
Naturally, this earthquake and the breaking apart of the jail, awakened the jailer, and in the confusion, he naturally assumed the prisoners had taken advantage of their opportunity to escape. He knew, according to Roman law, if one had escaped, his life would be forfeited, so verse 27 tells us of his intention to kill himself, so he would not have to face shame and a cruel death at the hands of the Roman officials.
Look at verse 28, "But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here."
Paul saw this as an opportunity, provided by God, to win this guard to the Lord.
Conclusion:
When the next day dawned, the sergeants brought the news to Paul and Silas that they were free to leave. Just like that!
Well, Paul and Silas refused to leave. Paul said, in verse 37, "...They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out."
In this, God worked, for the persecutors saw they had done wrong, and so they came and freed Paul and Silas.
Again, what a wonderful picture we have of God's mighty power and watch-care over His people!
I. THE SELECTION
II. THE SUPERVISION
III. THE SABBATH
IV. THE SEDUCTION
V. THE STRIPES
