Church at Philippi
Introduction: Paul and his traveling companions were called by a vision to take the gospel into Macedonia, and the first stop was at Philippi. This began the evangelistic journey through both Macedonia and Greece. Silas was the primary partner with Paul as they revisited established churches before they moved west to Macedonia. The first contact was at Philippi with a group of women who had gathered outside the city beside a river for prayer. Paul and Silas suffered some very cruel treatment before they left the newly established church at Philippi.
NOTE: All scripture passages are taken from the World English Bible.
A — The Apostle Paul Was Called by a Vision
Acts 16 “9 A vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a man of Macedonia standing, begging him, and saying, ‘Come over into Macedonia and help us.’ 10 When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go out to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the Good News to them. 12 And from there to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the foremost of the district, a Roman colony.”
Comments: When Paul was at Derbe and Lystra he met a young disciple named Timothy whose Jewish mother was a believer, and his father was a Greek. Timothy began traveling with Paul and Silas. The Spirit began to block some of the destinations they had planned, and then Paul had a vision of a man begging him to come to Macedonia. Paul and his companions believed the Lord had called them to preach the Good News in Macedonia, so they set sail from Troas and arrived at Philippi — a Roman colony and the foremost of that district.
B — Prayer on the Sabbath Outside the City
Acts 16 “13 On the Sabbath day we went forth outside of the city by a riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down, and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshipped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul. 15 When she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and stay.’ So she persuaded us.”
Comments: When Paul entered a city, he would usually go first to the synagogue to witness to Jews. In this case he went outside the city to look for a prayer gathering because there was no synagogue in Philippi. The woman named Lydia, who was already a worshipper of God, had her heart opened by the Lord to listen to the words of Paul. She and her household were baptized, and then she begged Paul and his companions to stay at her home. She was a seller of purple from Thyatira, and apparently this business provided well for her to have a spacious home.
C — Paul and Silas Were Imprisoned
Acts 16 “16 It happened, as we were going to prayer, that a certain girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune telling. 17 Following Paul and us, she cried out, ‘These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of salvation!’ 18 Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!’ It came out that very hour. 22 The multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore their clothes off of them, and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 24 Who, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison, and secured their feet in the stocks.”
Comments: Even though the girl was possessed by an evil spirit, it could cause her to do no more than declare the truth that the men were servants of the Most High God proclaiming the way of salvation. When Paul commanded the spirit to come out in the name of Jesus Christ, the girl’s masters lost their source of profit. They seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the magistrates, claiming they were advocating customs not lawful for Romans to observe. Without a trial, the magistrates had Paul and Silas severely beaten and thrown into the inner prison with their feet in stocks.
D — The Prisoner’s Bonds Were Released by an Earthquake
Acts 16 “25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were loosened. 30 He brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ 31 They said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’”
Comments: What a surprising response this must have been to the other prisoners who heard Paul and Silas praying and singing hymns to God even in these difficult conditions. This great earthquake had special timing and such precise controlled impact: the prison did not collapse, but the foundations were shaken, all the doors were opened, and the bonds of all the prisoners were loosened. The jailer was roused from his sleep and about to kill himself, thinking all the prisoners had escaped. Paul yelled to him not to harm himself for all were still there. The jailer fell down trembling before Paul and Silas and asked what he must do to be saved — and they said simply, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
E — The Jailer and His Family Believed
Acts 16 “32 They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house. 33 He took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household. 34 He brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his household, having believed in God.”
Comments: Paul and Silas gave more detail about the word of God to the jailer and his whole household. The jailer did a very kind act as he cleaned the wounds of Paul and Silas. The jailer and all in his household were baptized, and then Paul and Silas enjoyed a meal together with them with great joy because the jailer’s entire household had believed in God. When the magistrates sent to release them the next morning, Paul asserted their rights as Roman citizens and insisted the magistrates come personally for the release — causing them to be afraid and to beg Paul and Silas as they brought them out.
F — Paul’s Later Returns Through Philippi
Acts 20 “6 We sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas in five days. 28 Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.”
Comments: Paul had determined in the spirit that after a final trip through Macedonia and Greece he would go to Jerusalem and eventually to Rome. The last time he passed through Philippi was at least five years after his first arrival based on the record of his other travels. There are no male leaders named in Acts for the Philippi church, and no mention of any special help that they had provided to Paul during his travels. Paul summarized his ministry to the Ephesian elders at Miletus — warning that vicious wolves would enter in among the flock, and even some from within would arise speaking perverse things to draw disciples away.
Reflections in Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for this unique church which began from a prayer meeting of women beside a river outside Philippi. Paul had seen a man in the vision pleading for him to come to Macedonia to help them, but when he found no synagogue he did not pass up the opportunity that was available to present Jesus to assembled Jews. I am very thankful, Lord, for the many Christian women who have crossed my path of life, and especially for the wonderful Christian wife you provided for me. Lord, if severe trials come into my life, I want to have the kind of response that honors you, and could have a positive impact for others who might then turn to Christ in faith. The world is not the place of reward for the Christian, but our joy will be complete when we are called home to be with you, our Lord and Savior, to serve you forever. Hallelujah, Amen!
Published 19 October 2015