16:1-2 Paul and Silas encounter Timothy, a faithful disciple in Derbe and Lystra who is well-spoken of for his passion and devotion to teaching God's philosophy.
16:3 Paul wished to have Timothy join Silas and himself as they traveled and taught. To avoid any distraction from their true mission, Timothy was circumcised. We read in the previous chapter that many people were concerned about the health law of circumcision and Paul did not want this situation to detract from their true purpose of spreading the gospel. Timothy's father was Greek and circumcision was not a practice of the culture; anticipating commotion, Paul wanted that issue eliminated.
16:4-5 We can learn from Paul in these verses: before undertaking any task, goal or journey, prepare. Anticipate potential problems and prepare to handle them. Perception is so important in navigating life; we must be alert, observant and prepared before even beginning. Paul's preparedness and perception allowed for him, Silas and Timothy to be successful in their purpose.
16:6-8 The apostles are redirected by God. When we examine why they were redirected, we must remember that God loves all of His children and that everything He has to offered is offered to all. God's redirection of the apostles was likely due to a danger they unknowingly faced or of the unpreparedness for that particular region at the time to receive the gospel. God reaches people in many different ways and in this specific instance, His plan for Bithynia was different than His plan for these regions they apostles were permitted to enter.
Our creator reaches people in different and unique ways, specific even to the individual. There are varying understandings of faith, religion and spirituality and cumulatively they are humanity's attempts at describing and knowing Who and Where we came from (and Where we go). Just because they seem different to us, doesn't mean God isn't behind each of them. God understands cultural consciousness and context and He knows best which avenues and inspirations to take to reach each member of each culture.
16:9-10 God orchestrates the answers to our prayers. A passionate prayer from a man in Macedonia was received by God and sent to Paul to answer on His behalf. It's an organized family; each of God's children participate in contributing to, creating and defending the prayers of all of us. It's a privileged that He shares this beautiful responsibility with us; we each have the opportunity to be bringers of joy.
16:11-13 The narrator of this Book of Acts, Luke joins in the travels. They reach Macedonia and become settled (they prepare to be there for some time teaching). Something not to miss in this verse: they customarily pray at the riverside. Nature, our natural surroundings, are as much a part of us as our organs. Nature healing in that is is a reminder of the miracles manifested and thriving around us, selflessly support our lives here.
16:14-15 God is an active participant in the journey of our faith; Lydia's faith and spiritually-inquisitive nature inspires Him to open her mind to truly absorbing the gospel which Paul spoke to her. Lydia and her household become baptized (physically and spiritually) which symbolizes their devotion to compassion, wisdom, life and truth.
16:16-18 The apostles are followed by a girl who is being used as a slave, her masters make money off of her predictions. Paul frees this girl from her captors. She identifies the apostles correctly, they are indeed servants of God but Paul becomes annoyed because they are using her. In order to free her, God enables Paul to eliminate the trait from her which her captors use her for.
16:19 Paul gets into trouble for this; these men are desperate, lustful for money and he has taken away their chances at procuring it (by freeing the girl). Paul and Silas are captured and brought to the authorities.
16:20-24 The apostles again meet adversity. They are captured, accused and beaten. Remember the origin of their predicament: greed. Although they are in trouble for being "unlawful," what actually got them captured was their hand in debilitating these corrupt men's ability to make money. If you are observant, I think you will find that greed and selfishness are at the root of every injustice in the world. Yet corrupt people and organizations work very hard to mask their true nature, their greed is easy to see if you are looking.
16:19 Paul gets into trouble for this; these men are desperate, lustful for money and he has taken away their chances at procuring it (by freeing the girl). Paul and Silas are captured and brought to the authorities.
16:20-24 The apostles again meet adversity. They are captured, accused and beaten. Remember the origin of their predicament: greed. Although they are in trouble for being "unlawful," what actually got them captured was their hand in debilitating these corrupt men's ability to make money. If you are observant, I think you will find that greed and selfishness are at the root of every injustice in the world. Yet corrupt people and organizations work very hard to mask their true nature, their greed is easy to see if you are looking.
16:25 Even imprisoned, the apostles are focused in faith.
16:26-27 An earthquake releases the locks and chains holding the apostles in the prison. The guard, terrified of the consequences he would have to face for losing the prisoners, attempts to take his own life.
16:28 Paul saves his life. The apostles do not run and scatter at the moment of freedom because they are already free. They never lost faith that God remained with them. They knew that whatever course their life took, God would receive and comfort them for their faithful belief and work.
16:29-30 Paul and Silas' courage and faith astonishes the guard. Moreover, the guard has just witnessed the earth itself working to release the apostles and its an extraordinary testimony of the God they devote their lives to speaking of. The events of the night inspire and encourage the guard to start truly listening and absorbing the message of God the apostles had been teaching.
16:31-32 The apostles and the guard go to his house where both he and apostles speak of the events of the night and also of the truth of the philosophy of God to his family.
16:33-34 Showing compassion, the guard aids in helping the apostles to clean and heal after their torture and imprisonment. You cannot fake believing in God and neither can you fake compassion. This guard was stirred into confronting the truth of God and he accepted its truth. We can understand that this man was not corrupt, maybe just a little wishy-washy. The guard had not contemplated faith until he was forced to, but when he did, compassion was readily found in his heart. The family ensures that the apostles are fed and they rejoice at the miracles that have just unfolded before them.
16:26-27 An earthquake releases the locks and chains holding the apostles in the prison. The guard, terrified of the consequences he would have to face for losing the prisoners, attempts to take his own life.
16:28 Paul saves his life. The apostles do not run and scatter at the moment of freedom because they are already free. They never lost faith that God remained with them. They knew that whatever course their life took, God would receive and comfort them for their faithful belief and work.
16:29-30 Paul and Silas' courage and faith astonishes the guard. Moreover, the guard has just witnessed the earth itself working to release the apostles and its an extraordinary testimony of the God they devote their lives to speaking of. The events of the night inspire and encourage the guard to start truly listening and absorbing the message of God the apostles had been teaching.
16:31-32 The apostles and the guard go to his house where both he and apostles speak of the events of the night and also of the truth of the philosophy of God to his family.
16:33-34 Showing compassion, the guard aids in helping the apostles to clean and heal after their torture and imprisonment. You cannot fake believing in God and neither can you fake compassion. This guard was stirred into confronting the truth of God and he accepted its truth. We can understand that this man was not corrupt, maybe just a little wishy-washy. The guard had not contemplated faith until he was forced to, but when he did, compassion was readily found in his heart. The family ensures that the apostles are fed and they rejoice at the miracles that have just unfolded before them.
16:35-36 Remember the disagreement between Paul and Barnabas which resulted in Mark John and Barnabas going a separate way (The Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 15)? Had Barnabas (Cyprus) and John Mark (Judea) been with Paul and Silas (Romans), they would have been captured and killed without trial for not being Roman citizens. Paul and Silas, however, are Romans and therefore the treatment they received was against the law and enabled them their eventual freedom.
God always has a plan and His plan takes into account everything we cannot see in the: past, present and future.
16:37 To save themselves, the captors of Paul and Silas (who had broken the law) wish for the apostles to leave secretly and to let the blunder go unnoticed and unpunished. Paul is upset with this obstruction of justice, however, and does not allow them to get away with their actions. Without public knowledge of the obstruction of justice, Lydia would have been arrested and condemned for harboring the apostles. It had to be made known that Paul and Silas were unfairly arrested and treated so that Lydia would also be safe. Paul shows compassion for Lydia in refusing to leave immediately and leaving her to deal with the mess. He makes sure she is safe before moving on.
16:38-40 Therefore magistrates personally come to the apostles and grant their freedom. The apostles return to Lydia's household, regroup and encourage each other, and then continue along in their faith journeys of purposeful work.
God always has a plan and His plan takes into account everything we cannot see in the: past, present and future.
16:37 To save themselves, the captors of Paul and Silas (who had broken the law) wish for the apostles to leave secretly and to let the blunder go unnoticed and unpunished. Paul is upset with this obstruction of justice, however, and does not allow them to get away with their actions. Without public knowledge of the obstruction of justice, Lydia would have been arrested and condemned for harboring the apostles. It had to be made known that Paul and Silas were unfairly arrested and treated so that Lydia would also be safe. Paul shows compassion for Lydia in refusing to leave immediately and leaving her to deal with the mess. He makes sure she is safe before moving on.
16:38-40 Therefore magistrates personally come to the apostles and grant their freedom. The apostles return to Lydia's household, regroup and encourage each other, and then continue along in their faith journeys of purposeful work.
