6 And they went through the
region of Phrygia and
Galatia,
having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in
Asia.
7 And
when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into
Bithynia,
but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.
8 So,
passing by Mysia, they went down to
Troas.
9 And
a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of
Macedonia
was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to
Macedonia and
help us.”
10 And when Paul had seen the
vision, immediately we sought to go on into
Macedonia, concluding that God had
called us to preach the gospel to them.
11 So, setting sail from Troas,
we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to
Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days.13 And on
the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we
supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the
women who had come together. 14 One who heard us
was a woman named Lydia,
from the city of Thyatira,
a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened
her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And
after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying,
“If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.”
And she prevailed upon us.
23 And when they had inflicted many
blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them
safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them
into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were
praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to
them, 26 and 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
unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that
the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill
himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But
Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all
here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and
rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and
Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what
must I do to be saved?” 31 And they
said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your
household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord
to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he
took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and
he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then
he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And
he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. (Acts 16:6-15, 23-34)
The Holy Spirit told the apostle Paul “no”. Sounds a little strange, doesn’t it? On two occasions Paul wanted to go into
northern Asian Minor (modern Turkey)
and preach the gospel. But, He who “makes
known the end from the beginning” and who says, “my purposes will stand and I
will do all that I please” (Isaiah 46:10) said, “Not now…Paul.” God’s timing is always perfect!
But “not now” was countered with a vision of a man from Macedonia
saying, “Come over here and help us.”
Paul and Silas headed for Philippi, a leading city in Macedonia.
The inbreaking of the kingdom
of God in Philippi
is interesting. I often wonder how Paul
– if he did at all! – envisioned the beginnings of this new church plant. Interestingly, the kingdom launches with a
“non-resident” (Lydia was
from the city of Thyatira)
and a Roman Jailor who was standing watch in the prison where Paul and Silas
were being kept. A conversation by a
riverside and listening to prayers and singing at midnight that stirred the
imagination of a jailor brought two people and a handful of others into the
blessings of the gospel. These two
people, who probably didn’t know each other previously, come together, along
with a few others, and form the body of Christ in Philippi. Amazing!
I enjoy reading the conversion stories in the book of Acts. Each reading reveals something new about the
gospel and the kingdom. Reading through Acts 16 stirred my
imagination about a few things:
1. It’s
the American way to “plan” everything we do. Churches aren’t much different. There is something to be said for “strategizing.” But perhaps we put too much credence in
gallop polls when it comes to bringing the gospel to people. Paul got into the streets and moved
about talking to people. He planted
the seed of the gospel wherever he had opportunity. He interfaced with
people. No marquees. No internet. No press releases. No big events that they invited people
to. No…he talked to people. In Paul’s absence, a woman merchant and
a jailor spread the gospel. This
story reminds me that if we have a genuine conviction about the gospel it
will compel us into more face-to-face” conversations with people.
2. This
story reminds me that we shouldn’t underestimate small beginnings. Churches sometimes reflect the values of
culture. We talk about “niches,
special interest groups, profiles, target audiences, etceteras. A quick reading of the book of Acts
reveals that Paul went to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles. But rich/poor, educated/uneducated, skin
color – none of that mattered. He was
interested in people…period. A wonderful congregation emerged from small
beginnings in Philippi. Ten years later they receive a letter
from Paul that includes in its salutary remarks “…to the elders and
deacons” (Philippians 1:1-2). They
had grown numerically and in maturity in a small window of time.
3. This
story reminds me that sharing the gospel may put us in situations that
call us to sacrifice something. Did Paul’s Macedonia call reveal “jail time” before he
set sail for Macedonia?
Probably not. But, he allowed the gospel to come through
him even after a beating and sitting in jail. Maybe that’s why we prefer to do
everything in our buildings. We
like a controlled environment. But what might happen if we took the gospel
into lunch settings, over the internet, into friendships of 20 plus years
and scores of other situations that afforded people a hearing? Some will be receptive. Some will not. Presenting the good news may cost us
something. For many Christians around
the world this is a daily occurrence.
But none of that is really our concern….is it? Paul’s vision said, “Come over and help
us.” That’s our calling, too. We give people the opportunity to hear
the good news about Christ….no matter what. Ten
years later Paul tells them,
“27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of
Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that
you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by
side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything
by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of
your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to
you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer
for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw
I had and now hear that I still have. (Philippians 1:27-30)
How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news
(Romans 10:15).
Lord, open our hearts to your call. May we we be so "awake" to the power and urgency of the gospel that we live with a keen awareness of those moments when we are afforded the opportunity to bring a word of life and peace into
someone’s life. Instill courage in our
hearts. Remind us through your word and
other believers that sharing gospel is the single greatest thing we can do
on a daily basis. Thank you for allowing
us to be a part of what you do through the gospel everyday. Amen.
Randy Daugherty
Stephenville,
Texas
