Paul's first missionary journey was plagued with Jewish oppositions. In his second missionary journey, Paul met oppositions of a different type. While most of the Jewish oppositions stemmed from theology, those Paul met in the second journey came mostly from economy. The Jews could not accept Jesus as their Messiah. They were furious that Christians had made one more God out of this Galilean carpenter. In their eyes, Paul was a dangerous heretic.
In the second journey, Paul was directed by the Holy Spirit to visit places where Jewish influence was minimum. Luke did not mention any synagogue in Philippi. Paul was to bear witness for Jesus before the Gentiles. He was meeting new kinds of oppositions.
In the second journey, Paul was directed by the Holy Spirit to visit places where Jewish influence was minimum. Luke did not mention any synagogue in Philippi. Paul was to bear witness for Jesus before the Gentiles. He was meeting new kinds of oppositions.
For example, in Philippi, Paul exorcised a divination spirit from a slave girl, thus giving her freedom. Consequently, her owners could no longer milk her of money. So, they dragged Paul and Silas before the magistrate and accused them of causing disturbances in the city (Acts 16:16-21). The magistrate ordered to have them beaten with rods and put into prison.
The magistrate was misled by the owners of the slave girl, thinking that Paul was only a Jew. Paul had learnt a lesson to take advantage of his Roman citizenship in the future.
The magistrate was misled by the owners of the slave girl, thinking that Paul was only a Jew. Paul had learnt a lesson to take advantage of his Roman citizenship in the future.
In prison, Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns. A miraculous earthquake occurred and broke loose their bondage. Paul managed to stop the jailer from committing suicide and converted him and his household (Acts 16:25-29). Here, we find the frequently quoted verse of the Protestant churches.
and (the jailer) brought them out and said, "Men, what must I do to be saved?"
And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." (Acts 16:30-31)
The jailer must have been extremely desperate. Otherwise, he would not have attempted suicide. He was responsible for the custody of the prisoners. Had all the prisoners fled, he would have been executed in a most imaginably terrible way. That was why he preferred killing himself at the earliest possible moment. Had he died, his family would have suffered as well.
Now, on the brink of death, Paul saved him. From a near-death experience, the jailer was given a new life in Jesus. I am sure this jailer would become a pillar in the Philippian church. We might not have the grace of a near-death experience. Yet, isn't every moment of life already a blessing from God?
and (the jailer) brought them out and said, "Men, what must I do to be saved?"
And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." (Acts 16:30-31)
The jailer must have been extremely desperate. Otherwise, he would not have attempted suicide. He was responsible for the custody of the prisoners. Had all the prisoners fled, he would have been executed in a most imaginably terrible way. That was why he preferred killing himself at the earliest possible moment. Had he died, his family would have suffered as well.
Now, on the brink of death, Paul saved him. From a near-death experience, the jailer was given a new life in Jesus. I am sure this jailer would become a pillar in the Philippian church. We might not have the grace of a near-death experience. Yet, isn't every moment of life already a blessing from God?
Dear Lord, may Your love drive away the fear in our hearts. May we learn to be grateful always. Amen.
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