Acts 16:1-40: "Go west, young man!" (Saturday's Reading)

We’re “on the road again.” As Paul and Silas are revisiting the churches from the first journey, they meet another important character in the early church story, one who would become Paul’s son in the faith, Timothy. For ministry reasons, Paul circumcises Timothy (the very opposite of the strategy with Titus in Galatians 2).

But the second missionary journey takes a decisive turn with the vision in verse 9 of the Macedonian man calling for Paul’s help. The goal had been to do ministry in Asia Minor and then turn it around and head back to Jerusalem. The conversion of Jerusalem was always a primary goal for Paul. It never happened. It was out of resistance in Mysia , that Paul had his vision to cross the Aegean Sea and head to Greece.

In verses 11-15, we are introduced to Lydia a convert in Philippi (another Gentile God-fearer who becomes a Christian). While in Philippi, they deliver a girl from a demon that enabled her to predict the future (Jeanne Dixon?), which got them in a great deal of trouble.

Isn’t it interesting how we protect our ability to make money on that which is harmful and does damage to people? In the 90s, I sat on a jury for woman who was accused of prostitution. She was a dancer at one of the “adult” clubs outside the city. She had not been in the states long and knew very little English. One of the people with her was the owner of the night club, who by indications was also her pimp. As the jury, we found her guilty, but we regretted that we could not put her boss on trial. We would gladly have let her go and thrown the book at him. I talked with a former District Attorney about the experience and he shared with me the heavy organized crime connections to the adult entertainment industry in that city. I asked, “Why aren’t we going after them?” He said, “They pay lots of taxes.”

The conversion of the Philippian jailer and his family is one of the great stories of Scripture. Paul and Silas choose to sing hymns of praise while they are in jail. Luke mentions that the others in the jail were listening to them. They are witnessing of God’s amazing grace and power even in prison (every place is an opportunity). An earthquake hits and all the chains fell off all the prisoners, but none of them run for it. Paul introduces the Philippian jailer to Christ and baptizes his whole family. How old were those children? Is it possible that there were those not of age who were baptized – baptized before they professed faith in Christ? It’s mere conjecture, but an interesting thought when you consider that most men did not live past their 30s in that day.

The formula for faith in Christ is simple, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” I remember my theology professor in seminary saying, “Theology is complex and difficult, but the gospel is simple.” The great theologian of the Word of God, Karl Barth said that all of theology could be summed up in the children’s song, “Jesus loves me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so.”

The story finishes with a little bravado on the part of Paul and Silas (fun to read) and then they return to Lydia’s house. Paul and Silas, filled with a new direction and new boldness take on an even greater chapter of ministry than they first dreamed. The Spirit continues to be the “surprise” dimension of God.