Grace Bible Church

Preaching the Living Word through the Written Word

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE RIGHTS OF PAUL’S GOSPEL

(Ac 16:32-40) 04/26/15

Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming

Pastor Daryl Hilbert

 

I.     SALVATION OF THE JAILER AND HIS HOUSEHOLD (32-34)

 

A.    [32] Paul gave a concise and accurate answer to the jailer’s question concerning salvation, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (31). Then he proceeded to explain the gospel in detail by speaking the “word of the Lord” to them.

B.    But the gospel was not intended just for the jailer. It was also for his family and all in his household who would believe. This did not include infants who are not capable of believing. Nor did it a guarantee that everyone in the house would be automatically saved. Rather it meant that everyone in that household, who heard the gospel and responded to it, would be saved. Chapter 16 is the “household chapter” in the book of Acts (Ac 16:15, 31, 32, 33, 34, 40)

C.    When one member of the family becomes saved, quite often other members observe their lives and come to Christ. This is especially true when the father becomes a believer.

D.    [33-34] We know that the jailer responded to the gospel because in vs. 34 it states that the jailer believed along with his whole household. But we also could assess the jailer’s salvation by the immediate evidences.

1.     First, we see that the jailer took Paul and Silas and washed their wounds. We do not read that he did that to all the prisoners. However, he had a new and profound desire to serve God and these servants of God.

2.     Secondly, we observe that the jailer was baptized immediately. Baptism was one of the first evidences of salvation and obedience for believers in the book of Acts (Ac 2:38,41; 8:12,16,36,38; 9:18; 10:48; 16:15, 33; 18:8; 19:5; 22:16). It was not a step without consequences however, especially in a city where Christianity was not necessarily a sanctioned religion.

3.     A third evidence was that the jailer brought Paul and Silas into his house. It is doubtful that he ever invited any prisoners into his house before this. But now the jailer was a member of the family of God and in a sense, Paul was his spiritual father.

4.     A fourth evidence would be the jailer’s demeanor. He “rejoiced greatly” having “believed in God with his whole household.” Not only is it impossible for the gospel to be imprisoned, but it is impossible to limit the gospel to just one location and just one person.

 

II.    RELEASE AND DEMAND OF RIGHTS BY PAUL (35-39)

 

A.    [35] We might wonder why the chief magistrates had an overnight change of heart to “release those men.” Some speculate that the earthquake brought superstition into their decision. But it seems better to conclude that a night’s sleep caused cooler heads to prevail as opposed to the previous day’s emotions. They may have realized their rush to judgment against Paul and Silas. At the same time, they may have thought that a beating and a night in jail would suffice to teach the missionaries a lesson.

B.    [36] Obviously, Paul and Silas went back to stay in the prison, not wanting the jailer to be derelict in his duties. When the jailer reported the chief magistrate’s words, the jailer was relieved. He probably also thought Paul and Silas would be relieved to “go in peace.”

C.    [37] However, though Paul was singing hymns of praise to God the night before, he was now thinking of his rights, which had been violated. Their rights as Roman citizens should have prevented corporal punishment and imprisonment. They should have  had at least a preliminary hearing. In addition, the fact that they were secretly being “thrown out” (ekballō - throw out) of prison after being “thrown into” (ballō eis - throw into) prison was suspicious indeed. Paul demanded (“No indeed”) that the chief magistrates come themselves and escort them out of the prison.

D.    [38-39] The policemen delivered Paul’s words to the chief magistrates. When they found out that they were Roman citizens, they were “afraid” (phobeō - fear, phobia) and knew they themselves could be held accountable for their serious misconduct. So the chief magistrates came at once to the prison and attempted to “appeal” (parakaleō - exhort or appeal) to Paul. In fact, after they had convinced Paul and Silas to come out of the prison, they groveled and “begged” (erōtaō - ask or beg cf. Jn 4:40) them to leave the city.

E.    There is no question that the chief magistrates got an earful from Paul. No doubt Paul reminded the leaders of “little Rome” of the rights of Roman citizens. What was Paul’s motives for demanding his rights as a Roman citizen (this would not be the last time cf. Ac 22:25-29; Ac 23:27; 25:11)? Paul’s motives for demanding his Roman rights were for the sake of the gospel and the protection of the budding Philippian church.

F.     As an apostle, Paul was attempting to take the gospel to the “uttermost part of the earth” (Ac 1:8). Though the gospel ultimately could not be imprisoned, he attempted to remove every obstacle within his legal power. If that meant that the gospel message would go unhindered by calling attention to his Roman rights, then he would do it. In Act 24:10ff, Paul defended himself before the governor Felix. He defended himself truthfully, with a good conscience, and by sharing the gospel. Later, in front of King Agrippa, he shared the gospel message so powerfully that the king said, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian” (Ac 26:28). Paul replied, “I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains” (Ac 26:29).

G.    But Paul was also concerned about the growth and the safety of the church. If the chief magistrates were not held accountable to Roman law, which for the most part, gave protection to law abiding Christians, then the local church would be at the mercy of its opposers. An example the shepherd’s heart of Paul is given in the letter to the Thessalonians. Paul was aggressively persecuted in Thessalonica and forced to leave. But he was extremely concerned how the local believers would fare under the existing persecution. In 1Th 3:1-8, Paul relates how he could no longer endure not knowing how this new church was doing (cf. 1Th 3:1).

H.    So we learn that Paul was not a Christian Isolationist (isolated completely from the world and all its events) nor guilty of Christian apathy toward injustices. It is true, believers have no rights other than what God allows. But when He does allow certain rights, believers are to be stewards and caretakers of them for justice, the gospel, and the church. We can also say that Paul was not hyper-political, in that he hailed the gospel as the only message that can free men. As a leader of the Christian church, he sought to use every means possible to promote the gospel and secure its growth.

 

III.  ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE CHURCH AT PHILIPPI (40)

 

A.    [40] Having made his point to the groveling magistrates, Paul moved on. However, he did not leave the city immediately, for he went to the house of Lydia.

B.    His purpose was to encourage the new believers of Philippi. He no doubt encouraged them by relating the miraculous earthquake and the salvation of the jailer and his household.

C.    In addition, he no doubt encouraged the church with the Word and about the Word (cf. 1Th 2:13).

D.    Looking at the letter to the Thessalonians, Paul would have similarly encouraged them in their salvation (cf. 1Th 1:5), to rejoice in tribulation (1Th 1:6), to become examples as good Christian citizens (1Th 1:7), to share the gospel (1Th 1:8), and to wait for Christ from heaven (1Th 1:10).

E.    When this was accomplished, however long it took, they departed and Paul looked for more regions to introduce the gospel.

 

IV.  CONCLUSION

 

A.    When it comes to persecution, believers are to expect it, rejoice that we are counted worthy, look for opportunities for the gospel, and rejoice in the salvations and evidences that follow. However, at the same time believers are to have a biblically balanced perspective. We should not be Christian Isolationists or apathetic toward injustices. We must pray and avail ourselves of any of the rights that God has allowed us. The purpose is not to be hyper-political but rather concerned for furtherance of the gospel and the encouragement of the church

B.    These elements can be seen in Paul’s admonishment in 1Ti 2:1 -4.

 

 

 

Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd ·  PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516