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