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    Acts 16:16-28
    Lesson 258
    ​
    Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

    In this lesson: 
     
    An amazing drama.
     
    Beaten and imprisoned.
    The midnight earthquake.
     
    (This segment continues in lesson 259).        

    Paul drives a demon out of the fortuneteller. 
     
    By Dutch landscape etcher and draughtsman Pieter de With (1650-1689).
    Study Tip:
     
    Don't trust other people's interpretation of the Bible. 
    Not even these lessons. 
    Let God speak to you, then form your own conclusions. ​ ​

    The Acts of the Apostles

    The King James Bible    ​



    Acts 16:16-28
    Singing in prison

    16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

    17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

    18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

    19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

    20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

    21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

    22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

    23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

    24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

    25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard 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 every one's bands were loosed.

    27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

    ​28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

    ​
    Margin notes:
     
    "A certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us." (16:16) - "A girl possessed by a demon that could predict the future met us."  The possessed girl made money for her masters by telling fortunes.
     
    "These men are the servants of the most high God." (16:17) - Even demons acknowledge God.
     
    "Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit..." (16:18) - "Paul, annoyed, turned and said to the demon (not to the girl)..."
     
    "I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." (16:18) - Paul received the power to exorcise demons from Jesus (Mark 16:17).
     
    "The hope of their gains was gone." (16:19) - With the demon gone, so was the business of fortunetelling.
     
    "Drew them into the marketplace." (16:19) - "Dragged them (Paul and Silas) into the marketplace."
     
    "Magistrates." (16:20) - The magistrates were the civil and military authorities in Philippi.
     
    "Customs, which are not lawful for us ." (16:21) - There was a seldom enforced Roman law that forbade strange cults.  This law was only enforced when officials found it in their best interest.
     
    "The magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them." (16:22) - "The magistrates tore off their (Paul and Silas') clothes and ordered them beaten."  Remember, Paul and Silas were Roman citizens (Acts 16:21; 16:37).  Although it was illegal to beat a Roman citizen, this wasn't the first time Paul was beaten (2 Corinthians 11:25).  When the magistrates realized their mistake, they begged Paul and Silas to leave Philippi and not report them (16:38-39).
     
    "Charging the jailor to keep them safely." (16:23) - "Ordering the jailor to keep them safely locked up." 
     
    "Made their feet fast in the stocks." (16:24) - It was also illegal to put Roman citizens in stocks.  
     
    "The keeper of the prison.....drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled." (16:27) - The jailer considered suicide because under Roman law, guards who let prisoners escape took the escapees punishment.


                                                  New Living Translation 
     

    Acts 16:16-28
    Paul and Silas in Prison
     
    16 One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters.

    17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved."
     
    18 This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And instantly it left her.
     
    19 Her masters' hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace.

    20 "The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!" they shouted to the city officials.

    21 "They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice."
     
    22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods.

    23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn't escape.

    24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.
     
    25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.

    26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!

    27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself.

    ​28 But Paul shouted to him, "Stop! Don't kill yourself! We are all here!"

    ​This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible.  However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
    Today's Question:
     
    1.     Why would a demon announce that Paul and Silas knew "the way of salvation"? (16:17)




    When God prompts you to do something, he will provide the means.
    Answer: (Do you agree?) 
    ​
    1.     To cause confusion.  Because the fortuneteller was popular, the demon's announcement made it appear that people could follow both Christ and the occult.  Remember, Satan is the master of deceit, and to cover his lies, he will mix a little truth into his stories.  Just like when they were mistaken for pagan Gods (14:12-15), Paul and Silas wanted no part of the demon's endorsement (16:18).​
    Application thought for the day: 
     
    While in prison, Paul and Silas prayed in front of the other prisoners (16:25). 
    We shouldn't hesitate to pray in public. 
    Those who see our faith may be moved and come to Christ as a result. 
    Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible."  All were critical in putting these lessons together. 
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