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    Acts 16:29-40
    Lesson 259
    ​
    Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

    In this lesson: 
     
    Paul, Silas, and the jailer of Philippi.
     
    The conclusion of Lesson 258.        

    Paul and Silas in prison.
    By British painter and illustrator William Hatherell (1855-1928).
    Study Tip:
     
    "Write down what you learn.  Don't forget the things the Bible has to teach you! 
    Use a journal or notebook to keep track of the insights you pick up as you study." 

    C. S. Lewis (1898-1963)

    The Acts of the Apostles

    The King James Bible    ​



    Acts 16:29-40 
    Released

    29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

    30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

    31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

    32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

    33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

    34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

    35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.

    36 And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.

    37 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.

    38 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.

    39 And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.

    ​40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

    ​
    Margin notes:
     
    "Sprang in." (16:29) - Means the jailer, "Rushed in."
     
    "What must I do to be saved?" (16:30) - For the answer, see the next verse as well as John 3:16, 20:31, and Acts 2:38.
     
    "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." (16:31) - There is nothing we can do to save ourselves.  There is no deed good enough, no donation large enough, no life lived well enough that will spare us.  It is our faith in Jesus Christ that saves us.  This was a new message from God, a revelation of divine truth.  "The Grace of God" is extended to all.  Christ died for all. 
     
    "Washed their stripes." (16:33) - "Washed their wounds" (from the beating).
     
    "Straightway." (16:33) - "Immediately."
     
    "When he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them." (16:34) - Despite being ordered to lock Paul and Silas up (Acts 16:23-24), the jailer brought them home and fed them.
     
    "They have beaten us openly uncondemned." (16:37) - "They have publicly beaten us without a trial."
     
    "Now do they thrust us out privily?" (16:37) - "Now they want to secretly get rid of us."
     
    "They came and besought them." (16:39) - "They (the magistrates) came and begged them."
     
    "And desired them to depart." (16:39) - "And asked them to leave."
     
    "And departed." (16:40) - It will be five years before Paul returns to Philippi.
    New Living Translation
    Acts 16:29-40              
     
    29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.

    30 Then he brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
     
    31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household."

    32 And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household.

    33 Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized.

    34 He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.
     
    35 The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, "Let those men go!"

    36 So the jailer told Paul, "The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace."
     
    37 But Paul replied, "They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison-and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!"
     
    38 When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.

    39 So they came to the jail and apologized to them. Then they brought them out and begged them to leave the city.

    ​40 When Paul and Silas left the prison, they returned to the home of Lydia. There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more. Then they left town.

    ​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 were the magistrates afraid of Paul and Silas? (16:38)



    "Faith is the ability to feel so sure of God, that, no matter how dark the day, there is no doubt as to the outcome.
    For God's people there is a glorious future.  It may be a long way off.  But it is absolutely sure."​ 

    ("Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; page 373)
    Answer: (Do you agree?) 
    ​
    1. In Roman society, there were three classes of people, slaves, non-citizens, and citizens.  As Roman citizens, Paul and Silas had legal rights which the magistrates violated.  They had the right to a fair trial (which Paul and Silas were denied), under Roman Porcian law, they were exempt from torture (yet they were beaten), the Valerian law forbid shackling citizens (Paul and Silas were placed in stocks), and they had a right to appeal their case to higher authorities in Rome.  After violating their rights, the last thing the magistrates wanted was for Paul and Silas to appeal their case and have Rome open an investigation.

    "To fetter a Roman citizen was a crime, to scourge him a scandal, to slay him--parricide."
    From the works of Cicero (106 BC-43 BC).



    Application thought for the day: 
     
    "They went out of the prison... and departed." (16:40)

    After being falsely arrested, beaten, and shackled, Paul and Silas held the lives of the magistrates in their hands.  Still, they forgave their tormentors and went their way.  In the years to come, Paul wrote of the vicious treatment he received in Philippi and elsewhere (2 Corinthians 11:24-25), yet he never sought revenge for the years of harsh treatment and beatings.
    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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