XVI: 1, 2. Without giving the least detail of Paul's labors in Syria and Cilicia, Luke hurries us forward to his arrival in Derbe and Lystra, the scenes respectively of the most painful and the most consoling incidents which occurred on his former tour. His chief object in this seems to be to introd... [ Continue Reading ]
XVI: 1, 2. Without giving the least detail of Paul's labors in Syria and Cilicia, Luke hurries us forward to his arrival in Derbe and Lystra, the scenes respectively of the most painful and the most consoling incidents which occurred on his former tour. His chief object in this seems to be to introd... [ Continue Reading ]
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3. The discriminating and watchful eye of Paul soon discovered qualities which would render this youth a fitting companion and fellow-laborer, and it was by his request that Timothy was placed in the position which he afterward so honorably filled. (3) "_Paul wished him to go forth with him, and too... [ Continue Reading ]
4, 5. After so long delay upon the circumcision of Timothy, we are prepared to start forward again with the apostles, cheered as they were by this valuable addition to their company. (4) "_And as they passed through the cities they delivered to them to observe the decrees which had been adjudged by... [ Continue Reading ]
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6-8. The neighboring cities of Derbe and Lystra, where Paul was joined by Timothy, constituted the limit of his former tour with Barnabas into this region of country. He makes them now the starting point for an advance still further into the interior, and to the western extremity of Asia Minor. (6)... [ Continue Reading ]
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9, 10. Here he learns the object which the Spirit had in view, while turning him aside from one after another of the fields which he himself had chosen. (9) "_Then a vision appeared to Paul in the night. There stood a man of Macedonia, entreating him, and saying, Come over into Macedonia and help us... [ Continue Reading ]
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11, 12. An opportunity was offered without delay, for the apostolic company to make the contemplated voyage to Macedonia. (11) "_Therefore, setting sail from Troas, we ran by a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis;_ (12) _and thence to Philippi, which is the first city of that... [ Continue Reading ]
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13-15. Upon entering this strange city, the first on the continent of Europe visited by an apostle, Paul and his companions must have looked around them with great anxiety for some opportunity to open their message to the people. The prospects were sufficiently forbidding. They knew not the face of... [ Continue Reading ]
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16-18. We are next introduced to an incident which led to a decided change in the fortunes of Paul and Silas. (16) "_And it came to pass, as we were going to prayer, there met us a certain female servant, having a spirit of divination, who brought her masters much gain by soothsaying._ (17) _The sam... [ Continue Reading ]
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19-21. (19) "_Then her masters, seeing that the hope of their gain was gone, seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market-place to the rulers,_ (20) _and leading him forward to the magistrates, they said, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,_ (21) _and are announcing cus... [ Continue Reading ]
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22-24. (22) "_And the multitude rose up against them, and the magistrates, having torn off their garments, commanded to beat them with rods._ (23) _And having laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely;_ (24) _who, having received such a commandm... [ Continue Reading ]
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25. The condition of the two brethren, as night drew on, was miserable to a degree scarcely conceivable. Besides the physical pain of sitting in a dark dungeon, with their backs bleeding from the scourge, and feet fastened in the stocks to prevent even the relief which a change of position might aff... [ Continue Reading ]
26. The song of the apostles was a strange sound to the other prisoners, but one most welcome to heaven; and God, who appeared almost to have forsaken his servants, came to their relief in a manner peculiar to himself, yet most surprising to all within the prison. (26) "_And suddenly there was a gre... [ Continue Reading ]
27. The jailer seems not to have heard the singing, but was awakened by the motion of the earthquake, the slamming of the doors, and the clanking of the fetters which fell from the hands of the prisoners. (27) "_And the jailer, awaking out of sleep, and seeing the prison-doors open, drew his sword,... [ Continue Reading ]
28. He had already planted the hilt of his sword upon the floor, and was about to cast himself upon the point of it, when Paul, who must now have left his dungeon, saw what he was doing, and arrested his mad purpose. (28) "_But Paul cried, with a loud voice, saying, Do yourself no harm, for we are a... [ Continue Reading ]
29, 30. As soon as he could collect his senses, he recollected that the calm speaker who had called to him had been preaching salvation in the name of the God of Israel; and he immediately perceived that the earthquake, the miraculous opening of the doors, and the unlocking of chains and handcuffs w... [ Continue Reading ]
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31, 32. Leading the brethren into his family apartment, he received a full and satisfactory answer to his question. (31) "_They said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your house._ (32) _And they spake the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house._" Those... [ Continue Reading ]
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33, 34. The preaching, as would be expected under circumstances so favorable, had the desired effect both upon the jailer and his household. (33) "_And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was immersed, he and all his, immediately._ (34) _And having led them into hi... [ Continue Reading ]
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35, 36. When the magistrates gave orders for the imprisonment of Paul and Silas, it would naturally be supposed that they intended to make some further inquiry into the charges preferred against them. But we are told, (35) "_When it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, Release those m... [ Continue Reading ]
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37-39. To be thus released from prison, as though they had simply suffered the penalty due them, would be a suspicious circumstance to follow the missionaries to other cities; and, fortunately, the means of escaping it were at hand. (37) "_But Paul said to them, They have beaten us publicly, unconde... [ Continue Reading ]
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40. When they were discharged, they took their own time to comply with the polite request of the magistrates. (40) "_Then they went out of the prison, and went into the house of Lydia; and having seen the brethren, and exhorted them, they departed._" Who these "brethren" were, besides Luke and Timot... [ Continue Reading ]