“The City of Philippi” from the lesson series Grab Your Passport, April 2021
our Scripture
So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi,
| Acts 16:11-40 ESV | |||
| NASB
Acts 16:11-40 NASB |
NIV
Acts 16:11-40 NIV |
NLT
Acts 16:11-40 NLT |
MESSAGE
Acts 16:11-40 MESSAGE |
Other Scripture references:
(this city should not be confused with Caesarea Philippi)
Acts 20:6
Philippians 1:1
Philippians 4:15
1 Thessalonians 2:2
our Lessons
The first church founded in the West was the church at Philippi (Acts 16:6-15). Living at a highly favored Roman military colony and a major crossroads on the Egnatian Way, the Philippians were proud and affluent. It is interesting, but no coincidence, that the first convert to Christianity was a businesswoman who sold purple, the most expensive of dyes, as valuable as gold and used for tribute and international trade.
When Paul would later write to the believers in this prosperous community, he neither condemned the wealthy nor attacked profitable commerce. Rather he emphasized Christ. And the picture of Christ was not one of His power, glory and lordship (as he would tell the Colossians), but here Christ is clothed in humility, human, vulnerable, accessible. Jesus lays down his rights, gives up his status and wealth, and takes on a humble position of a servant.
Searching for a Synagogue in Philippi
As Paul traveled to Philippi on the Via Egnatia, there is no mention of him meeting first in the synagogue, which was his custom. That is because there does not appear to have been a synagogue in the city. A properly constituted synagogue required a quorum of ten male Jews. But outside the city walls, by the river Gangites, there was an unofficial place of worship where a number of women … God-fearers and possibly some Jewesses … met on Sabbaths and holy days to recite the appointed synagogue prayers and thanksgivings. It was here that the missionaries wandered one Sabbath morning soon after their arrival in Philippi.
The leader of these women was Lydia, a God-fearer from the city of Thyatira in the province of Asia, who was an agent for selling purple dye, for which her native region was famous as early as the days of Homer. Since there was a Jewish colony in Thyatira, it was probably there that she was introduced to the ways of the Jewish faith. As she listened to the gospel, she became convinced of its truth and was baptized along with her household. In the context of Lydia’s prominence in the commerce of the area, household would have extended beyond just family, to include also servants and perhaps business partners. Circumstantial evidence might well lead to the belief that Lydia was not married.
The Missionary Party Grows
Another important note is contained within the verses of this leg of the missionary journey. In verse ten Luke indicates that “we sought to go” giving us the first instance in which the author refers to himself as being a part of the missionary party. There is no mention to his conversion, which either is because of his humility or because he was a believer prior to joining the group. The language of the text implies that the Lord had called Luke as well. There is no record of missionary work done in Troas by Paul, but there certainly is evidence of the congregation there. Tradition offers that Luke actually was the founder of the church in that city.
The record from Luke of the time at Philippi gives a glimpse into the type of historian that the physician seems to be. Luke is a storyteller. He tells us of Lydia, and of a slave girl, but he spends the majority of his time on an incident. Paul and Silas are beaten and thrown in jail, their feet fastened to the walls in stocks.
The Jailer at Philippi
The historical account of this story could have been developed in several ways. Paul was a natural-born Roman citizen who should not have been beaten or treated in this manner. Citizens expected proper treatment from a city serving as Roman Colony. More information could have connected the events to the masters of the slave girl.
Instead Luke describes the circumstances of the two in jail and simply mentions the jailer. Beginning in verse 25, Luke shows us the story through the eyes of the one we simply call “the Philippian jailer.” The story is well-known to most of us. Roman soldiers guarding prisoners were held totally responsible for their keeping. Should a prisoner escape, the Roman guard would be required to give his life.
Believers Provide Hope
Following an earthquake, the jailer was left with no hope. Convinced his prisoners would have escaped – why wouldn’t they escape – the jailer was about to take his own life. Roman punishment tortured its victims with cruel and prolonged pain. When the jailer realized the prisoners were all accounted for, he cried to Paul and Silas. “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
We spend most of our lives interacting with people who are in some stage of losing hope. While they may not be as eloquent as the jailer, they are asking in their own way, “What can I do to find hope?” They may be seeking answers. They may be pursuing options that look hopeful.
It is imperative that we are able to clearly offer the answer. The answer isn’t focused on self-help. An answer cannot be found by attending a church service, though the service can eventually point to the answer. It cannot be found in programs or funding. Therefore, like Paul, we must respond, “Believe in the Lord Jesus.”
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