1/9/05

Chap.16, verses 6-7- Paul and his company are forbidden = koluthentes-to hinder, restrain, withhold- to go into Asia by the

Holy Spirit.  Were the people of Asia (city region of Ephesus, Sardis, etc) with a need of God’s message of salvation?  The answer is that they needed the gospel, but the timing was not right yet.  God had people prepared further west into Macedonia.

  Even when they try to go north into Bithynia (see I Peter 1:1), the Spirit did not allow (ouk eiasen=not allow) them to do so.  It is not explained just how this action took place--- by inward conviction or by external providence or both!  Such leadership is generally both internal and external as discerned by God’s people.

Chap.16, verse 8- “Troas”-this is a city made a Roman colony in about 146 BC; earlier it had been named after Alexander the Great.

The ruins of the ancient city of Troy is located a few miles from

Troas.  The Macedonians were at one time a most powerful people under Alexander.  Clearly, the value of the location is as a connecting

point between Europe and Asia.

Chap.16, verse 9-11- after the Holy Spirit had led them away from other areas, now they find a clear witness of the direction they are to go.  Using a vision, Paul discerns a man of Macedonia (by dress or appearance) calling, “Help us”—no declaration of the need of the gospel, just simply a cry for assistance.

  Note the use of “we” in vs.10--- this is first of the sections where Luke includes himself.  Some have suggested that he lived in Troas.

“assuredly gathering” =sumbibadzontes-(present active participle)-

to make to go together, to knit together, -therefore, to conclude (NIV).

What a joy to know that one is directed to preach the gospel to a specific group!

   Samothracia  was a very conspicuous island with a good harbor,

also called Poseidon’s Island.  It was frequently a stop-over for ships in the area.  Neapolis was the seaport for the city of Philippi which lay 10 miles inland.

Chap.16, verse 12- Philippi—it is an important city for ministry and is distinguished as a Roman colony, which provided it with special treatment by Rome.  Army veterans, known for their loyalty to the Empire, were settled in Philippi with free-land grants and tax privileges.  The city, though in Macedonian Greece, was distinctly

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marked as “Roman” with Latin inscriptions and the religious temple the center of all civil and financial action.  The city was stratified socially according to one’s relation to birth and family connection in Rome.

In the epistle of the Philippians, the concept of citizenship (politeuma) is important- see 1:27 and 3:20 (KJV=conversation).

Chap.16, verse13-15- apparently lacking the necessary 10 adult male Jews to constitute a synagogue, the recitation of prayers (the Shema) is conducted outside the city near the river.  Seemingly Paul is aware of this practice and locates a group,mostly women who are glad to hear from a traveling male Jew of such education as Paul.

   Lydia, described as one who worshipped God, heard the believers as they shared the gospel.  Lydia, described as from Thyatira (a city in Asia northeast of Ephesus), is likely not a Jewish woman,but a Gentile.  Her business, which involved the purple dye (well-known from region of Thyatira) may have brought her to Philippi.  God uses travel by her and Paul to allow an occasion to hear the truth.

  “whose heart the Lord opened”- see Lk.24:45- the concept of God acting to reveal His truth and her yielding to the Holy Spirit’s work.  “heart” is the mechanism of faith—Rom.6:17, 10:9-10.

  “attended to the things which were spoken..”- her interest is not passing, but fixed on these words of grace

  “she was baptized”- although her faith was not explicitly expressed in the text –note the same in 10:44—her baptism is testimonial of her conversion.  “and her household”- those under her leadership (slaves or workers) also respond and are baptized.  This text is improperly used by Rom.Catholic authorities to justify infant baptism.

Of course, nothing is said about children or infants in the text.

“if you have judged me…” – first class condition—could be translated “since you have judged me..”  Lydia provides lodging for the evangelistic team.