THE MIRACLE AT MIDNIGHT
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion.
Sermon Title: THE MIRACLE AT MIDNIGHT
Scripture References: ACTS 16:16-40
Summary:
Our missions team, Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke are quickly planting a church and gospel ministry in Phillipi. The church meets in Lydia’s home and from there they go throughout the community sharing the gospel. In our scripture today, we see the gospel advances in such a way that it disrupts the kingdom of darkness. The powers and principalities of this world try to restrain and stop the gospel but it doesn’t work. May we be encouraged and learn as disciples of Christ how to handle ministry and persecution in this world as it comes.
Notes:
V. 16-18 Setting a girl free from demonic possession
The place of prayer was at a riverbank where they met Lydia (v.13). Now the believers meet in Lydia’s home so this trip to the place of prayer was evangelistic. It was here where they met a slave girl possessed by a demon that enabled her to tell the future. The local entrepreneurs must have took advantage of her and exploited her for a business. We’re not sure why Paul waited so many days to expell the demon out of this girl but he finally gets exasperated by it and takes care of it so he can get back to kingdom business with no distractions. As you can imagine, this didn’t sit well with her masters.
The English words, a spirit by which she predicted the future, translates two Greek words, “a spirit, a python.” This concept goes back to the Greek city of Delphi where the god Apollo was believed to be embodied in a python snake. The original priestess at Delphi was purported to be possessed by Apollo and thereby able to predict the future; therefore anyone possessed by the python spirit could foretell coming events. No doubt an actual demon gave such a person predictive powers. Demons took advantage of people’s worship of false gods (cf. 17:23; 1 Cor. 10:20). Toussaint, S. D. (1985). Acts. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 399). Victor Books.
The demon through this girl was either mocking, mimicking or both. If mocking, it was rebellious, disrespectful, and obnoxious. If mimicking, it was a very insidious attempt to tarnish and blaspheme the gospel of Christ by advocating demonic activity with gospel ministry.
Either way, Paul had enough and did exactly what I would do. Paul spoke to the evil spirit, commanding it in the name of Jesus Christ (using the authority of Jesus’ name and following the example of Jesus, who also spoke directly to the demons who possessed people).
Application:
Stay away from mediums, fortune tellers, etc.
We shouldn't need to know the future. We are called to live by faith, not sight or certainty.
We shouldn't seek to speak to family members who have died through mediums. It is unhealthy and a sign of idolatry. Maybe you've never thought of it this way but those who put people before God are practicing idolatry…it's the worship of family over God.
God commanded us not to engage in spiritual divination like this (Deut.18:10). You can't trust the devil or his demons. He is the king of lies.
The gospel set this girl free and shut down an evil business at the same time. Jesus came to set captives free. The devil and sin enslave, Jesus sets you free. What is implied is Paul delivered a girl enslaved from a life of demonic bondage and human exploitation. Look out that you are not enslaved by sin or used by the devil. The devil promises power and freedom but you're his puppet on his lap (Another Greek interpretation says she had a spirit of ventriloquism; that is, a demon spirit controlled her, speaking through her and practicing fortune-telling. - Horton, Stanley, ACTS pg. 283). Call on the name of the Lord to set you free and show you how to live free.
V. 19-24 Arrested and in prison
The work of the gospel interfered with a cash cow business in Phillipi. Paul and Silas find out that if you mess with a society that worships money over God you will experience persecution (Money over people too…the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil).
The authority is the Roman government, presiding at that time. Judaism was a legal religion in the Roman Empire, but only tolerated and not looked upon with any real favor.
The charge of the slave girl’s owners against Paul and Silas was obviously prejudicial. Shortly before this incident, the Emperor Claudius had expelled the Jews from Rome (18:2). Philippi, a Roman colony, would have caught this flavor of anti-Semitism. This also helps explain why Timothy and Luke were not taken before the authorities. Timothy was a half-Gentile (16:1) and Luke was probably a Gentile. Toussaint, S. D. (1985). Acts. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 399–400). Victor Books.
They ordered them beaten without even asking if the accusations were true and we’ll see later this was a mistake. The verb translated “beaten” is from rhabdizō, which means “to beat with a rod.” This was one of the three beatings Paul referred to in 2 Corinthians 11:25, the only other place where this verb occurs in the New Testament. Toussaint, S. D. (1985). Acts. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 400). Victor Books.
The jailer placed them in the inner cell where the worst and most dangerous criminals would go. They also fastened their feet in wooden stocks, with their legs painfully forced apart so they could not move them.
How would Paul and Silas handle this persecution (and how would God)?
V. 25-34 The miracle at midnight
Paul and Silas pray and sing songs to God. Then God intervenes with a miracle. A massive earthquake shook the ground and ALL the prison doors flew open. To prove it was God setting them free, not just the earthquake, every chain, and wooden stock fell off of every prisoner.
In panic and knowing the consequences if all the prisoners had escaped under his watch, the jailer was ready to take his life but Paul stopped him.
The jailer asks what must he do to be saved. This means he was paying attention to their message before this all went down.
Luke leaves quite a bit out of the story, such as, what about all the other prisoners, and how are they already in the jailer’s home? The jailer must have brought Paul and Silas to his nearby home to treat their wounds. This is where Paul and Silas instruct everyone in the household how to be saved and they all give their lives to Christ and are baptized in a nearby pool. Hospitality and joy followed their newfound faith and then they returned to the prison.
Application:
A Christian’s joy comes from within (Knowing and having Christ) and does not depend on outward circumstances. Persecution, pain, and discouragement cannot destroy the peace and joy we have in Christ.
Christians need to have thick skin.
V. 35-40 Paul and Silas vindicated
The truth comes out. Paul and Silas were treated unjustly.
Paul’s demand that the magistrates escort him and Silas out of prison appears to be vindictive. But it probably was designed to spare the young church in Philippi from further harassment. It certainly would place the believers in a far more secure position before the officials. Toussaint, S. D. (1985). Acts. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 400–401). Victor Books.
Paul and Silas did not appeal to the government as citizens most likely to show believers how to suffer for Christ, no matter what rights and appeals afforded them.
Takeaways:
We are facing evil powers and forces in this world, but we have the mighty name and power of Jesus Christ with us.
We live in the authority and power of Jesus Christ so we appeal on behalf of others in the name of Jesus.
Prayer and worship to God should be our first response in the middle of a trial.
Trust God to open doors, to break chains of bondage, and bring vindication.
Stop and let the Lord fight for you.
God redeems our trials by turning them into testimonies that lead others to seek Jesus.
So face everyday trials, injustice, and persecution with the grace and strength of God.
What must we do to be saved? Believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
“To believe in the Lord Jesus means more than believing certain truths about Him in your mind or intellect. It is an active faith by which people recognize and accept Jesus as both Savior and Lord – the Forgiver of their sins and Leader of their lives…Saving faith accepts what Jesus has done to provide forgiveness for one’s offenses against God, and then surrenders and yields the leadership of one’s life to Christ.” -Fire Bible Study Note, page 1740, Acts 16:30
In other words, belief in Jesus Christ implies and includes repenting or turning from previous beliefs and ways of living to believe the life, words, and way of Christ.
Discussion:
What did God use in this sermon to speak to your heart or situation?
What part of the scripture stuck out to you and why?
What can we do to help people who are living in a prison sinfully, mentally, or emotionally? What can we do if we are the one living in one of these “prisons”?
Take a moment to notice and share with one another all the ways Paul and Silas handled their persecution. Why is it important that we follow their example today?
How can we pray for you or someone in your life, today?
The most important decision you will ever make!
If you’re ready to trust in Jesus for salvation and eternal life we encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and when you’re ready say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!
We would love to know if you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!