Setting

Through the Lord’s direct revelation, Paul and his coworkers came to Philippi in Macedonia to spread the gospel. The first converts in this city was Lydia and her household. In this lesson, we will continue to study Paul’s ministry in Philippi.

Key Verse

(16:25-26)

Did You Know...?

1. About to kill himself (16:27): “In Roman law a guard who allowed his prisoner to escape was liable to the same penalty the prisoner would have suffered.” [ref]
2. Romans (16:37-38): “According to the Valerian and Porcian laws, which were passed at various times between 509 B.C. (the time of the founding of the Roman Republic) and 195 B.C., a Roman citizen could travel anywhere within Roman territory under the protection of Rome. He was not subject to local legislation unless he consented (which was usually the case in business and personal relations), and he could appeal to be tried by Rome, not by local authorities, when in difficulty. As a citizen he owed allegiance directly to Rome, and Rome would protect him. Even Roman governors in the provinces were forbidden, as A.H.M. Jones points out, ‘to kill, scourge, torture, condemn or put in bonds a Roman citizen who appealed to the people, or to prevent a defendant from presenting himself in Rome within a certain time’ (Studies in Roman Government and Law [New York: Praeger, 1960], p. 54).” [ref]

Outline

  • Paul Cast out the Spirit of Divination
    (16:16-18)
  • Paul and Silas Imprisoned
    (16:19-24)
  • The Jailer’s Conversion
    (16:25-34)
  • Paul and Silas Released from Prison
    (16:35-40)

Segment Analysis

Show All Answers Hide All Answers

  • 16:16-24

    1.

    What was the evil spirit’s work through the slave girl? What was he trying to accomplish?

    •  
    •  
    •  
    •  
    Show Answer

    On the surface, the evil spirit seemed to be promoting the gospel by loudly announcing the work of the missionaries. But the evil spirit actually intended to disrupt their preaching because he made the slave girl follow the missionaries and scream out behind them for many days.

    Hide Answer

  • 2.

    What led to Paul and Silas’ imprisonment?

    •  
    •  
    •  
    •  
    Show Answer

    See 18-24.

    Hide Answer

  • 16:25-40

    3a.

    What did Paul and Silas do in prison at midnight?

    •  
    •  
    •  
    •  
    Show Answer

    They were praying and singing hymns to God (25).

    Hide Answer

  • 3b.

    If you were falsely charged, whipped, and thrown into prison like Paul and Silas, how would you feel? What would it take to do what Paul and Silas did?

    •  
    •  
    •  
    •  
    Show Answer
    (The answer is empty)
    Hide Answer

  • 4.

    What miraculous events happened next?

    •  
    •  
    •  
    •  
    Show Answer

    1. There was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken (26).
    2. All the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed (26). This was miraculous because an earthquake can hardly open all the prison doors, not to mention loosening prisoners’ chains.
    3. No one escaped from prison (28). It must have been obvious to all the prisoners that the earthquake, the opening of the prison doors, and the loosening of the chains were the acts of God in response to Paul and Silas’ prayer and singing (cf. 25). That is why no prisoner took the situation to escape.

    Hide Answer

  • 5.

    What good purpose did God have in allowing Paul and Silas to be imprisoned?

    •  
    •  
    •  
    •  
    Show Answer

    God wanted to save the prison keeper and his household.

    Hide Answer

  • 6.

    How do you explain the prison keeper’s reactions as recorded in 29-30?

    •  
    •  
    •  
    •  
    Show Answer

    At first, the prison keeper was sure that he was doomed because all the prisoners must have escaped, and the magistrates would demand his life for failing his responsibility. But Paul stopped him and reassured him that no one had escaped. This showed that Paul and Silas were men of God who had great love for him. The fact that all the prisoners stayed behind with Paul and Silas also showed that Paul and Silas were righteous men, who had such great influence on all the convicts. The prison keeper had seen for himself the great power of God in the miraculous events and that the missionaries were men sent by God. This realization led him to come before Paul and Silas and fall down trembling before them. Moreover, it led him to see his need for salvation.

    Hide Answer

  • 7.

    How does this story confirm the necessity of baptism?

    •  
    •  
    •  
    •  
    Show Answer

    Baptism was closely connected to the command and promise, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Paul and Silas did not wait to baptize the prison keeper until a more convenient time. As soon as the prison keeper and his family accepted the word of the Lord, they were baptized immediately because baptism was part of believing on the Lord Jesus and it was necessary for salvation.

    Hide Answer

  • 8.

    Contrast the prison keeper in verse 27 and verse 34. What does this teach us about the effects of salvation?

    •  
    •  
    •  
    •  
    Show Answer

    We see in these two verses a sharp contrast between total despair and complete joy. Before we believed in the Lord, we were without hope in life, and were often overwhelmed by problems that were beyond our control. But having believed in the Lord, we can trust in the Lord in all things. Most importantly, we have great joy, knowing that we have been delivered into God’s eternal kingdom.

    Hide Answer

  • 9.

    Why do you think Paul refused to be released secretly?

    •  
    •  
    •  
    •  
    Show Answer

    Paul demanded the magistrates to bring them out of prison openly probably because he did not want the public to have the impression that they had been punished as criminals, a situation that would have greatly dishonored the name of God (cf. 1Pet 4:15-16). If their preaching had been viewed by the people as illegitimate, the church would have had a difficult time to thrive in that city.

    Hide Answer