A C T S Go Tell the Good     News! Lesson 18  Acts 16:16—17:9

Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey Paul & Silas imprisoned - Acts 16:16-24 Paul casts a spirit of divination out of a slave girl who made money for her masters by fortune-telling (16:16-18) Could she actually foretell the future? (cf. Isaiah 41:22-23) Could she know things that were not obvious to mere mortals? Consequently, the girl’s masters seize Paul and Silas and bring them before the city’s magistrates (16:19-21). They charge them with troubling the city and teaching unlawful customs. The magistrates command Paul and Silas to be beaten with rods, after which they had them thrown into prison, charging the jailer to keep them securely (16:22-24; cf. 2 Corinthians 11:25). Note that this persecution comes from Roman government officials, but was instigated by local charlatans.

Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey Conversion of the Jailer -- Acts 16:24-34 Confined in stocks in the inner prison, Paul and Silas are praying and singing at midnight (16:24-25) An earthquake shakes the prison and immediately all the doors were opened and chains were loosed (16:26) When the jailer awoke and saw the doors opened, he drew his sword to kill himself (16:27), but Paul called out, “Do yourself no harm for we all are here” (16:28) The Jailer asked, “What must I do to be saved?” (16:30) Paul responded, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” and you will be saved. And Paul “spoke the word of the Lord to him” (16:31-32) In response, the Jailer immediately washed their stripes (demonstrating repentance), was baptized, fed Paul and Silas, and rejoiced, “having believed in God” (16:33-34)

Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey Release & Departure -- Acts 16:35-40 The next day, the magistrates sent officers with instructions to the Jailer to free Paul and Silas (16:35) Paul refuses to go until the magistrates themselves come and get them out, noting that… (16:36-37) They had been beaten openly. They were uncondemned Romans. They had been thrown into prison. Now the magistrates want to release them “secretly” The magistrates came and pleaded with Paul and Silas to come out and to depart from the city (16:38-39) After stopping by the house of Lydia and seeing the brethren, they departed (16:40)

Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey Paul and Silas (minus Luke) pass through Amphipolis and Appolonia and come to Thessalonica (17:1)

The Egnatian Way Looking back toward Philippi

Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey Preaching in Thessalonica -- Acts 17:2-10 Arriving in Thessalonica, they preach for three Sabbaths in the synagogue, persuading many devout Greeks and leading women (17:2-4). Paul receives support from Philippi (Philippians 4:15-16) Envious Jews gather a mob and attack the house of Jason, seeking Paul and Silas (17:5). Not finding them, they drag Jason before the city rulers, charging him with harboring men who had “turned the world upside down.” (17:6-8) The rulers take security from Jason & release him (17:9) The brethren send Paul & Silas to Berea (17:10)

“Politarchs” in Thessalonica In Acts 17:5-6… The phrase “rulers of the city” (NKJV, ASV; “city authorities”—NASV) is translated from the Greek word politarchas, and occurs only in Acts 17 verses 6 and 8. For many years, critics of the Bible’s claim of divine inspiration accused Luke of a historical inaccuracy because he used the title politarchas to refer to the city officials of Thessalonica, rather than employing the more common terms, strateegoi (magistrates) or exousiais (authorities). -- Kyle Butt, Apologetics Press This inscription from a first century Roman Arch at Thessalonica begins, “In the time of the politarchs…”