1. The Acts of the Apostles
Acts 16 – The Macedonian Call
Sunday – March 11, 2018
Many of the slides used in this presentation are prepared by Joe Price and are used and adapted with his permission.

2. Paul and Company Directed to Troas and Europe, Acts 16:6-10
Bithynia
Mysia
Galatia
Phrygia
Asia
Cilicia
Syria
Paul and Company Directed to Troas and Europe, Acts 16:6-10

3. Philippi Acts 16:12; I Thessalonians 2:2
Established as a Roman colony by Augustus in 42 BC.
As a colony they were self-governing and didn’t have to pay tribute to the emperor.
A “gold rush” town in the 4th century BC and later named after Philip of Macedon.
Many water sources in the area.
I Thessalonians 2:2 – “but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as ye know, at Philippi, we waxed bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God in much conflict.”

4. Philippi Conversions and Persecution
Lydia and her household, 16:13-15
The Lord opened her heart to obey the things Paul spoke, Acts 2:39
Heart is opened by God’s word, Acts 2:22, 37, 41
She is judged to be “faithful to the Lord” because she believed and obeyed, 16:15
Acts 2:39 – For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, (even) as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him.
Acts 2:22, 37, 41 – 22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God unto you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, even as ye yourselves know … 37 Now when they heard (this,) they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? … 41 They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added (unto them) in that day about three thousand souls.
“Opened” – Matthew 7:7-8 – “7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Luke 11:9-10
Luke 24:32, 45 – “32 And they said one to another, Was not our hearts burning within us, while he spake to us in the way, while he opened to us the scriptures … Then opened he their mind, that they might understand the scriptures”
Acts 17:1-4 – “17 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: 2 and Paul, as his custom was, went in unto them, and for three sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 opening and alleging that it behooved the Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom, (said he,) I proclaim unto you, is the Christ. 4 And some of them were persuaded, and consorted with Paul and Silas, and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.”
Acts 26:16-18 – “16 But arise, and stand upon thy feet: for to this end have I appeared unto thee, to appoint thee a minister and a witness both of the things wherein thou hast seen me, and of the things wherein I will appear unto thee; 17 delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom I send thee, 18 to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me.”
“Faithful” – I Corinthians 4:1-2 – “1 Let a man so account of us, as of ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Here, moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
II Timothy 2:2 – “And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
Revelation 2:10 – “Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.”
I Thessalonians 5:24 – “Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it.”
II Thessalonians 3:3 – “But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and guard you from the evil (one).”

5. Philippi Conversions and Persecution
Beaten and jailed after miracle, 16:16-24
Slave girl: Oppressed and exploited, 16:16
Right message: Wrong messenger, 16:17-18
Healed her: Masters lost their source of profit, 16:18-19
Accused Paul and Silas as Jews with unlawful teachings, 16:19-22
Beaten and imprisoned, 16:22-24
“Beaten” – Acts 5:40 – “And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles unto them, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.”
Acts 21:32 – “And forthwith he took soldiers and centurions, and ran down upon them: and they, when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, left off beating Paul.”
II Corinthians 11:24-25 – “24 Of the Jews five times received I forty (stripes) save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep”
Acts 22:19-20 – “19 And I said, Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: 20 and when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting, and keeping the garments of them that slew him.”