OPENING PRAYER
"Man Shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God"- Matthew 4:4- "My mother and brothers are those who hear the Word of God and do it" - Mark 8:21
Having received this day as a gift, I (We) thank You Holy Trinity, for through Your goodness and patience You were not wrathful with me (Us), and idler (s) and sinner (s), neither have You cast me (Us) down in my (Our)sins...But You have shown Your love towards me (us) and have guided me (us) to keep my (our) daily watch to glorify Your power...Enlighten my (our) mind (minds) to study Your teachings in Scripture...Help me (us) to apply what I (we) learn and to praise You with all my (our) heart and glorify Your Holy Name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever...Amen!!!
Shine within my (our) hearts, loving Master, the pure Light of Your Divine Knowledge, and open the eyes of my mind that I may understand Your teachings...Instill in me (us) also reverence for Your Blessed commandments, so having conquered sinful desires I (we) may pursue a spiritual way of life, thinking and doing all those things that are pleasing to You...For You, Christ my God, are my light, and to You I (we) give, glory, together with Your Father and Your Holy Spirit, now and forever...Amen!!!
CHANT PSALM 23
INTO YOUR HANDS LORD YESHUA (JESUS CHRIST) WE COMMIT OUR SOULS AND BODIES, BLESS US AND HAVE MERCY ON US AND GRANT US ETERNAL LIFE!!!
ACTS 16 STUDY GUIDE & BREAKDOWN
THE CALL TO EUROPE
ACTS 16:1-10
16:1: THIS TIMOTHY: would become one of the chief co-workers of Paul, would be the recipient of two of Paul's epistles, and would later follow the apostle John as bishop of Ephesus!!!
16:3: SINCE TIMOTHY: is partly of Jewish heritage, PAUL has him CIRCUMCISED to accommodate Jewish sensibilities: In this case of Titus, a Gentile, Paul refuses to do this on dogmatic principles, reaffirming that believers do not receive salvation through the Law- (Galatians 2:3):
16:4: DECREES: translates the Greek word- dogma, which includes not only decrees but official teachings: The Church preserves her dogmas, or doctrines, as delivered by the apostles, and these essential teachings are never up for negation!!!
16:6-7: THOUGH NO INDICATION IS GIVEN: in the Scriptures why Paul was FORBIDDEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT to preach in these places, St. John Chrysostom likens this way to the way a hunter will underfeed his dogs before a hunt in order to increase their hunger for the prize!!! These people were not yet hungry for the gospel, and so God delays the gospel being preached in their presence until a desire for Him can be cultivated!!!
16:10: THE USE OF WE: indicates that Luke- (The author of Acts) has joined Paul, Silas, and Timothy in Troas: This first of several uses of we in Acts, indicating that Luke was an eyewitness to many of the events he recorded!!!
THE FIRST EUROPEAN CONVERT
ACTS 16:11-15
16:13: THE PLACE FOR PRAYER: was usually a synagogue, though in Philippi there were few Jews: So, this may have been a private home or gathering place by THE RIVERSIDE for lack of an actual synagogue:
16:14: PAUL: is the Church planter par excellence, and his work remains the model for building Churches: He starts with people already attuned to God and expounds for them the fullness of the gospel message- (see- my notes- Acts 8:35): LYDIA: the first convert in Europe, was a well-to-do businesswoman with a large home sufficient to host the Christian missionaries!!!
16:15: AGAIN, FAITH: leads immediately to baptism not only for adults, but of the entire HOUSEHOLD, including children and servants- (see my notes- Acts 8:36-39):
EXORCISM OF A SPIRIT
ACTS 16:16-18
16:16-18: EXORCISMS IN THE NAME OF CHRIST: are part of the apostolic ministry: Notably, every baptismal service in the Orthodox Church begins with an exorcism to expel Satan from having any further influence over the new believer: though demons declared the truth through this SLAVE GIRL, nerveless, she needed to be free to accept Christ on her own, and Paul could not endure to see her tormented any longer: Furthermore, impure praise from God's enemies is not acceptable- (WSir 15:9; see my notes at Luke 4:41):
PAUL AND SILAS IMPRISONED
ACTS 16:19-24
16:20: PAUL'S ACCUSERS: here care little for religion, but they use religious prejudice against the JEWS to retaliate for their financial losses!!!
THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER
ACTS 16:25-34
16:25: BEING PERSECUTED UNJUSTLY: for Christ leads PAUL AND SILAS to joy rathe than sorrow- (Luke 6:22-23- and notes): Their PRAYING AND SINGING HYMNS prepares the other PRISONERS for conversion later that night!!!
16:27: WAS ABOUT TO KILL HIMSELF: A jailer who let prisoners escape would be subject to cruel torture and execution!!!
16:30: THE JAILER'S QUESTION, "WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED???": implies he has already heard his prisoners proclaiming the way of salvation- (v. 17) and their praying and singing- (v. 25): The miraculous earthquake -(v. 26) and Paul's concern for the jailer's life- (v. 28) strengthen his faith and lead to his conversion:
16:33: ALL HIS FAMILY: would include not only his wife and children, but any servants as well- (see my notes on v. 15 above):
THE APOSTLES RELEASED
ACTS 16:35-40
16:37: NOTE THAT PAUL: does not appeal to his Roman citizenship in order to escape punishment for Christ, which he could easily have done: Instead, he uses his citizenship to have additional opportunities to proclaim the gospel- (see also- Acts 22:22-30):
My closing thoughts come from Daniel 7: (v. 8, 24 & 25)- Last night I woke up at 3:11 am, so I decided to type that number into my translator for both Greek and Hebrew meaning...I don't know why but I remember just starring at that number very closely...What stood out to me wasn't the meaning but the Prophecy of Daniel 7:8, 24 & 25, so I did some digging into this hope you all enjoy!!!
Greek- G311: ἀναβολήanabolḗ, an-ab-ol-ay'; from G306; a putting off:—delay. Bible verse associated with my search was ACTS 25:17
Hebrew- H311: אַחַרʼachar, akh-ar'; (Aramaic) corresponding to H310; after:—(here-) after. Bible verse associated with my search was DANIEL 2:29; DANIEL 2:45; & DANIEL 7:24
DANIEL 7:8: I was considering the HORNS , and there was another HORN, a little one, coming up among them, before whom THREE of the FIRST HORNS were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this HORN , were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking [a]pompous words.
DANIEL 7:24: Its TEN HORNS are TEN KINGS...They shall arise, and after them another shall arise...He shall surpass all those before him in evils, and he shall humble THREE KINGS...
DANIEL 7:25: He will speak extremely arrogant words and wear down the Saints of the Most High...He will devise a way to change times and law, and he shall be given authority for a time, times, and a half time...
7:8, 24, 25: THE LITTLE HORN: is seen to be the antichrist, an eleventh king who shall appear suddenly in the midst of the ten horns, seizing power through magic and sorcery: He will exalt himself as God and make war on the Church- (v. 11): Christ will deliver the Church and establish God's everlasting Kingdom: A TIME, TIMES, AND HALF A TIME: refers to the "short time" (three and a half years)- of tribulation that will befall the faithful just prior to the end of the age- (see Revelation 12:7-and notes-on Revelation 12:7-16 and also see the notes):
The Formation of the Ten Nation Confederacy Under the Revived Turkish Islamic Caliphate-
Sources talking about the Ten Nation Confederation
LINKS- https://youtu.be/O6azt6kWsIg - Source Calvary Chapel Signal Hill
LINKS- https://youtu.be/Q8tFCu04OrI - Source is from FAI STUDIOS
END WITH THE LORD'S PRAYER: LET'S DEPART IN PEACE!!!
JPCE SPIRITUAL TALK
NEVER HOLD BACK
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
JEHOVAH SHALOM!!!
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