Imagine being bound in chains, confined to a dank, dark cell with no hope of escape. Now picture yourself singing praises to God in that same hopeless situation. That's exactly what Paul and Silas did, and we had a riveting discussion with Chance Hollern about this powerful scripture from Acts chapter 16. Chance shares his own spiritual odyssey, from Spring Hill, Kansas to his impactful ministry at Baker University. Our conversation spans from the spiritual fortitude of these Biblical heroes to the modern-day implications of living out a faith that transcends the walls of a prison or the boundaries of adversity.
Our guest Chance Hollern, alongside Kyle Morris, Dakota Smith, and David Glavin, remind us of the extraordinary resilience and joy that can be found in the most unexpected places. Through the lens of Paul and Silas's story, we uncover the profound impact of worship during trials and how their experiences echo the transformative power of faith in our lives today. As we dissect the seismic events that shook the foundations of the prison — and the jailer's heart — we're left pondering the divine authority that not only freed these apostles but also left an indelible mark on the early church and its future.
Wrapping up this spiritually enriching dialogue, we delve into the beautiful interplay of evangelism, baptism, and the birth of the church in Philippi. Paul's dedication to justice and fair treatment sets the stage for the nurturing of the fledgling church, a sentiment as vital today as it was then. Through Chance's narrative and our collective exploration, this episode is a testament to the power of faith to guide, protect, and inspire — a truly inspiring journey through scripture that resonates with every step we take in our own walks of faith. Join us in this discussion that promises to enrich your spiritual understanding and encourage your heart.
#gospel #jesus #discipleship #christianpodcast #christianpodcaster #bible #acts #biblechurch #expositorypreaching #bibleinterpretation #howtoreadthebible #evangelism #apostlepaul #god #holyspirit #faith #faithingod #faithinhardtimes #truth #apologetics #bookofacts #biblepodcaster #biblia #sonofgod
Imagine being bound in chains, confined to a dank, dark cell with no hope of escape. Now picture yourself singing praises to God in that same hopeless situation. That's exactly what Paul and Silas did, and we had a riveting discussion with Chance Hollern about this powerful scripture from Acts chapter 16. Chance shares his own spiritual odyssey, from Spring Hill, Kansas to his impactful ministry at Baker University. Our conversation spans from the spiritual fortitude of these Biblical heroes to the modern-day implications of living out a faith that transcends the walls of a prison or the boundaries of adversity.
Our guest Chance Hollern, alongside Kyle Morris, Dakota Smith, and David Glavin, remind us of the extraordinary resilience and joy that can be found in the most unexpected places. Through the lens of Paul and Silas's story, we uncover the profound impact of worship during trials and how their experiences echo the transformative power of faith in our lives today. As we dissect the seismic events that shook the foundations of the prison — and the jailer's heart — we're left pondering the divine authority that not only freed these apostles but also left an indelible mark on the early church and its future.
Wrapping up this spiritually enriching dialogue, we delve into the beautiful interplay of evangelism, baptism, and the birth of the church in Philippi. Paul's dedication to justice and fair treatment sets the stage for the nurturing of the fledgling church, a sentiment as vital today as it was then. Through Chance's narrative and our collective exploration, this episode is a testament to the power of faith to guide, protect, and inspire — a truly inspiring journey through scripture that resonates with every step we take in our own walks of faith. Join us in this discussion that promises to enrich your spiritual understanding and encourage your heart.
#gospel #jesus #discipleship #christianpodcast #christianpodcaster #bible #acts #biblechurch #expositorypreaching #bibleinterpretation #howtoreadthebible #evangelism #apostlepaul #god #holyspirit #faith #faithingod #faithinhardtimes #truth #apologetics #bookofacts #biblepodcaster #biblia #sonofgod
Welcome to the Be Disciples podcast with heroes Kamors, dakota Smith and David Glavin, and we also have Chance with us today on the podcast, which is awesome. We've never recorded four people on the podcast.
Speaker 2:Yeah, this is our first, and Chance Hallearn, this is the second time that you've done anything that's media related. You were with me on the radio station a couple weeks back and you do college ministry over in Baldwin, right, and also we're hoping to get you more involved here in Ottawa. So we brought Chance onto the show just because it adds another communicative element as we work through the scripture. So we're excited for today's episode.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So, chance, can you give us a little background what brought you to Ottawa and then what you're doing now for ministry?
Speaker 3:So a little background on me. I grew up in Spring Hill, kansas, which is up the road from Ottawa, went to K-State for a sort period of time to become a teacher and then met my wife there. We moved to Texas and I taught she worked for the railroad down there and then we really felt the Lord calling us back home and so in that whole process college I became a believer and then really grew in my faith a lot in those four or five years through a guy that discipled me one-on-one in Manhattan, kansas, and so then went to Texas, felt like Lord was calling us back home. We moved back to this area and we're looking to maybe start a church, do something like that, with a couple buddies around here and we all kind of got to the point of you know what? I think we were spread out and let's just get plugged into the bodies that we see God's working in.
Speaker 3:So that's what led us to Ottawa, ottawa Bible, getting plugged in there, and then threw a couple cool phone calls and answers the prayer. The Lord opened a bunch of doors for us to do ministry at Baker and so that's kind of where we are started. And then when we got plugged in here at Ottawa Bible started seeing the need of. Hey, we live in Ottawa and there's a college campus here and I have a heart to reach students, just as I was reached at Manhattan, and so that's where kind of our call and ministry and the prayer started to work and the Lord started opening doors. And here we are wanting to find kids and disciple them and just share the gospel. Amen.
Speaker 2:We can tell that you have a love for Jesus Christ and you guys are new at Ottawa Bible. You've been here what like six months now, I believe. So yeah, but whenever your name comes up already people can tell, yeah, he loves the Lord and he's pursuing him, so we're grateful to have you on today. Yeah, we continue in Acts, chapter 16. We last found ourselves where Paul and Silas were imprisoned. Imagine that your first missionary trip to Europe, in the very first city that you encounter, and you're met with imprisonment. Yeah, success, success.
Speaker 1:I'm sure that's what Paul was thinking. This is success, yeah, but you know, I think we look at it sometimes as a as an old man. They got stopped sharing the gospel, and but if we look at the pattern of Acts, that's not what happens when something bad happens. Yeah, we actually see the spread of the gospel, and so it's a bit exciting that they're in prison because of what it means for the word to go out.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I think this last Sunday, even from the pulpit, one of the main principles that I was teaching on from Matthew, chapter 14, was Jesus is actively trying to train his disciples and to cultivate their faith through difficulty, to show them their actual need for him, because he knows what they're going to face later on. And while Paul may not have been one of those original 12 well, technically he was one of the original 12, but the first 12 with Jesus Paul recognizes his inadequacy and his need for Jesus Christ. So why don't we dive into prayer before we dive into the text?
Speaker 1:Let's make.
Speaker 2:David, do it David.
Speaker 1:Lead us into our brother. Make you like you don't want to. He wants to.
Speaker 4:Let's bow our heads and focus boys.
Speaker 4:Lord. God, we do give you thanks for for who you are, your God, our creator, redeemer. You sustain us, lord, and the power of your spirit. We thank you for this time, this opportunity, the resources that we have to, the time to to discuss and fellowship together to to study your word as brothers in Christ, for the resources to broadcast it, to that others can be with us and a part of this. Lord, as we look into your word, we just pray the movement of your spirit in the word that you would guide us in conversation, that we might glean wisdom and understanding and that, for those that are, that are listening and watching along, lord, that that you would just do a movement in our hearts and in our minds, that we would grow in our relationship with you. We thank you for this ministry and all the various ministries that you have allowed us to be a part of. We just pray your will and your way In Jesus' name, amen, amen.
Speaker 1:Well, before we get started, before we read, I just want to remind our audience please share the podcast. We're both now doing a video podcast, so if you're listening, watching on YouTube, that's what you're seeing now. If you're audio only, like we've been for the last few years, then make sure you share that as well. Social media platforms, text somebody, I don't really care. We just want people to dig into the word together, as we're doing today, as a group of friends studying God's words, so that we're encouraged and built up and we can continue to be equipped for God's work. And so please follow us at autoabiochurchcom Don't hit the microphone at autoabiochurch on YouTube and check us out at autoabiochurchcom as well. Alright, dakota.
Speaker 2:Okay. So we last found ourselves again, paul and Silas, there in prison. So we start in verse 22. It says the crowd rose up together against them and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely, and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fasten their feet in the stocks.
Speaker 2:But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there came a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened. When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried out with a loud voice saying Do not harm yourself, for we are all here. And he called for lights and rushed in and, trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas and after he brought them out he said Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And so, guys, I think verses 22 to 30 is maybe a good portion, a good bite-sized chunk to work with this morning. What would be some of your first initial observations in the passage? What's unique to you? What stands out to you within the text? How do we start off?
Speaker 1:Well, it's always good to start off reminding ourselves where we're at.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the C of the Koma method.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So we're gonna look at context, we're gonna look at setting. What did we read last week? So we know that we are in Philippi. We know who our couple individuals are. We have Paul and Silas. We also know that Timothy is around because he was with them. He's just not mentioned being in prison with them and so possibly Timothy's on the outside, and we also know that Luke's around. He's also not at least writing himself in the prison here. So we know some other people are around, but Paul and Silas seem to be the ones who get imprisoned here, and so that's where we're at.
Speaker 1:We're in a prison, we're in Philippi. Paul and Silas are there. They get dragged into this prison and really their response is singing hymns, yeah, and that's kind of the first thing that I notice is it's a reflection of their attitude towards God and their situation, their circumstance. So that tells us a little bit about Paul and Silas. Where they're at emotionally, spiritually, they're giving praises to God for their circumstances, and what an amazing thing to see in a place. That would be of much despair for many of us if we ended up in prison. And so, yeah, I just see their attitude here first. That jumps off the page.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the reason why Timothy and Luke were likely not imprisoned is because they were seen by those in Philippi as Greeks anyways. And then Paul and Silas themselves were seen as Jews, although they didn't realize that Paul had Roman citizenship. So there's one other place where, you know, paul appeals to his Roman citizenship and, by the way, you're going to see that later on in the passage but in both cases you know he's in prison because somebody's profit, somebody's financial gain, is taking a hit because of Paul's ministry in the gospel. So, more than likely though, ethnically speaking, that's why they're the ones in the prison. And then you know, we don't know where Timothy and Luke are at, but they're hanging out somewhere. So let's continue to, you know, open up the conversation. What else do y'all see within the passage 22 to 30? Anything that just stands out to you? Initial observations that you're making chance, or David, what do y'all think?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I initially see that again, the singing praises and hymns and it instantly reminds me of James 1, like the whole aspect of considering a joy in the trials, like we see that happening right here from these men that know the Lord, are fearing the Lord, are doing his will and knowing that even in this trial, even in the midst of what I'm going through, in this persecution, I'm going to not let the enemy take my joy and I'm going to consider joy in that trial and doing that, just as they are in prison, being chained up, not knowing if they're going to get out, not knowing that, you know, what we see is we get to read it and see, hey, there's an earthquake coming, like it's kind of like they're going to be set free, but they don't know that yet. But still having the faith, still having the joy, still considering that to be this is what God's calling me to do. Then let me be here and let me do it, and do it to its fullest effect, glorifying the Lord.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the theme of joy is found all throughout the book of Acts. You know, we've seen plenty of times where the apostles find themselves being beaten, being thrown into prison, and then they leave rejoicing because, like they recount, it is worthy to suffer for the Lord. So, and I think, by the way, their joy, their singing, their praises to God will have an effect on the jailer's conversion later on here in the chapter. So God is utilizing these praises, I think one just to glorify himself. But also this seems to be the catalyst to some degree for the earthquake. You know, you call on God and you start giving praise to him, and then the Lord starts moving on your behalf for his glory. So some of those dynamics are coming into play.
Speaker 4:I think it's kind of leveled up version of like all publicity is good publicity as well, yeah sounds like Jerry Jones.
Speaker 4:They get arrested and they get brought, but it draws attention and I think it's also an authority. It divides authority too, whereas they're brought before an earthly authority and then others are also watching this and seeing this, hearing their message, but then it allows them to judge for themselves who's at work here, if this is God working and speaking through these men, and then that's why people people knew the authority was corrupt then, and so they're able to see this and people. So there's a dividing line there and people come to see that God is at work here, despite the fact that the authority is getting up in arms.
Speaker 2:This will work a little bit more with verse 23,. When they had struck them with many blows so this was no small beating, I mean, this was like a ruthless beating. So they'd been struck many times they threw them into the prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely. Which means, hey, these guys have the potential to stir up more trouble than just your typical inmate. And so look what it says in verse 24, having received such a command, they threw them into the inner prison.
Speaker 2:The jailer likely decided you know, the inner prison is most secure than any other place and they're chained with stocks, you know, to their feet, which is very painful, I mean, this would cause sores and bruising. The prisoners couldn't get up, they couldn't walk around and it was likely cold, dark, wet. This is no, no pleasant area. Notice, later on they have to turn lights on as the jailer rushes back in. So this was a very secluded place. I can only imagine being in the inner, the inner, you know, area of this jail. All the other prisoners were likely above them, you know, strategically speaking, so when they're singing the echoes of this worship is protruding into the other jail cells to where, you know, it doesn't matter if you're the jailer or not, like you, are now subject to the praises of Paul and Silas. I think that's pretty cool. If you just study the inner cells of you know Rome and what it was like back in this day. It's almost like the configuration of the jail itself was perfect for a worshipful setting.
Speaker 1:Well, I think at least the question that comes to my mind is why are they so dangerous? Paul and Silas didn't kill anybody, didn't steal anything necessary, like it's their words that got them in trouble, right, it's their words, what they said about Jesus and what they and what the outcome of their words when it came to people making money or whatever that may be. So it's so interesting that they would put two men who didn't show any violence towards anybody in the innermost, and it was their words that they saw as more violent than their physical actions. And so I find that interesting that they would see them as that big of a threat to put them in the worst part of the prison. So that kind of stands out to me, as they believe that whatever the gospel was was dangerous, at least the people who put them in prison and beat them.
Speaker 2:Well, let's just take that and run with it for a bit. You know, Chance. What do you think, David? What do you think? Why is the gospel message today even most divisive for earthly governments and rulerships? Like, how come, even to this day, worldly powers all have a negative view of the gospel, At least it seems to now be that way in America, based on our current leadership. I'm going to hold nothing back here. Our current leadership doesn't love Jesus, and that's evident by the things that they advocate for and they say. So why is that? Why is the gospel such a threat for authoritarian power?
Speaker 4:Me first.
Speaker 2:All right, then Get yourself in trouble, david, go for it, we're all listening.
Speaker 4:Well, I think that earthly power, government, local, however big or small it is I think that power there's a greed aspect, there's this growth within the human condition that when you have power, you want more power. When you have authority, you want more authority, and outside of God's direction and discipline, that becomes an egocentric sort of movement where it's self-serving and it's not serving the Lord, and so power wants to keep power and so it's going to fight against anything that wants to direct that. I mean in the United States we have the voice of the people, sort of. We have representatives in government, which is part of the struggle from the beginning that the people want to represent representation. But it's well, for as large as our country is, I don't think we're truly represented in government, nor is the Lord represented, and I do think that I will use this opportunity to share that.
Speaker 4:I do think personally, as Christians also, we're silent, we feel like we have no control and we have no voice, so we don't use the voice and the control that we have. But the Bible says the faith of the mustard seed can move the mountain, and I believe that as Christians and this has actually been strengthened in me in the last three years, that every vote, that I have every voice, every opportunity to voice my conviction and my faith in the Lord, is an opportunity for me to to exercise the Lord's will. And when we don't vote, when we're not, you know, as Christians today, when we're not studying and trying to understand laws that are being passed locally, nationally, whatever it may be, I think that we're not using what the Lord has given us. And I think so that's something I've been convicted on even more recently that one Christian inaction, the inaction of Christians not standing up for our convictions and beliefs and letting it be heard, because, even though we know that many Christians would probably agree with us on many subjects, it's not voted that way. I'll stop.
Speaker 2:No, that's great stuff. Yeah, yeah, chance.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think one of the kind of power struggles per se that we see is the idea of power in itself. And why would Christianity and faith in one God and the Lord be so detrimental to that power struggle? Is that when you want power, you want control. And the reality of a believer is when you're set free in Christ, like you're free, there's nothing that has control over you, and like you have one Lord that you obey. And so for a government or for an authority of any aspect to be able to think man, I don't have full control over this person, like they're not going to do what I want them to do. And we look at like communism and dictators, like that whole, like those governments and schemes and the things that we see in that is, people that want power, want control and they have that. And it's like how there's no freedom in that right, there's no freedom of religion, there's no freedom of conversation to say what we want, like no free speech at all. And so that's where, as I see the threat of Christianity and the threat of believing in Jesus as Lord being a detriment to the power. And I think, looking back at Acts 4 with Peter and John, where they're like, hey, whether it's right, like you guys can make that up yourselves, but, as for us, we're not going to stop talking about what we've seen and heard. And I think, like David, you hit on that perfectly.
Speaker 3:Where, as believers, are we stopping and not talking about what we have seen and heard and what Christ has done in our lives and as we see the word written?
Speaker 3:Are we making that the plumb line of our lives and speaking on that, or are we getting caught up in the crowds, just as we see here, where they are, there, the crowd is joining in and the attack on these men and the crowd is getting swept away with the crowd which I know for my life is something that I've gotten caught in before of man the crowd's doing this.
Speaker 3:I want to do that because, in the moment, there's a lot of voices, but, as I've grown and matured, there's an aspect of okay, but what does the word say? And am I going to let God be the one that guides me in that, or am I just going to go with whatever authority has more power? And so that's where, as me, as a believer, seeing that God is my authority, that God is my power, I'm going to rest in that. And even if the government comes against me, even if someone in the world like of the flesh comes against me, where am I going to stand? Am I going to stand with the Lord or am I going to get pushed over?
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I want to bring it back to something that you guys are all hitting on. You guys are all hitting on there's going to be persecution. As a Christian, we know that because Jesus said it right in the Beatitudes the result of following Him truly following Him is being persecuted in His name. So this is what's going to happen to us as Christians. One our names are going to be slandered, we're going to be drugged in the mud, we are going to be put in prison. We're going to be beaten, just as we're seeing Paul and Silas. We're going to be put to death.
Speaker 1:But the reason Jesus is such a threat to power in this world is because Jesus was resurrected. Right, paul and Silas are preaching the resurrected God, who the most any power can do to us is kill us. But they did that to Jesus and he was risen from the grave. So that power is so threatening because nobody else can do that. And so when you walk around with the freedom in Christ, with the resurrection as your hope and what you've put your faith in, there is no power that is over anything of this world except Jesus.
Speaker 1:And so that's why they're in prison and that's why they're singing hymns, because they're like this is as much as you can do to us. You could kill us, but my God's bigger than death. What an amazing thing. And so when we look at our country and we look at the world, we can stand confident that even if we get put to death in Christ, we get to spend eternity with Him because he is the risen God. He rose from the grave and that's what their faith is in and that's why they're confident. That's where they're singing praises and I find that like I get goosebumps and chills, because that's why we're living is because of the resurrection of Christ. So it's amazing.
Speaker 2:Well, paul and Silas are great examples for us of two individuals who know chance, as you stated that they are free, although they don't appear to be free. They don't appear to be free, maybe, like at an earthly level, but from a heavenly perspective they're most definitely free and they're acting like it. I do think that there's a lot that we can derive from their attitude and their example here, because in our modern day lifestyle, here within America, 2024, to David's point, we do seem to be way too quiet, way too inactive. We don't see the freedoms that God has given us as a responsibility to engage with. Rather, we see them as just like an add-on or a cherry on top, like I can choose to engage or I can choose to not engage. But let me be frank with you if you don't start using your freedoms and and being more vocal about your faith, then we will face more imprisonments and things like that will eventually come, and whether we do or not, we should still be individuals who live as if we were free.
Speaker 2:So I think, continuing there from the text, you see in verse 26, suddenly there came a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfashioned. We've already seen this with Peter in Acts, chapter 5, we've seen this with Peter in Acts, chapter 12, and here we are now with Paul and Silas in Acts, chapter 16. This is like the third occasion in Acts where a prison cell has been broken open supernaturally, either by like an angel from the Lord or just the Lord himself, and it's also not the first time in the Bible we've seen earthquakes appear as some form of a supernatural movement of God. We saw that there was an earthquake after Jesus's crucifixion, so these reminders are here for us to say God can like, bring about whatever he wants to get you out of whatever predicament that you're in.
Speaker 1:Yeah, especially when your faith is in Christ. In that predicament their voices are singing out to God praises, so that everybody would hear why they're in prison. We're in prison for the one true God. I mean, they're totally putting all of their faith in Christ and I find that to be the encouraging part. Then, you know, there's this earthquake. It's shaken, the doors were open, everyone's bonds were unfastened, so not just Paul and Silas, right, everybody's. So now there's a situation where not just in these other circumstances, we saw the apostles get out of prison, right, but this one, all the doors are open, all the shackles have been set free, and so then we're going to see the response of Paul and Silas here, and I think that is a huge detail that we can't miss, that this isn't just Paul and Silas's door and shackles, it's everybody's. And how is that going to play a significant role in the rest of the narrative here?
Speaker 2:Well, verses 27 and 28 continue and it just shows us that you know the jailer taking personal responsibility, assuming everybody ran out, you know. Now he attempts to commit suicide Because either way they're gonna kill you. Either you commit suicide because you failed in your duty. More than likely, a lot of historical evidences show us that this was a former Roman soldier who now, in his retired state, is watching over a jail cell, and he knows how you know the Roman Empire works If you fail.
Speaker 2:This is also one of the arguments regarding the empty tomb of Jesus. Like these guys would have guarded that tomb with their entire life. They would not have just fallen asleep on the floor right as, like some critical scholars may show us. But this guy understood. No, either I kill myself or they're gonna kill me. Paul and Silas then cry out do not harm yourself, for we are all here. What character, what nobility for Paul to say you know what? Like I could choose myself right now. I could just get out of dodge and then say thank you, lord. But it's like Paul had a concern for the jailer himself. His eyes were not on himself. And then you think of Jesus on the cross, like he's praying for his enemies. Father, forgive them. They don't know what they do. He had other people in mind, even in the midst of his persecution.
Speaker 4:Compassion.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he had compassion for them.
Speaker 4:I think it speaks to us. I think there's application for us today when we have a sense. We can have a sense of tunnel vision when it comes to the enemies of God or those who were fighting or arguing against where they are the enemy. But really I mean Paul's exemplifying that we should have compassion for our enemies, and Christ calls us to love our enemies and this is a great example of it. We're fighting against not flesh and bone, but angels and principalities and something that exists beyond what we can see, and I think that should Should shape the way we interact with people when we're fighting against issues for the Lord. But I think that's a great example Paul's compassion for yeah to that.
Speaker 2:To that note, spiritual warfare is always over ideas. Spiritual warfare is always over what's true and what's not true. And so, in the midst of this predicament, paul cares for the person.
Speaker 4:I think it's interesting that the jailer didn't check to see if the prisoners were there before he's like, oh, he just assumes they're gone, yeah they all ran.
Speaker 1:It's a prison, you know, but we do see it is. We should stop. Definitely, as you're talking about Paul here. Sometimes we see Paul as somewhat harsh depending on the circumstance, especially when people aren't taking the gospel seriously, but this is not that case. Paul sees a man who is in distress and he cares about this individual, he cares about his salvation, he cares about all people to hear the gospel, and so that comes out here in Paul. So, yes, he does have a soft heart and God made Paul's heart soft and he stays and he has concern, and I think that is that helps us understand Paul more as he goes and helps us as we walk about in our lives. There are other things that we're gonna be Super adamant on and we may come off as a little assertive or something like that, but not when it comes to a person's soul and in their life, the lost. That should, that should draw out Compassion that comes from the Lord, and so that helps us.
Speaker 3:Yes, there's times to be serious, there's times to make hard decisions, but this was a moment of compassion, that that Paul said I'm gonna, I'm gonna stay here and I'm gonna share the gospel with this individual and he needs to know Jesus and and more so, and Big picture of Paul's life, knowing that Paul, being a persecutor of believers, knows what that's like, knows like, hey, I've watched the families go through that loss, I've watched people die at the hands of what I've agreed on. And so then, for him to see this and know that this man is about to one disregard his life for the sake of the fact that Paul is gonna be set free or running free. And then for Paul again going back to man, here's where I'm at. My freedom is in Christ. I am found in the Lord, and knowing that God just broke these jail cells open, like the jailer doesn't know that, right, he's still at that point of, okay, let me think of something crazy just happened.
Speaker 3:But Paul to sit there and say, hey, if God can do that, then maybe let's look at this big picture of why am I here? And if this guy doesn't know the Lord, then before I just run out and get my physical freedom, let's see where this guy's at, knowing the angst that's been built up of man. Every prisoner is gone and, like you said, not just their change was set free, everyone's were. And so that's a lot of yeah, a lot of angst for that jailer to be facing in that moment and Paul, just like that compassion, saying yep, nope, I'm gonna praise in the moment. Here I am and let's see what we do before. We just Like search for ourselves. And what do I want in the moment?
Speaker 2:Amen. Well, and it's interesting because look at how the Jailer responds in verse 30, sirs. He's speaking to both of them specifically, who are singing. What must I do to be saved? You know, jesus said you know to be the salt in the light of the world. Why? So that unbelievers would one day Glorify your father who is in heaven. To me, it appears that Paul and Silas have been enough salt and light to this individual. You've got the singing, you've got the earthquake.
Speaker 2:No doubt the jailer understands why they're in prison, because they were preaching the gospel and he probably inquired about what like why are these guys in prison? I mean, he probably has had three different layers of gospel, introductions to his life and the praises all throughout the night, and the supernatural breaking of the jail cell Brought him to the conclusion. Well, and the fact that Paul and Silas didn't run has now Accumulatively been a testimony to him. To ask the question serves what must I do to be saved?
Speaker 2:And as we enter into verse 31, I think, while this might be just a simple response, while it might be Maybe on the surface here within the overall metanarrative of acts, while it may not seem like a big deal, verse 31 is one of the most important verses in the entire Bible. This is how they respond. He says what must I do to be saved? They say believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household, guys. Why is verse 31 so incredibly critical, if not most critical, to our faith? I mean, it's simple, yes, but what's critical about it? Like We've got to, every Christian must grasp this kind of thing.
Speaker 1:Well, first, the jailer asks the question that we all have to ask what? What must we do to be saved? Well, he uses this word do Like what's this process? Or or what do I have to accomplish? Yeah, you know, kind of like a work, what must I do to be saved?
Speaker 1:But their response isn't necessarily anything to do as a work or any of that nature. It just says believe in the Lord Jesus. That's the message of the gospel. The gospel is yes, jesus came and lived a perfect life, born of a virgin, died on the cross for our sins as the perfect sacrifice that has risen from the grave. Jesus did all the work. All you need to do is believe In what he has done and put your faith in him. It's the simple message of the gospel. It is a simple line, it's one single verse.
Speaker 1:But what it took to get to this one verse? What we see in Jesus's life, we see in the apostles. This is the message, this is the question and the answer. What must I do to be saved? Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the, this is the foundation of our, of everything that we believe Is this verse, is this sentence. So, yeah, this is bigger than just let's just, oh yeah, believe in Jesus, keep moving on.
Speaker 1:No, this is the message Paul has brought to the Philippians. Yeah, this is why he's in prison Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you'll be saved, you and your household. There's an influence then that comes through. This jailer of your faith will extend beyond, to your house. Your family can be saved, the people that you know can be saved if they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. So, man, it's, it's a it's a powerful verse because it literally wraps up the gospels, what they've been doing in acts and what they'll continue to do throughout the rest of the bible, in one single sentence. And if you wanted to wrap a bow and you wanted to take somebody right away, just a place where, hey, I want people to know what they need to do to be saved, verse 31.
Speaker 2:Yeah, believe well, and it's interesting to look at what Paul says more specifically believe in the Lord Jesus. Why is that significant? We call him the Lord Jesus all the time, but in a Roman world where Caesar was seen as Lord overall, paul is saying well in the same breath if you want to be saved, you've got to transfer your dedication and devotion and trust to From an emperor to the one who's really Lord, and so maybe we kind of Breeze past the word Lord, but Paul really means it like you've got to see him as Lord now, and when you do that, you'll be saved, you and your household.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and just the very aspect of, hey, look at straightforward question, straightforward answer, that's like what do I gotta do? Paul's like this. Is it like they were ready in that moment of, if you're asking, here's a truth of it, versus sometimes we might want to sugarcoat it and like, well, it's kind of like it's not as bad as it seems, you know, like trying to sell Christianity or sell, just try it. You know, just just give it a try, see if you like it and if you don't, hey, to each their own. We're as believers. If he's Lord in our lives and we should be For trying that to others as no, he should be Lord of your life too.
Speaker 2:Yeah he's Lord over everyone's life. It's just a matter of where they agree.
Speaker 1:And I, and we can't leave out verse 32, because verse 32 is going to show us how they did it, and let's read it. And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who are in his house. What did they speak? Paul's word, silas's word? No, they spoke the word of the Lord, scripture. He opened scripture and said this is what God has said. So that gives us a continued blueprint, a continued pattern of Paul using scripture to show people who Jesus is Since the beginning, before the beginning of time. And so Paul uses God's word. That's what we're doing today. We're using God's word, we're reading it word for word. We want to share it in this way, because that's what we see it happening in scripture. So, again, just a pattern of sharing God's word, not our own word. Yes, they presented the gospel, but then they backed it up with what the bible says. That's what we need to do open your bibles when you're evangelizing, when you're discipling. This is what God's word is. Use it.
Speaker 4:There's also a practical element of I don't know I'm thinking of. They're in prison and it says all of his household were baptized. So they had to. Because then later, as we read on and I think this has to be said for me to make my point, I'm going ahead but, um, they came to the prison and said you, you're released. So he didn't take them out of the prison. So the man must have brought his whole household into the prison To be baptized and to have them share the Lord. Is that the context we're looking at?
Speaker 2:yeah, and when I read 33, and he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds when it says he took him, I'm thinking that he actually took them out of the inner cell to wash them, brought into the light, have conversations, likely to his own home, like in the secret of the night, and Then he was baptized, he and all of his household. But then, if you continue to read on, it would almost assume that the jailer brought them back, hmm, probably by Paul and Silas, his own request. You know, hey, we don't want you to get into trouble, we're just gonna trust God. Bring us back to the prison. Let's just keep reading Verse 34.
Speaker 2:And he brought them into the house, right, or, excuse me, and he brought them into his house. So that's how we know. They left and set food before them and rejoice greatly, having believed in God, with his whole household. So he bound up their wounds, he was baptized, brought them to his home, set food before him, rejoice with them verse 35. Now, when day came, the chief magistrates sent their policemen saying release those men, right, and the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying the chief magistrates have sent to release you. Therefore, come now and go in peace. I'm just assuming then they've gone from the jailer's house back to the prison, because the magistrates that you know the the political rulers of that, that precinct or that area. We're basically saying you know, we know they're there, so go back and get them Kind of aloof to what happened in the middle of the night.
Speaker 4:That's a big change and a big out of the way sort of gesture that the the jailer is making. I mean that. So this is a big change in his heart from going from fearing the authority of the Roman government, which he's been working for, to to now fearing the Lord and I think also the the influence of the man over their household. That Salvation came to him and he took action, knowing that his household will benefit from this. And I think that's a challenge to men also, that as the Lord is changing and working in us, that we bring that to our homes and that is how people are saved. I mean you could misread that and say, because you believe your household will, believe, will be saved, like it's not that the salvation to the father automatically everyone's saved, but because you are saved, the Lord will work through you to the salvation of your family. Yeah, and I think it's a challenge to us today too.
Speaker 3:And it's not just that the Lord is after just a single person's heart, like he's after the family, he's after all of us and that and he deserves that glory. So for them to see this, this evangelistic opportunity of not just say hey, like believe in the Lord and you'll be saved, but saying hey, like your family, like this isn't just for you, it's not like you're in this moment and because of your experience here, it's just something that you get to hold on to and cherish. Like he's not, like he said, he's not just the Lord over us, like he's the Lord over everyone, whether you believe it or not, like Jesus is Lord. And so Just that of taking that opportunity and then going and saying it's not just for you, it is for your family as well, Well, and in Philippi would have been a small enough community to where it's likely that this man's household Understood who he was guarding.
Speaker 2:Maybe there would have been a conversation there or something. But no doubt when they came home in the middle of the night, I imagine the jailers wife waking up or something and saying what are you doing here with these prisoners? And then he's saying honey, listen, that earthquake that just woke everybody up. Yeah, these guys didn't even run, and so they prayed for me and they they've talked to me about Jesus. We need to believe because Jesus just saved my life tonight. So I imagine, with time and conversation, you know, this would have been a bigger deal than we realized at first.
Speaker 2:I Do think that these verses are often used by those who hold to a form of covenantal theology To prove their position on why we should believe in paid or baptism or infant baptism. The covenantal position would say that Baptism in the New Testament is the sign, just as circumcision was in the old, and so therefore you know, just as you are part of Israel by circumcision, now you know as infants you should be baptized. The problem With referring to this text is it doesn't say anything about infants or children Young enough to where they they can't even believe yet. The idea is that they receive the word of the Lord. They were baptized, they rejoiced. Plus, this jail jailer was of retirement age. I'm doubting that he's got little infants at home. So those are just the proofs I'd use is like a side argument to say I don't think this text is affirming you know, paid or baptism plus, the pattern we've seen in acts is that of baptism follows faith.
Speaker 1:Put your faith in cry. That's the pattern that we've seen, and so we see it here believe, and then there's baptism. Right, not baptism, hopefully you believe someday, right, and then get baptized again. Well, I don't, you know that's we just see the pattern here the way it's, the way it's written, the way Paul says believe and the Lord Jesus Christ. He does not say hey, get baptized in believe. That's not what the message is right. The message is belief. And so yeah, say the. He believed in that moment as they were walking out of the jail. He gets caught at night and the jailer dies. Yeah, well, guess what he believed.
Speaker 2:He's going to heaven.
Speaker 1:He's going to heaven didn't need the baptism, and so we, that's just the pattern. We see an axe and we can't get out of that pattern, even though, yeah, we can cherry pick verses or cherry pick narrative stories to try to fit a theology. But let's just take the text. What does it say, what do we see? And go from there.
Speaker 2:So verse 35. We last saw that the chief magistrates, the leaders of this community, sent their policemen saying release those men. Verse 36 I'm just going to read from 36 to 40 and I think we can maybe start to close up this episode. But it says and the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying the chief magistrates has sent to release you. Therefore, come out now and go in peace. But Paul said to them they have beaten us in public, without trial, men who are Romans and have thrown us into prison. And now are they sending us away secretly? No, indeed, but let them come themselves and bring us out.
Speaker 2:The policemen reported these words to the chief magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. Like, oh shoot, they deserved a fair trial. Oh, shoot, like no Roman citizen should be beaten with rods verse 39. And they came and appealed to them and when they had brought them out, they kept begging them to leave the city. They went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia and when they saw the brethren, they encouraged them and departed. Okay, so there's a little bit of a Gutsiness. And Paul, yeah, make those cowards come here. Yeah, they need to apologize.
Speaker 1:I didn't know what they were doing in the first place. They just assumed, because we are a Of Jewish background, that were not Roman citizens. Yeah, and we know that Paul is, and so, and I'm guessing Silas, he says citizens.
Speaker 1:Yes and so they're both Roman citizens and hey, you did this wrong. So he kind of uses their own law against them. And it's kind of interesting. Why does Paul even? Why does Paul even do this? Like you, you're getting out of prison, like just go get out of here, like go to the next city, just move on. But Paul's like no, that's not how this is gonna be done. He has a different mindset. Like you, the people need to know that this isn't right. I'm not. I'm gonna use my voice again, like he did before. Like we've been talking about One, I'm gonna use my voice to tell the truth and two, I'm gonna use my voice in the system of government that exists here to ensure that I'm being treated fairly and that people continue to be treated fairly. So he's using his freedom within his governmental system to call out corruption. So we actually see an example of Paul doing this in his own culture, in his own society, in which we, as Christians, need to make sure we're doing the same thing.
Speaker 2:Well, let me just ask you this question how do you think you know we could maybe take Paul here as being somewhat vindictive? I don't think he's being vindictive, but how could the newly established church in Philippi Benefit from Paul telling the magistrates no, you come here and you make this right, Like maybe he did this for the benefit of the church precedent? He sets a precedent. That's right.
Speaker 4:Why and let's keep rolling with that for those who Want to speak of the Lord in the future, that he's setting a precedent of fair treatment of those who are, who want to come and present the gospel and are speaking openly about the word.
Speaker 2:That this won't happen again this way, because Now what we see at the end of this, this chapter, is that a new church has been established by the work of the Holy Spirit, even though it included imprisonment. You know who's a part of the church now. You've got Lydia and her whole household. You've likely got the slave girl who is set free from demonic possession, she knows. Then you've got the Holy Spirit demonic possession, she knows. Then you've got the jailer and his entire household, and and then, by the way, it's likely that Luke is going to stay behind with them, so that you've got a pastor. So, dare I say, you know, it's conceivable to think there's somewhere between 15 and 25 individuals in this newly established church, seemingly just overnight, and so the Lord has done enough great things. I think Paul recognizes this. If I can set a precedent, they are already Roman citizens. They can go about freely in their worship.
Speaker 3:And I look at how, making the example to the people as they are seen like they don't want the authorities that put them in prison, that beat them, to just not watch them walk out, because think about, as they went into prison, they're probably beaten, bruised, bloodied, and now they've been cleaned up in the middle of the night that maybe these guys don't even know about. And so for them to come walking out of prison then to look completely different after this, like miracles happened, to set an even higher precedent for them of this is the God that we serve, this is the power that he has, and so I want you guys to come down and see this versus I heard about it, you know like no, come see what the Lord has done and, with their own eyes, be able to attest to what has happened to them in prison.
Speaker 2:Well, imagine just Philippi as a town or a city itself. Not only do you have a church, but now you have an entire community that's likely ready to be evangelized, Because this would have made you know, in small little Philippi, this would have made headliner news.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I love the uniqueness of the different people God brings up in the passage in chapter 16. We get Lydia, who's with a group of women where there's not enough men to start a synagogue, who are faithful to prayer, who go down to the river. They get evangelized by Paul and Silas, and so this, these believers, the whole household, they go there and and they continue to teach the word to them, equip them. And Lydia is a person we know of, of fine linens, of business. We don't know if she has a husband, we don't know those details. We just know that she is successful in a way and she's leading people in prayer. Then we have a jailer, or most likely like a retired Roman guard now working in Philippi. Who unlikely character again. This guy who just sits at a jail cell all day and makes sure the door doesn't open, like he gets saved. So we have this. There isn't really like a class of people or a certain group that the Lord is moving to reach. He like uses the unlikely all the time, a woman, to start the church. He uses Paul to do that through her. But whose house are they at? Lydia's To start this. They go back there, they encourage the saints before they depart. And what a what a cool thing to see.
Speaker 1:We've talked about that Jesus wants to reach all people and he shows us that in the Bible, that there is no like disqualifying where you're from, what language you speak, any of those things. He calls you. He calls you and he wants you to turn to him and do what Believe and call him the Lord Jesus. What a cool thing to see. I love seeing all the different people. Plus, paul was persecuting Christians and now he's starting churches.
Speaker 1:So we just see God using the unlikely, the people where we would be like that person's not qualified to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Well, yeah, they are, because Jesus qualified them through faith in them and then built them up, encouraged them, strengthened them to go. So that's what we're doing here at Ottawa Bible we want to equip, to send. You. May think I'm unlikely, I don't think I can do that. Well, through Christ you can, because Christ can build you up and strengthen you and call you and send you out. And so we see that and we see that in Philip. We're going to see that throughout the book of Acts, with Paul as he continues to travel and plant churches. What an amazing testimony of all these people, because we can use all of them. We can connect to them in all sorts of ways.
Speaker 2:Well, paul, you know I kind of wanted to close the episode with this, but if we were to just pick up Philippians, chapter one, and read, like the introduction, the first 11 verses, listen to Paul's tender heart for his, his first European church that he planted, says Paul and Timothy bond servants of Christ Jesus to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons. That implies that now you know, some leaders have been trained in order to to lead this church. Verse to grace to you, in peace from God, our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God and all my remembrance of you. No doubt some of those memories would have come from Acts 16, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. I envision the church in Philippi is on fire for the Lord, because Paul hardly rebukes anything in this entire letter, but also when he's talking about their participation from the first day until now. That goes to show that even when they left Philippi, you know, and Lydia was there, the jailer was there, the slave girl was there, man, they kept participating in the gospel from then on forward.
Speaker 2:Verse six I'm confident of this very thing in you, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. For it's only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and then the defense and the confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me, hey guys. By the way, I'm imprisoned again, just like I was with you and you saw what me being released did for the movement of the gospel. Thanks for continuing to support me. So verse eight, for God is my witness how I long for you all.
Speaker 2:With the affection of Christ Jesus, I can't wait to go back to Philippi. In this, I pray that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent in order to be sincere and blameless into the day of Christ, having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. He's writing to Lydia. He's writing to the jailer. He's writing to the, those first households who got saved. This is a beloved church to the apostle Paul.
Speaker 1:What an amazing connection. This is where we start in Acts. We get to start reading things in his letters to see what Paul was praying about, what he was teaching where he was. So it starts to get more exciting as we go through Acts because we get more details because of what Paul's written. So thank you so much for listening to the Be Disciples podcast. Please continue to follow us on Instagram, whether that's our church at Ottawa Bible Church or the Be Disciples podcast. So Instagram, facebook, youtube, check them all out. Thank you for listening. If you're listening to the audio version and you want to check us out on YouTube, please do so. Have a blessed week and we'll see you next week.