Paul the Apostle, in his First Epistle to the Corinthians wrote: “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.” God saves, it seems, a lot of “common people.”

Maybe us “average as vanilla” folks more easily realize we are a bunch of “nobodies,” needing Jesus as Saviour! I’ve never had trouble accepting: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

And yet, when Luke described one group of people, a nucleus of whom had been born-again … he told us in his divinely inspired Travelogue: “The brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto BEREA: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.” (Acts 17:10) Berea being a city, composed mostly gentiles, but with a small Jewish population as well.

And for some Spirit Appointed Reason … Luke continues: “These were MORE NOBLE than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

Here are some extremely “noble” souls who were saved, who submitted to the Grace and Truth of God! Luke reports: “Many of them believed.” That’s atypical! Unusual!

And that adjective “noble” translates the Greek word “eugenes.” A blend meaning “good” (in Greek “eu”) and “genes” (from “ginomai” a verb meaning “to come into being”) … thus “well born,” in a sense anyway. Frankly, they had “good genes!”

Not God hating rebels, as many had been on this second journey. Yes, the Lord can (and does) save some decent folks!

And here He has done so!

But look at what made them so noble, how they proved that quality in Luke’s eyes. “They searched the Scriptures daily!”

The verb is “anakrino,” meaning “examined! They loved God’s Word, studied it diligently! And with “anakrino” here being framed as a “present tense” verb, they examined God’s Word habitually, Luke even adds “daily!”

Is anyone reading here who desires that kind of nobility! Who is that spiritually well-born? Who hungers for God’s Writings (that noun “Scripture”) like that, to that degree?

Remember, “All SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16

To all you of the nobility (in Christ Jesus) … invest some time today (as you hopefully do every day) in the precious Word of God!

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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In Acts 16 two Preachers (namely Paul and Silas) have been arrested, yet falsely so. In the process they were beaten (with “many stripes”), their clothes having been ripped off their bodies!

Then the men were “cast” (in Greek “ballo,” meaning thrown, flung, thrust) into the jail, “maximum security.” (Into the “inner prison,” our beautiful King James Version says).

What pain and suffering!

What humiliation!

Their jailor even went further, “making their feet fast in the stocks.” Locked into one position, therefore cramping (for hours) now as well as bleeding!

And they stayed that way until the “earthquake,” another story indeed, not germane to today’s Lesson.

But the devilish persecution and hatred of Paul’s party had reached such a feverish pitch, the missionaries had to depart from their beloved Philippi. Yet plenty of brethren (and some sisters in Christ as well) remained behind in that city, and continued worshipping God in that little (but now well-known) Church.

In fact, these Preachers were officially commanded to leave town! The city fathers insistently “desired them to depart out of the city.”

Now comes today’s verse: “And they (Paul and Silas) went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they COMFORTED them, and departed.” Acts 16:40

Watch one verb here, “comforted.”

It’s not that the Christians (that new-to-the-faith core of believers) in Lydia’s house “comforted” Paul and his team. It’s the reverse, the very opposite! Paul (and at least Silas, but maybe Timothy too) comforted them!

We might have thought that the Church would have comforted the suffering missionaries at that point!

“Comforted” … the Greek here is “parakaleo,” and clearly carries the idea of exhorting, encouraging, and certainly strengthening!

These men with sore (maybe even still oozing blood) stripes on their backs, with torn clothes, with humiliated egos … COMFORTING a whole Church family!

In English that verb, “to comfort,” derives from the Latin, meaning “with courage, with fortitude, with stamina.” (Simply spelled con or com + fortis … I wish Miss Smith, my High School Latin teacher were still alive and could read this Lesson!)

What should have been the weaker group is here comforting what should probably have been the stronger group!

And so it goes in much of Christian life, of Christian service!

Folks, you seasoned believers, even when you are “down” … you will often need to look around, find some weaker Christian and go “strengthen, edify, uplift” him or her!

Paul often did!

In fact, he’s the one who later wrote: “Exhort (parakaleo) one another daily,” framing the sentence not as a suggestion, but a stark command, an imperative mood verb! (Hebrews 3:13)

Oh yes! There may be some times when you as a Christian feel you need some comfort … but instead you in reality will need to “give some comfort!”

May we become so mature in Christ, that such a ministry will be no problem! Be sensitive today … you may come across a fellow believer who needs a few words of comfort, encouragement, help. Please GIVE SUCH GLADLY … no matter how you feel!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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To use our old-fashioned Bible terminology, Acts chapter 16 presents us with the stories of two people being “saved.”

Let me show you want I mean.

First, as Paul and Silas and Timothy and even Luke minister (preaching the Word) unto the Lord in the City of Philippi … “A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: WHOSE HEART THE LORD OPENED, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.” Acts 16:14-15

Watch the wording, “whose heart the Lord opened.” That means, in my estimation, she was born-again!

The other salvation story involved a Philippian jailor. In Luke’s divinely inspired terminology: “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.” Acts 16:25-32

Two undoubtedly true accounts of people trusting our Lord Jesus Christ! Their very names being written down in Heaven! (As per Luke 10:20.)

Now … watch the interesting differences in the Holy Spirit’s “operation” in these two souls.

Here’s a profound Lesson in soul-winning …

The first story involved a woman, the second a man!

The first story emphasizes God’s Part in salvation … “the Lord opening her heart!” The second story focuses on man’s part, “believing unto salvation!” It takes both!

The first story is of someone wealthy, a seller of purple, a top dollar commodity! The second story is of a common, poor man who was merely a “pawn” for the Roman government!

The first salvation depiction was a rather quiet scene! Down by the riverside, peaceful communication, the Holy Spirit working in His often subdued manner, with “a still quiet voice.” The second … loud and boisterous (an earthquake, prison bars dislodged), even with a man threatening suicide!

In Lydia’s case, the soul-winners went to her. In the jailor’s case, he came running to the soul sinners!

Yet, with all these differences, and there may be more than I’ve noticed …

The same God!

The same Holy Spirit!

The same plan of salvation!

The same preachers, in fact!

I’d even say the same level of conviction!

And of course, the same Saviour! (There is no other Way!)

Wow!

Yes indeed … “He that winneth souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30, yet with our great God … He cannot be limited, restricted … concerning HOW He brings a man (or woman) to Christ!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

When YOU were saved, was it a quiet experience or a loud one? Either answer can be proper … but do be sure you have an answer!

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Paul and his company are on the second of his several missionary tours, journeys … preaching God’s Word. He had originally intended to revisit the Churches established during his first evangelistic trip, Acts 15:36 … “Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.”

But God miraculously intervened, forbidding them to travel further eastward! Acts 16:6-7 … “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were FORBIDDEN of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia. After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit SUFFERED THEM NOT.”

Wow!

(That dramatic and divine “change of direction” Order came in the form of a dream, a vision! Still to this day called the “Macedonian Vision.”)

Concerning which our Text today plays a key role. “And THEY passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately WE endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.” Acts 16:8-10

Watch those pronouns, please.

Scripture here changes from the third person (“they”) to the first person (“we”), indicating that LUKE (the author of Acts, under Holy Spirit inspiration) has now joined the team. He is personally accompanying Paul and Silas and Timothy!

Hereafter we have eye-witness testimony!

And Luke apparently stays with Paul for much of his remaining ministry! Both Colossians 4:14 and 2 Timothy 4:11 mention him as being with Paul in the later years of the great Apostle’s life.

Luke builds his Record (the Book of Acts) on meticulous research and many interviews with first hand sources … likely talking with Mary herself as he built his “Virgin Birth” narratives … BUT THEN (IN TODAY’S BIBLE TEXT) HE PERSONALLY JOINS THE PREACHERS, THE CHARACTERS IN HIS HISTORICAL STORY, AND TRAVELS WITH THEM SIDE BY SIDE!

Oh, the importance of the little pronouns in the Bible’s great Narratives!

“THEY” became “WE” … in a short two verse span! Then it’s like we are there too! Via an “I saw it” account!

Acts 16:8-10 … look at it again. “And THEY passing by Mysia came down to Troas.” Then … “Immediately WE endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.”

The Bible, what a precise Book!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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On that now famous “First Missionary Journey” Paul had a young man accompany his team … John Mark by name … only to be disappointed when his youthful student “quit” mid trip! (Acts 13:13 … “Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John DEPARTING FROM THEM returned to Jerusalem.”)

Paul never enjoyed people who lacked faithfulness! (Years later John Mark somehow redeemed himself in the eyes of Paul, thankfully.)

In fact, Paul refused to take this unstable young man (John Mark) along as the “Second Missionary Journey” began. (Acts 15:38 … “Paul thought NOT GOOD to take him, with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.”)

Yet, watch this please. It’s important …

But, as God would have it, on that Second Journey Paul meet another young man, an outstanding believer it appears, named Timothy! (Acts 16:1 … “Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named TIMOTHEUS, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek.”)

And things just “clicked” in Paul’s heart. Comradery at first sight! The Lord gave Paul a traveling companion who would never quit! As Acts 16:3 reports: “Him (Timothy) would Paul have to go forth with him.”

Thus began a relationship (which became almost a partnership) that lasted for the rest of Paul’s life! To the point that the older Preacher often called the younger Preacher “my son.” (2 Timothy 2:1 … “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”)

What’s the point of this, of today’s Lesson?

Personalities!

They seem to matter, even in God’s Work!

Some Christians can work with certain types of brothers or sisters in Christ … much better than they can with other types of saints.

Thus, Peter and John often were paired. (One loud, the other relatively quiet!)

Elijah and Elisha fit that same mold!

Even Jesus usually sent out His men “two by two.”

Paul and John Mark (and apparently Barnabas as well) could have never continued in harmonious service for the Lord. Though all three (separately at times) did great things for Jesus’ Sake!

I am writing today to some Preacher (or other Christian worker) who has recently had to “part ways” with a beloved servant of the Lord … who for some reason has lapsed a bit. (Or maybe has just forsaken you!)

Doctrine may be at the heart of the split, or Church policy … but often personality plays a role, at least that’s my observation.

James and John, “sons of thunder” Jesus called them! That’s strong personality, folks!

If you are “hurt” today over some recent misunderstanding … stay strong, stay faithful!

God just may give you, as He did Paul, a substitute brother in Christ … who will fulfil (and more) whatever lack you are suffering!

John Mark … gone.

Timothy … on the scene!

To God be the Glory!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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