Acts 16:19-28
Summary for Acts 16:19-21: 16:19-21 a As in the ministry of Jesus, sometimes the Good News threatened established commercial interests (see also 19:25-27 b; Mark 5:1-20 c). The slave girl’s exploiters viciously attacked the missionaries and dragged them before the authorities as criminals, blamed them for fomenting a disturbance, resorted to racial bias (these Jews), and appealed to the Philippians’ pride (us Romans; the Philippians prided themselves on being Roman citizens of a Roman colony).• customs that are illegal: By law, Jews were not permitted to make converts of Romans.
Summary for Acts 16:22-24: 16:22-24 d All reasonable security measures were taken to ensure that Paul and Silas didn’t escape after they had been stripped and beaten with wooden rods (see 22:24-26 e; 2 Cor 6:5 f; 11:23-25 g). As at Christ’s tomb (Matt 27:65 h), however, human effort did not prevent divine intervention.
16:25 i Paul and Silas, like the persecuted apostles in Jerusalem, were joyful, “rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus” (5:41 j).
16:26 k The massive earthquake is reminiscent of the great earthquake at Jesus’ resurrection (Matt 28:2-3 l).
Summary for Acts 16:27-36: 16:27-36 m Luke’s third portrait in Philippi is of the Philippian jailer who, shaken by what had happened, responded in faith when challenged to accept the Lord Jesus and be saved. He was baptized with his household and rejoiced in his newfound faith as he reached out with hospitality to the preachers. 16:27 n The Roman jailer clearly knew that his life could be forfeited if the prisoners for whom he was responsible escaped. This was standard practice (12:19 o; 27:42 p; cp. Code of Justinian 9.4.4).
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