Paul's Journey  to Philippi - Chapter 1

There is much to be learned from the Apostle Paul’s presentation of the glorious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. During his second missionary trip, which marked the introduction of the gospel to European soil, Paul and company faced many obstacles that could not only have hindered the spread of the good news, but in fact, prevented it’s reception altogether. One truly remarkable aspect of Paul’s ministry, and something we would do well to imitate, is that though he was free from all men, he made himself servant unto all. He did this with one burning desire in mind and heart. He made himself servant unto all, that he “might by all means save some.”

For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. I Corinthians 9:19-22

As we follow Paul while he answers, “The Macedonian Call,” we will begin to see just “what manner of entering in,” (1Thess. 1:9) he had to each place he preached the gospel. In so doing we will see that indeed, he was “made all things to all men.”

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Upon entering Philippi, the apostle spent a few days getting a feel for the place, and gathering information about the various activities going on there.

And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. Acts 16:12:

This is when he learned of those gathering for prayer by the riverside.

And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. Acts 16:13:

What is remarkable here is that Paul spoke unto the women that were there. In fact, there is no mention of men at all. This is indeed odd considering the culture of the time and the separation of males and females in the things of worship. Moreover, in the vision by which Paul was called to Macedonia to preach the gospel, the Scriptures clearly indicate that it was a ,i>man whom Paul saw in a vision.

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 16:9-10

Paul’s speaking unto the women who were there by the riverside, in many ways resembles the time our Lord spoke unto the “woman at the well.” Recall if you will, that the woman at the well immediately went and brought others to the Lord.

The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?

The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?Then they went out of the city, and came unto him. John 4:25-30

In like manner, Lydia brought her household to hear the message of salvation and they too, were baptized.

And 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

After a few more days and as a result of false accusations, Paul and Silas were openly beaten and thrown into jail by the magistrates.

And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. (Acts 16:19-22)

Recall that as a Roman citizen whose rights had been violated, Paul could have gotten those magistrates into serious trouble. Up until this point, however, he had yet to tell those who had falsely accused him that he was a citizen of Rome. The results of his imprisonment may give us the reason as to why.

And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. (Acts 16:23,24)

Until now, at least, it would appear that Paul and Silas had made some kind of mistake as to their “manner of entering in.” After all, how many missionaries today would claim that it was God’s will for them to be openly beaten and wrongfully sent to prison? Wouldn’t they demand justice and implore God to get them out of prison because they were falsely accused? Let us see how Paul and Silas handled the predicament they now faced.

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. Acts 16:25:

That’s not exactly the type of reaction one would expect is it? Paul and Silas, however, were sent there for a purpose. And now, we’ll see part of that purpose about to be fulfilled.

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.And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. Acts 16:26-34

Here we see the phenomenal way in which this jailer and his household heard the word of the Lord. Though it is not specifically recorded in Scripture, one couldn’t be faulted for wondering if this was indeed the man that Paul saw by revelation in the vision he had while in Troas. Soon after this incident, Paul and company left Philippi. Their work here in Philippi, for the time being at least, was nearly finished.

And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. Acts 16:35-37

This incident with the magistrates is simply another witness to the fact that these men were special. They were to be reckoned with, not simply dismissed as a minor nuisance and forgotten. In fact, upon hearing that these men were Roman citizens, the magistrates now feared these prisoners, as well they should have, considering the punishment they could have faced for having beaten and jailed uncondemned Roman citizens. Recall, if you will, that such violations of Roman citizens rights were considered an attack on the Emperor himself and dealt with by capital punishment.

And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.

Just picture this scene. Here were the town magistrates and dignitaries begging Paul and Silas for forgiveness and asking them, oh so kindly, to leave their city. This was a far cry from the way they were treated just the day before, and all because they found out that they were Roman citizens.

And they 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 16:38-40

One would think that after being beaten and spending a night in jail, the apostle would be in a hurry to get out of town. This, after a midnight praise and worship service, followed by an earthquake, then some preaching and a water baptism service, then some more teaching which appears to last all night, finally dealing with the magistrates first thing in the morning. Paul, however, entered the house of Lydia to take care of those he had led to Christ. Just think of those new converts there at Philippi. Imagine their thoughts knowing that the ones who had brought them this “good news” had been beaten and jailed. That kind of information might dampen ones enthusiasm for sharing this same “good news” with others. Picture, if you will this sweet fellowship there in Lydia’s home. How comforting it must have been to those brethren there in Philippi. As is recorded in Paul’s epistle to the Church at Philippi, these same brethren held a special place in the apostle’s heart.

Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Phil 1:1-6

Paul goes on to call these brethren “his joy and crown.”

Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. Phil 4:1:

For in the beginning of this trip, they alone stood with the apostle in the furtherance of the gospel message.

Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Phil 4:15-16

For this, he was truly thankful.

Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Phil 4:17-20

Clearly, one can see “what manner of entering in” (1Thess. 1:9) the apostle Paul had with those he had lead to Christ, many years before in Philippi. His manner of entering “by all means” played a vital role in their continued joint effort in the preaching of the gospel message for the many years that followed. Near the end of his life, Paul writes the following concerning those beloved brethren at Philippi.

Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. Phil 1:7,8

Indeed, God is his record of how greatly he longed after all of those brethren in the bowels of Jesus Christ. What love, compassion and thankfulness does the apostle record! “Ye are all partakers of my grace,” said Paul. Truly, these brethren at Philippi held a special place in the apostle’s heart.Paul goes on to call these brethren “his joy and crown.”

© Copyright 2002 Rev. Todd W. Pekel