14 “And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one that worshiped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened, to give heed unto the things which 15 were spoken by 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.
16 “And it came to pass, as we were going to the place of prayer, that a certain maid having a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying. 17 The same following after Paul and us cried out, saying, These men are servants of the Most High God, which proclaim unto you the way of salvation. 18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, being sore troubled, turned and said to the spirit, I charge thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out that very hour.
19 “But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the market-place before the rulers, and when they had brought them unto the magistrates, they said, These men, being Jews, 20 do exceedingly trouble our city, and set forth customs which 21 it is not lawful for us to receive, or to observe, being Romans. 22 And the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates rent their garments off them, and commanded to beat 23 them with rods. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep 24 them safely; who, having received such a charge, cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison-house were shaken; and immediately all the 27 doors were opened; and every one’s bands were loosed. And the jailer being roused out of sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword, and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm; for we are all here. And he called for lights, and sprang in, and, trembling for fear, fell 30 down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, 31 Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house. 32 And they spake the Word of the Lord unto him, with all that 33 were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all 34 his, immediately. And he brought them up into his house, and set meat before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his house, having believed in God.”
QUESTIONS.
1. Relate the circumstances that led to Paul’s going to Macedonia.
2. What city did he first visit? What did he do on the Sabbath day?
3. What was the name of one of the women who went out by the riverside to pray, and heard Paul preach? What did the Lord do for her, and with what result? Verse 14.
4. Who were baptized at the same time that she was? What request did she make after her baptism? Verse 15.
5. Who followed the disciples as they went to prayer? By what was she controlled? Verse 16.
6. What did she continually call out after the disciples? Verse 17.
7. After enduring it a long time, what did Paul do? What was the result? Verse 18.
8. What did the girl’s masters then do? Why were they so angry because the unclean spirit had been cast out of the girl? Where did they drag Paul and Silas? Verse 19.
9. What complaint did they make against them? Verses 20, 21.
10. Who joined in with the girl’s masters in their attack on Paul and Silas? How were the magistrates influenced by the mob? Verse 22.
11. How did they treat the apostles? Having beaten them, what did they do? What charge did the jailer receive concerning them? Verse 23.
12. What precautions did he take against their escaping? Verse 24.
13. How did Paul and Silas feel after their harsh, unjust treatment? What did they do? How heartily did they sing? What time of the night was it? V. 25.
14. What suddenly took place as they prayed and sang? What effect did the earthquake have? What took place that could not have been caused by any ordinary earthquake? Verse 26.
15. What did the jailer attempt to do on awakening? Why? Verse 27.
16. How was he prevented from carrying this plan into effect? Verse 28.
17. What did the jailer then do? Verse 29.
18. What did he say to Paul and Silas? Verse 30.
19. What was their reply? Verse 31.
20. What did they then speak unto him? Was it to the jailer alone that they spoke? Verse 32.
21. What did he immediately do for them? How did he at once show his belief in the Lord Jesus Christ? Who else believed besides the jailer himself? What is the proof? Verse 33.
22. What did he further do for Paul and Silas? What was his state of mind? What was the cause of the joy that filled the household? Verse 34.
NOTES AND QUESTIONS.
1. Who was it that prompted the damsel to cry out after Paul?
2. What fault could be found with the words that she uttered?
3. Why then should Paul feel grieved over them?
4. Is it any credit to have the devil speak well of God’s work and workers?
5. What positive proof can you give that no infants were baptized in the jailer’s household?
