14. “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.”
Though Paul’s visit to Thyatira was outwardly characterized by great weakness (sitting outside the city, preaching to the women who had assembled to pray), he was faithful in “that which is least.” God blessed the Apostle’s words to the heart of Lydia, and, from that seemingly insignificant beginning, a mighty work began to unfold, and thus Paul was found “faithful in that which is . . . much” (Luke 16:1010He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. (Luke 16:10)).
May each believer—young and old—be faithful in the special ministry the Lord desires each one to carry out for Himself!
15. “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.”
Lydia’s faith was personal (as it must be for each one). She could not save her family, but she did, by faith, place them on the same ground as she, in reality, occupied—dead to this world and risen with Christ. Each one in her house would have to make that outward position of blessing good by personal faith in Christ. (Baptism does not impart eternal life.)
Lydia then learned the joy of fellowship with the “apostles’ doctrine.” She invited Paul and his company into her house. The Apostle’s presence (a picture of the blessings the truth of God brings to believers) was based on her walk (faithful) and her desire for the truth taught by Paul (“she constrained us”).
May we, like dear Lydia, desire that our lives, families, and, indeed, all that is ours be guided and blessed by the divine principles of the “apostles’ doctrine.”
16. “And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.”
Another has said that prayer is a mighty engine. The enemy well knows the power of prayer and will use any means at his disposal to disrupt it, seeking to stop a true work of God. As the “angel of light,” Satan uses guile (“a certain damsel possessed”) rather than violence to hinder this particular work.
17. “The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation.”
Using partial truth, the enemy attacks the truth by seeking to associate with and confuse it. The gospel that Paul preached (the gospel of the grace of God) does not reveal the “most High God”—a revelation suited to the gospel of the kingdom and the millennium.
Paul’s gospel shows to man Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God who reveals God as Father (John 20:1717Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17)). Those who have been “redeemed with the precious blood of Christ,” call God, by the Spirit, “Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:1515For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:15); Gal. 4:66And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6)). Let us preach the gospel in truth, simplicity and clarity!
18. “And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. ”
The enemy doesn’t give up, but he must ever give in to the infinite power of the name of Jesus Christ. What preciousness, power and value are in His name!
19. “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.”
The owners of this poor girl had but one use for her—to make financial gain of her demonic bondage. They would tolerate Paul and his gospel only so long as it allowed them to use her to gain riches.
When she was truly set free (John 8:3636If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)), they seek to imprison Paul, having no use for the gospel.
20. “And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city.”
What hypocrisy! Those who thought nothing of enslaving and troubling the very soul of a poor, helpless girl dare to accuse those who brought her peace and liberty through the name of Jesus. Believers ought never to expect more uprightness from the world than was shown to our blessed Lord. His name will bring reproach in the measure we who bear it are used to bring blessing to lost souls.
21. “And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.”
How subtle is the enemy! Christian liberty in Christ has nothing to do with the bondage of Judaism. But the men, in order to get rid of that influence which had denied them part, at least, of their ill-gotten gains, set the Jews and their religious customs at odds with imperial Rome and its pagan traditions.
The gospel of the grace of God through Jesus Christ sets the soul free from both systems. How good if believers today would live in the full enjoyment of the “liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.”
22. “And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.”
The multitude, so proud of their rights and freedoms as Roman citizens, rise up together, united against those who brought them the message of true freedom. The servants of the Lord are subjected to humiliation (“rent off their clothes”) and suffering (“commanded to beat them”).
Paul and Barnabas, who were being so cruelly and unrighteously treated, are not recorded as uttering one word in their own defense or in an attempt to escape suffering for Christ. Beautiful submission!
23. “And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely.”
Having vented the rage Satan had inspired in them against the apostles, the people now seek to insure that their preaching is also stopped.
24. “Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.”
Man sought to restrain the truth. God was about to show the utter futility of man’s hatred of the gospel.
Ed.