Acts 16

This chapter really reminds that Paul and Silas and the other disciples of the early church were just men. They were doing their best to spread the Gospel, but they were just men. Unlike Jesus, who was perfect, they were copies that still had some imperfections to be worked out. We're the same way today.

We've looked in previous chapters at the dangers of worshipping a man, and this chapter helps keep us grounded in that reality by reminding us that Paul is just a man. No doubt he was a great man of faith and one that I think I would love to meet, but just a man. At the very opening of the passage he has Timothy circumcised. Why?

Paul is out spreading the news of the decision of the church regarding circumcision. He's argued successfully that it's not a requirement for salvation, and he's spreading that message. So why does he have Timothy circumcised? Paul certainly knows without a doubt that it won't make any difference to God, and it seems obvious from the passage that he encouraged that only because of the Jews living in the area. This tells us that Paul was socially conscious. He wanted Timothy to "fit-in" with the society.

Later, in the epistles, Paul will talk about being in the world but not of it and he'll talk about being aliens and strangers in this land, but I think this passage will remind us that Paul was still conscious of the society and he did not shun their conventions, practices, or traditions unless they weren't completely against God. He didn't want to be embarrassed any more than you or I, and to be accepted socially is the first step in being able to spread the Gospel.

Next, Paul gets frustrated with a woman in Philippi. She's able to tell the future because of a spirit, and she's walking around with Paul and his group telling everyone that they are messengers of God. For some reason this frustrated Paul, and he turned and cast the spirit out. Why?

Just like you and I, Paul got annoyed with the woman. The scripture doesn't tell us the details, so I can only imagine what was really on going for those few days, but do you always want to be recognized around town as that guy that preaches the Gospel? Do you always want to be "the servant of God?" Of course you do, because you've gone to church all of your life and you know that's what you're supposed to say. The reality of it is that sometimes we just want to be alone to be ourselves. I think that's part of what Paul was feeling. And I wonder too if there might have been a little sarcasm or condescension in her voice when she spoke of Paul. Maybe she implied with her tone that being a servant of God was not a good thing. That would definitely frustrate Paul as well. Either way, we're reminded again that he's human.

Finally, after the jail is cracked open, the jailer is saved, and the magistrate sends word to release Paul and Silas (obviously before cell phones and email since the magistrate had no idea that God had already taken care of that detail), Paul gets a little uppity. Just like when you or I feel slighted and we have a chance to do a little "told you so" or a chance to rub the bullies nose in the fact that he's "busted," Paul seems to have responded similarly. When the magistrate sent word to free Paul and Silas, Paul immediately responded by saying, "No way! I'm not going to let them get away with brushing us under the rug. They were wrong, and I'm going to make sure that they have to admit it by walking us out of town themselves." That's probably not a response that we would teach in Sunday School, but it's a perfectly normal human reaction.

The builders of the early church were truly amazing men, but they were just men. Let's not forget that.