Summer Devotional:
​No Other Name - A Devotional on the Book of Acts

Day 33 – July 9th, 2021
Read Acts 16:16-40

Helpful Background
Paul experienced some unjustified, rough treatment in the city. He was arrested, beaten and imprisoned without a trial or legal justification. God chose to intervene in an amazing way while Paul was in prison. (After the unjustified public beating, not before or during! The ways of God are beyond our understanding!) Paul and his companions demonstrated an amazing trust in God, a willingness to suffer for the Gospel, and a sense of His presence.  Even after all of the suffering that they had experienced, they sang praises and prayed while in chains, in pain from a bad beating, and while in jail!
 
When the jailor discovered the doors of the prison wide open, he reacted strongly by taking actions to kill himself.  In the Roman Empire, if one in charge of prisoners somehow “let” those prisoners escape, the penalty was often death. Paul quickly intervened, most likely saving the man’s life prior to helping him find salvation in Jesus for his soul. This event led to the dramatic conversion of the jailor and others from his household, along with those Jews who had believed, formed a solid “starter Church” that grew from that point.  Paul left Philippi shortly after being released from an exciting time in jail.  He left the young church after only a short time with them.  The Christians that stayed in Philippi most likely continued to live in a hostile environment.

Questions - In the book of Acts, the actions of the Holy Spirit are clear and evident at the beginning of the book. But then the Holy Spirit begins to take a more secondary role, more behind the scenes, but still empowers the believers. How is this encouraging about the God we serve? How is this our reality today? How can we still live life in Christ and learn to know the promptings of the Holy Spirit?

Grab your journal or use the notes section on your phone.
Respond to the Scripture reading with your thoughts, questions, and/or prayer response to today’s Bible verses.​

For more background information & study questions on the Book of Acts, check out Brian Ralston's handouts here.