"CONVERSIONS IN THE BOOK OF ACTS" Two Households At Philippi (16:6-34) by Mark Copeland

 

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"CONVERSIONS IN THE BOOK OF ACTS"

Two Households At Philippi (16:6-34)

INTRODUCTION

1. With "The Conversion Of Cornelius", we were introduced to an event that was not uncommon in the early church...
1. A situation where an entire family, or household, was converted
2. We have three similar cases recorded in Acts
1. The conversion of Lydia and her household - Ac 16:15
2. The conversion of the Philippian jailer and his household - Ac 16:33-34
3. The conversion of Crispus and his household - Ac 18:8
2. Such households likely consisted of both family and servants...
1. Cornelius sent two of his household servants to Peter - Ac 10:7
2. He had gathered his family as well as friends to hear Peter - Ac 10:24,33
-- Some wonder whether such families included infants as well, and if so, were they were baptized too
3. As the gospel spread to Europe, the first two examples of conversion involved "Two Households At Philippi"
1. With the conversion of Lydia - Ac 16:11-15
2. With the conversion of the Philippian Jailer - Ac 16:25-40

[As we continue our study in the book of Acts, we shall examine both of these examples in this lesson, to glean whatever we can about conversion, including the issue of "infant baptism".

Let's first consider...]

1. THE CONVERSION OF LYDIA AND HER HOUSEHOLD
1. PRECIPITATED BY "THE MACEDONIAN CALL"...
1. Paul and his travel companions had been making their way through modern day Turkey, with the Spirit limiting their options - Ac 16:6-8
2. Paul has a vision of a man of Macedonian pleading, "Come over to Macedonia and help us" - Ac 16:9
3. Taking the vision as a sign that the Lord wanted them to go there, they travel to Philippi (a chief city of Macedonia) - Ac 16:10-12
2. LYDIA AND HER HOUSEHOLD ARE BAPTIZED...
1. Paul and his companions go down to the riverside on the Sabbath - Ac 16:13
1. It was Paul's custom to find a synagogue and on the Sabbath to reason with Jews about Christ - cf. Ac 17:1-3
2. Evidently there were not that many Jews in Philippi, and no synagogue
3. But at least there were some women who met at the river to pray
2. Paul speaks to them, and Lydia heeded his word - Ac 16:14
1. She was evidently a successful business woman, yet one who worshipped God
1. Her name is Greek, perhaps a convert to Judaism
2. From Thyatira, she was seller of purple dye
2. The Lord "opened her heart" to heed the things spoken by Paul
1. In what way the Lord opened her heart is not stated
2. But she had "heard" what Paul was speaking (cf. Ac 16:13c,14a), and we know that "faith comes by hearing the word of God" - Ro 10:17
3. Through the gospel, then, one's heart can be opened to be receptive
3. She was willing "to heed the things spoken by Paul"
1. I.e., to do or obey whatever Paul had said
2. We can infer from what follows that it included baptism
3. Lydia and her household are baptized - Ac 16:15
3. SOME OBSERVATIONS...
1. Once again we see things gleaned from earlier examples of conversion
1. Very religious people are being receptive to the gospel - Ac 2,3,8,9,10
2. Baptism occurs immediately, after hearing just one lesson - Ac 2,8,10
2. In begging Paul and his companions to stay with her, she asks "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord..."
1. What evidence was there to determine whether she was faithful?
2. At the very least, there was her willingness to be baptized!
3. Did her "household" include infants?
1. Proponents of infant baptism often appeal to the example of a "household" being baptized as evidence of infant baptism in the early church
2. They say it is plausible to assume infants were present, but is that the case here?
1. Lydia was a businesswoman, with no mention of a husband
2. She was from Thyatira, possibly in Philippi only on business (though she did have a home)
3. We can just as easily assume that her household was made up of servants, or at the least, children old enough to travel
-- The burden of proof rests upon those seeking to support infant baptism, and the evidence in this case simply isn't there

[From the example of one who was evidently a truth-seeker, we now turn to the conversion of one who appears to have "stumbled" onto the gospel...]

2. THE CONVERSION OF THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER AND HIS HOUSEHOLD
1. PRECIPITATED BY THE ARREST OF PAUL AND SILAS...
1. Paul exorcises a spirit of divination from a slave girl - Ac 16:16-18
2. Her masters have Paul and Silas beaten and imprisoned - Ac 16:19-24
2. THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER AND HIS HOUSEHOLD ARE BAPTIZED...
1. Events leading to the jailer's conversion - Ac 16:25-29
1. Paul and Silas are singing in prison at midnight, with others listening
2. An earthquake shakes loose the doors and everyone's chains
3. The jailer, fearing the prisoners escaped, is about to commit suicide
4. He is stopped by Paul, who reassures him that all the prisoners are present
5. Trembling, he falls down before Paul and Silas
2. The conversion of the jailer and his household - Ac 16:30-34
1. He asks, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved"
2. Paul responds, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household"
3. Paul then proceeds to speak the word of the Lord to him and those in his house
4. In the same hour of the night, the jailer washes the stripes of Paul and Silas, and is baptized along with all his family
5. He then brings Paul and Silas into his home, feeds them, and rejoices that he and his family have believed in God
3. SOME OBSERVATIONS...
1. This example of conversion does not teach salvation by "faith only"
1. It is common for some people to simply note verses 30-31
1. They offer this verse as containing the whole plan of salvation
2. Denying therefore the necessity of baptism
2. Of course, this verse says nothing about repentance, confessing Jesus, etc., which the Bible requires elsewhere - cf. Ac 3:19; 17:30; Ro 10:9-10
3. The context must be taken into consideration
1. Salvation requires faith, so it is natural that would be the first thing to tell someone who asks "What must I do to be saved?"
2. Without faith, one is not a suitable subject for baptism - cf. Ac 8:36-37
3. Having established the necessity of faith, Paul proceeded to speak "the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house." - Ac 16:32
1. Though not mentioned, would this not have included the need to repent?
2. What is mentioned, though, is that they were baptized immediately!
-- Clearly the "word of the Lord" included baptism - Mk 16:16
4. It is not until after he and his family were baptized, that Luke describes them as "having believed in God with all his household" - Ac 16:34
4. Taken out of context, one might use verses 30-31 to teach salvation does not involve baptism, but in the context it certainly appears to play a significant role!
2. This example of conversion reveals something about the "purpose" of baptism
1. Contrary to the doctrine of many churches, the purpose of baptism is not to make a public profession of one's faith
2. As we saw in the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch, baptism can occur when there is only the baptizer and the baptizee - Ac 8:36-38
3. In this case, a family is baptized in the wee hours of the morning (after midnight, in the same hour) - Ac 16:25,33
4. The purpose of baptism is hinted at by the fact...
1. It was done immediately, even in the pre-dawn hour
2. It was done whether in private or public
5. This example of conversion is consistent with the purpose expressed...
1. By Peter ("for the remission of sins") - Ac 2:36
2. By Ananias ("wash away your sins") - Ac 22:16
-- As such, you don't delay, and it doesn't matter if done in private!
3. This example of conversion provides no evidence of infant baptism
1. Again, some appeal to the mention of "household" to infer infants were included in the baptism
2. Yet the text states that:
1. Paul "spoke the word of the Lord...to all who were in his house", implying that all were able to listen and understand what was said - Ac 16:32
2. The jailer rejoiced, "having believed in God with all his household"; i.e., everyone believed, implying the ability of all to believe what they heard - Ac 16:34
3. There is nothing here to preclude what we have already concluded as necessary requirements to be a subject qualified for baptism:
1. Repentance - Ac 2:38
2. Whole-hearted faith - Ac 8:37
-- Both of which infants are incapable

CONCLUSION

1. With the conversion of "Two Households At Philippi", a wonderful church was born...
1. The church at Philippi, to which the epistle to the Philippians was written
2. A congregation that supported the apostle Paul and the preaching of the gospel throughout Macedonia and into Achaia - Php 1:3-5; 4:15-16
3. A congregation that was mindful of Paul even toward the end of his life, as he awaited trial in Rome - Php 4:10,14,17-18
-- Never underestimate the effect of the gospel in the life of a family!
2. The conversion of "Two Households At Philippi" are illustrative of what Jesus taught in two parables...
1. "The Hidden Treasure" (Mt 13:44) depicts one who stumbles onto the truth; the Philippian jailer was such a person
2. "The Pearl Of Great Price" (Mt 13:45-46) depicts one who is searching for the truth; Lydia of Thyatira was certainly seeking to please God
-- What is important to note is that the Lord knew such people existed at Philippi (cf. the "Macedonian Call"), and saw to it that they had an opportunity to hear the gospel

What kind of person are you? Whether you are one who has been on a life-long search for truth, or have simply stumbled across the gospel, are you willing to allow God to open your heart through the gospel and heed the word of the Lord?

Only God knows, but perhaps you will save not only yourself, but your whole family as well...

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2022