Notes for a sermon preached at the Marbury Church of God on May 20, 2007. Today’s readings include the following text:

16:16 And when we were going to the place of prayer, we came across a girl with a spirit which gave knowledge of the future, whose masters made great profit from her power.
16:17 She came after Paul and us, crying out and saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who are giving you news of the way of salvation.”
16:18 And this she did on a number of days. But Paul was greatly troubled and, turning, said to the spirit, “I give you orders in the name of Jesus Christ, to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
16:19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they took Paul and Silas, pulling them into the market-place before the rulers;
16:20 And when they had taken them before the authorities, they said, “These men, who are Jews, are greatly troubling our town;
16:21 Teaching rules of living which it is not right for us to have or to keep, being Romans.”
16:22 And the people made an attack on them all together: and the authorities took their clothing off them, and gave orders for them to be whipped.
16:23 And when they had given them a great number of blows, they put them in prison, giving orders to the keeper of the prison to keep them safely:
16:24 And he, having such orders, put them into the inner prison with chains on their feet.
16:25 But about the middle of the night, Paul and Silas were making prayers and songs to God in the hearing of the prisoners;
16:26 And suddenly there was an earth-shock, so that the base of the prison was moved: and all the doors came open, and everyone’s chains came off.
16:27 And the keeper, coming out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, took his sword and was about to put himself to death, fearing that the prisoners had got away.
16:28 But Paul said in a loud voice, Do yourself no damage, for we are all here.
16:29 And he sent for lights and came rushing in and, shaking with fear, went down on his face before Paul and Silas,
16:30 And took them out and said, Sirs, what have I to do to get salvation?
16:31 And they said, Have faith in the Lord Jesus, and you and your family will have salvation.
16:32 And they gave the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
16:33 And that same hour of the night, he took them, and when he had given attention to their wounds, he and all his family had baptism straight away.
16:34 And he took them into his house and gave them food, and he was full of joy, having faith in God with all his family.
Acts 16:16-34 [+/-]Acts 16:16-34 [16]As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. [17]She followed Paul and us, crying out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." [18]And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour. [19]But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. [20]And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, "These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. [21]They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice." [22]The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. [23]And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. [24]Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. [25]About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, [26]and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. [27]When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. [28]But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." [29]And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. [30]Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" [31]And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." [32]And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. [33]And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. [34]Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. (ESV)
BBE

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