Introduction
- People often name Philippians as their favorite book of the Bible, mainly because it speaks so much about joy.
- Paul visited Philippi during his second missionary journey.
- Acts 16:6-15 – Paul arrives in Philippi after receiving the “Macedonian call” and immediately has success teaching the gospel, teaching Lydia and others.
- Acts 16:16-18 – Paul encounters a girl with an unclean spirit, which Paul casts out of the girl.
- Acts 16:19-24 – Paul and Silas are thrown in prison on false charges by the men who were using the girl for fortune-telling.
- Acts 16:25-30 – Paul and Silas were praying and singing when God released their bonds. The Philippian jailer asked what to do to be saved. He evidently knew enough to ask the question.
- Acts 16:31-34 – The Philippian jailer is baptized, along with his entire family.
- Acts 16:35-40 – Paul and Silas were released and escorted out of the city. Paul evidently wanted to make the point that they had done nothing wrong with regard to the gospel. He may have also been trying to make life easier for the disciples he was leaving behind.
Paul’s contact with the Philippians
- Second journey (Acts 16) – 50-53 AD
- Third journey (Acts 20:6) – 54-57 AD
- Letter from prison (Rome, Acts 28) – 61-63 AD
Philippians 1
- Philippians 1:1 – “Saints” just meant “holy ones” and was a common term for Christians. It did not have the special connotations that some apply to the term today.
- New Testament terms for local church leaders
- Presbuteros: translated as elder or presbyter
- Episkopos: translated as overseer or bishop
- Poimen: translated as pastor or shepherd
- How do we know these words all refer to the same men? The words are used interchangeably in Acts 20:17, 28; I Peter 5:1-2.
- New Testament terms for local church leaders