12th Sep 26 | 04:00
Daily Study
Godly behaviour
Acts 16 - Series 04/Episode 36 - Fri 21st Aug 2026 - Godly behaviour - Acts 16:16-40 - EXPERIENCES AT PHILIPPI - Matthew 05:43-45
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Acts 16:26-28 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 chains were loosed. (27) And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. (28) But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here."
The jailor was about to kill himself. Paul could have thought that this was God's retribution for this man, who had no consideration for Silas and him. No. This was not Paul's behaviour. Leviticus 19:18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
The Lord Jesus gave us the interpretation of this teaching. Matthew 5:43-45 "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' (44) But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, (45) that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. This is the response of the church. This is how we are to respond to all those who seek to harm us.
Consider the Lord's expectation of us toward those who harm us without a cause. We are to deliver those who are drawn to death. Paul was fulfilling this word. Proverbs 24:11-12 Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. (12) If you say, "Surely we did not know this," Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds? The Lord knows if in our hearts we had played ignorance of the state of those who are rejecting God. Their end is eternal destruction. Do we walk away and say in our hearts, "I don't care"?
This was the behaviour of the Priest and the Levite in the story of the Good Samaritan. Luke 10:30-32 Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. (31) Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. (32) Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.
Look at how the Psalmist is repenting before God. Psalms 7:3-5 O LORD my God, if I have done this: If there is iniquity in my hands, (4) If I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me, Or have plundered my enemy without cause, (5) Let the enemy pursue me and overtake me; Yes, let him trample my life to the earth, And lay my honor in the dust. Selah
This was the behaviour of the Psalmist to his enemies. Psalms 35:12-14 They reward me evil for good, To the sorrow of my soul. (13) But as for me, when they were sick, My clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart. (14) I paced about as though he were my friend or brother; I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother. Is this how we are to those who hate us? Especially, here in India, we as the church need to graduate to this level of love for our enemies.
Paul was fulfilling the Lord's expectation as he shouted to the jailor not to harm himself. This was the model that the Lord has given for us. One of the disciples drew his sword and cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest, but the Lord healed him. Luke 22:50-51 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. (51) But Jesus answered and said, "Permit even this." And He touched his ear and healed him. We all know the words of our Lord as they crucified Him. Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, *"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.
Stephen displayed this same attitude as they were stoning him to death. Acts 7:59-60 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." (60) Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
This is our learning today. I Thessalonians 5:15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
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