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Daily Devotions

Philippians

Philippians 
Day 
Day 2

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved..."

Text: Acts 16:11

THE CITY OF PHILIPPI

The Scriptures give us a glimpse of the city of Philippi in the days of the apostle Paul.

“Therefore sailing from Troas, we ran a straight
course to Samothrace, and the next day came to
Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the
foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony.
And we were staying in that city for some days.”
Acts 16:11-12

1. It was a Roman colony.

2. It was a foremost city.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MINISTRY IN PHILIPPI

The Book of Acts highlights five major things in the ministry at Philippi.

1. The conversion of Lydia (Acts 16:14-15)

a) She was a successful business woman, “a seller of purple”.
b) She opened up her home to Paul and his team.

2. The casting out of a demon from a slave girl (Acts 16:16-18)

a) The name of Christ Jesus was invoked effectively.
b) The demon departed from the slave girl at the command of the apostle Paul.

3. Paul and Silas were arrested and thrown into jail (Acts 16:19-24)

a) They were charged in court.
b) Severely beaten.
c) Thrown into jail with their feet fastened in stocks.

4. A special earthquake vindicated Paul and this led the Philippian jailer to faith in Christ (Acts 16:25-34)

a) An earthquake was sent by God.
b) The prison doors were opened but no prisoners escaped.
c) The Philippian jailer and his family came to faith and were baptised that same night.

5. Paul claimed Roman citizenship (Acts 16: 35-40)

a) Paul claimed that he was a Roman citizen and had been treated unjustly.
b) The magistrates became afraid and personally asked Paul to depart from Philippi.

Paul’s ministry in Philippi was eventful but he did not spend a whole lot of time in Philippi. Thus the strong relationship that he had developed with the Philippians is even more remarkable in this light. Obviously, there were other means of contact and ministry that must have been sustained, but not recorded in the Book of Acts.