47-01
Philippi
Philippi was a major city and Roman colony located in Macedonia in the northern part of ancient Greece.
47-02
She invited Paul and Silas to stay at her house
This was the normal custom of the day for people to provide hospitality to visitors in their homes. There were no immoral motives in this arrangement.
47-03
as a fortuneteller
The masters of the slave girl charged people money for her to tell them what would happen to them in the future.
47-04
Paul became annoyed
Paul and Silas were indeed telling people how to be saved. But the demon who controlled the girl was the one who was actually saying these things. Paul did not want to accept praise from a demon.
47-05
In the name of Jesus
Because of Jesus’ authority, Paul could command the demon to leave.
47-06
without the demon
The owners of the slave girl knew that a demon gave her the power to tell what would happen in the future. They only thought of their own profit, and were not happy that the girl was now freed from the demon that had controlled her.
47-07
Paul and Silas to the Roman authorities
Paul and Silas had done nothing wrong, but they were strangers in Philippi. The Roman authorities believed the false accusations of the owners of the slave girl and punished Paul and Silas.
47-08
singing songs of praise to God
Paul and Silas were able to trust God even though the authorities beat them and put them in prison. Therefore, they were singing and praising God.
47-09
the chains of all the prisoners fell off
God caused this to happen. A natural earthquake would not release a person from the chains on their hands and feet.
47-10
the jailer
This could mean the official in charge of the jail.
he got ready to kill himself!
The jailer was so afraid, thinking that the prisoners had escaped, that he intended to kill himself rather than be punished for his failure to guard them.
47-11
What must I do to be saved?
The jailer knew that it was God who caused the earthquake and released the prisoners. He wanted to know how he could be saved from being punished by that powerful God.
Believe in Jesus, the Master
This was addressed to both the jailer and his family, who all then believed and were baptized.
47-13
The good news about Jesus kept spreading
People in more and more places were hearing the good news about Jesus.
the Church kept growing
More and more people were becoming part of the Church by believing in Jesus.