Acts 16:9-15

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary & sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Comparative texts about Baptism: Water & Spirit from DSS, Josephus, Babylonian Talmud. At (Rutgers University Dept of Religion) Mahlon H. Smith's Into His Own: Perspective on the World of Jesus companion to the historical study of Christian texts.
  • III.XIV.1, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • Chapter XII, On Modesty, Tertullian (c. 217)
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "The Lord opens the heart to hear the word which is preached."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "Pride, prejudice, and sin shut out the truths of God, till his grace makes way for them into the understanding and affections; and the Lord alone can open the heart to receive and believe his word."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "The Greek word properly refers to the opening of the eyes: and the heart has its eyes, Eph 1:18. These are closed by nature and to open them is the peculiar work of God."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "Observe here the place assigned to "giving attention" or "heed" to the truth--that species of attention which consists in having the whole mind engrossed with it, and in apprehending and drinking it in, in its vital and saving character."
  • An Unusual House of Prayer, from The Poor Man's Portions, Robert Hawker, c. 1800.
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "Some have held that this implies the baptism of infants. It rather implies that her servants and friends also accepted the gospel. There is no ground for the inference that she was even married, or had children."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • Blogging toward Sunday, Theolog: The Blog of The Christian Century. Current lectionary comments are by Walter Brueggemann.
    • "The vision given to Paul leads to a new life for Lydia. The spirit of Jesus never “forbids” such newness, not even when we attempt to resist it (see vv. 6-7)."
  • "First Thoughts on Year C First Reading Acts Passages from the Lectionary," Easter 6, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "We see the beginnings of congregational life - in some of its common aspects."
  • "Bottled Lightning: Don't Extinguish the Fire, Don't Shatter the Vessel," The Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself, Daniel B. Clendenin, Journey with Jesus Foundation.
    • "The word for "vision" (horama) occurs twelve times in the New Testament, once in Matthew 17:9, then eleven times in the book of Acts. In Acts Paul had additional "visions," as did Moses, Ananaias, Cornelius and Peter. Both Peter and Paul also say that God spoke to them in a "trance" (ekstasis, 11:5, 22:17–18)..."
  • "The Man of Macedonia," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • Kairos CoMotion Lectionary Discussion, Acts 16:9-15, Wesley White. "A place of conversation regarding Progressive Christianity."
  • "Listening to Life (and to the Spirit)," Expository Essay, Acts 16:6-15, Dr. William R. Long.
    • "There really is no reason not to spend some time today, each day, listening to the lessons that life, and the Spirit, are speaking to you."
  • "Paul in Philippi (Acts 16:11-40)" by Robert Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "In addition to receiving the gospel, she received these missionaries into her home. It was at her initiative, in fact at her insistence that they accepted her hospitality. Her profession of faith in baptism and her provision of hospitality were outward evidences of the faith God had given her and which she had exercised."
• Articles & Background:
  • "Aspekte Biblischer Theologie dargestellt an der Verwendung von Ps 16 in Apostelgeschichte 2 und 13," Wolfgang Fenske, Biblica 83, 2002. (Abstract in English.)
    • "The question of whether the OT should be understood from the perspective of the NT or vice versa becomes irrelevant, for from the perspective of appropriating texts what counts is that the reading of one text influences the interpretation of another."
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  • Cohen, Charles, "Two Biblical Models of Conversion: An Example of Puritan Hermeneutics," Church History, 1989.
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  • Culpepper, R. Alan, "Paul's Mission to the Gentile World: Acts 13-19," Review & Expositor, 1974.
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  • Russell, Keith A., "At One with the Power: Reflections on the Lectionary Readings for May," The Living Pulpit, 2007. (See also "Atonement," issue focus of The Living Pulpit, 16.2, 2007.)
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  • Staley, Jeffrey L., "Changing Woman: Postcolonial Reflections on Acts 16.6-40," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 1999.
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  • Staley, Jeffrey L., "Reading Acts 16:6-40 on the Edge of the Navajo Reservation," Word & World, 2004.
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  • Wesselschmidt, Quentin F., "Homiletical Helps on LW Series C - Old Testament," Concordia Journal, 2007. (Section on this text begins on p. 187)
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• Reviews:
• Sermons:
• With Children:
  • "Lydia Opens Her Home to the Apostles," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
  • Acts 16 - 18 Crossword, Don Crownover's Bible Puzzles.
• Drama:
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Acts 16:9. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • Hymnal Scripture References, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Acts