Acts 16:9-15

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: NRSV, RSV, 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Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts: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:
- Commentary, Acts 16:9-15, Jennifer T. Kaalund, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2019.
  - "Acts 16 offers a compelling portrait of ministry for our consideration."
- "Come on Over," Bob Cornwall, Ponderings on a Faith Journey, 2019.
  - "Often, we think of the early Christians as being poor and marginalized. Often, they were, but not all of them. In fact, we see in the Corinthian letter signs of socio-economic divisions. Such was not the case here. Lydia was likely rather wealthy, but she used her wealth in this case to benefit the ministry of Paul."
- Commentary, Acts 16:9-15, Mitzi J Smith, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2016.
  - "Quite possibly, Lydia's hospitality included a mutual sharing of the gospel. Good news is not the spiritual and intellectual property of males only or of a particular religion."
- "Reflections," Deidre Crosby, hisharvestfield, 2016.
- The Center for Excellence in Preaching, resources from Calvin Theological Seminary: Comments & Observations, Textual Points, Illustration Ideas, 2016.
- "Tyrian Purple," Lynn Miller, celebrating our creative and living God by generating art and architecture resources for congregations and individuals. Art and Faith Matters facebook page contains additional resources.
- The Truett Pulpit, Burt Burleson, University Chaplain and Dean of Spiritual Life, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, 2016.
- Commentary, Acts 16:9-15 | Bruce N. G. Cromwell, Ph.D. | Lead Pastor, Lansing Central Free Methodist Church | A Plain Account, 2016.
  - "Beyond believing that God still speaks, we then need to believe that God knows whom to call, and why. One of the gifts each of us is given on our faith journey is the awareness that not only does God love us and redeem us, but that same God has created us in His image and likeness."
- "On Macedonia and Being Open to God's Vision," Janet H. Hunt, Dancing with the Word, 2016.
  - "Indeed, might we then find ourselves, like Paul, called to 'Macedonia,' too?"
- Pulpit Fiction, with podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2016.
- Commentary, Acts 16:9-15, Brian Peterson, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2013.
  - "Lydia's faith becomes immediately active: she is baptized along with her whole household, and she opens her home. Social and cultural barriers crumble, and this corner of the empire is beginning to be changed by God's grace."
- "Christian Wanderlust," MaryAnn McKibben Dana, The Hardest Question, 2013.
  - "Paul, Lydia and the Holy Detour."
- "Annoying," Rick Morley, 2013.
- Lectionary Greek, Rob Myallis, 2013.
- Radical Gratitude, lectionary-based stewardship, Northwest United Methodist Foundation. (.pdf)
- Pulpit Fiction, podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2013.
- Commentary, Acts 16:9-15, Eric Barreto, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2010.
  - "Like much of Luke-Acts, this week's text finds Christians on the road."
- Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
- "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, 2007.
  - "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."
- "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."
Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.
- Cohen, Charles, "Two Biblical Models of Conversion: An Example of Puritan Hermeneutics," Church History, 1989.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Culpepper, R. Alan, "Paul's Mission to the Gentile World: Acts 13-19," Review & Expositor, 1974.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- "Homiletical Helps," Concordia Journal, 2010. (Section on this text begins on page 161)
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- "Homiletical Helps on LW Series C - Old Testament," Concordia Journal, 2004. (Section on this text begins on page 80.)
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Praeder, Susan Marie, "The Problem of First Person Narration in Acts," Novum Testamentum, 1987.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- 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.)
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Staley, Jeffrey L., "Changing Woman: Postcolonial Reflections on Acts 16.6-40," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 1999.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Staley, Jeffrey L., "Reading Acts 16:6-40 on the Edge of the Navajo Reservation," Word & World, 2004.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Wesselschmidt, Quentin F., "Homiletical Helps on LW Series C - Old Testament," Concordia Journal, 2007. (Section on this text begins on p. 187)
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Sermons:
With Children:
- Worshiping with Children, Easter 6C, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2016.
- Storypath, Connecting Children's Literature with our Faith Story, Union Presbyterian Seminary, 2016.
- "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:
- Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
- 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