How the Gospel Came to Europe

A Sermon on Acts 16:1-40

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Scripture

Acts 16:1-40 ESV KJV

Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he … Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and 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 bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed. (ESV)

1Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: 2Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. 3Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek. 4And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. 5And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. 6Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, 7After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. 8And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 9And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. 11Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; 12And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. 13And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

14¶ And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. 15And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

16¶ And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. 18And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

19¶ And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, 20And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. 22And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

25¶ And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. 27And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. 35And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. 36And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace. 37But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. 38And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans. 39And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city. 40And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

Sermon Description

Listen to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' sermon on Acts 16 to Bridgnorth Baptist Church in 1977 as he considers the account of how Christianity came to the pagan culture of Europe. In this sermon, he tracks the history to see how intellectual and pagan cultures were affected by the Gospel. Why did Paul come to Europe? Who is the message of the Bible for? Listen and understand that the future of the church and the gospel is not up to the Christian – it is all part of God's plan that He has kept for generations before and will continue for generations after. Learn how God works in ways contrary to humanity’s plan. “We must be orthodox, but alone it is not enough,” reminds Dr. Lloyd-Jones. It is dangerous to have a dead orthodoxy, knowing the truth but not living it. Look at the example of Lydia in Acts 16 and remember that no one can convert another; only God can turn a heart of stone into flesh. Dr Lloyd-Jones also warns that it is not enough to merely hear the gospel; people of faith must attend to it. They must not be such experts on the evil powers of this age, but experts on the things of God. The listener is encouraged to have faith in God and what He has purposed, for He will surely bring all to pass.

Sermon Breakdown

The sovereignty of God. God has a plan and purpose that cannot be frustrated.
God's ways are not our ways. He works in unexpected ways that seem foolish to humans. He started Christianity in Europe through a prayer meeting of women, not through appealing to powerful leaders.
The message is Jesus Christ and him crucified. We must preach the true gospel of salvation through faith in Christ.
We need the power of the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit, the message is dead. The Spirit opens people's hearts to attend to and believe the gospel.
We must have faith in God's power. With God, nothing is impossible. He has the power to change lives and circumstances.

Sermon Q&A

Questions and Answers about Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Lydia's Conversion

How did Christianity first come to Europe according to Acts 16?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon on Acts 16, Christianity first came to Europe through the Apostle Paul, who was divinely directed to Macedonia. Paul had intended to preach in Asia Minor and then Bithynia but was forbidden by the Holy Spirit. Instead, he had a vision of a man from Macedonia calling for help, which led him to cross the sea to Europe. The first recorded conversion in Europe was not in a great city or through a large event, but at a small women's prayer meeting outside the city of Philippi, where Lydia, a seller of purple, became a believer.

What does Lloyd-Jones teach about God's sovereignty in evangelism?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that God's sovereignty is the foundational principle for evangelism. He points out that Paul himself became a Christian not through his own decision but through God's intervention on the Damascus road. Similarly, Paul didn't choose to go to Europe based on strategic planning but was divinely directed there. Lloyd-Jones states, "If the future of the Christian church depended upon man, upon men, well, then the situation is indeed hopeless. But thank God it doesn't. The church is the church of God, and God has a great plan and a great purpose." He reminds his listeners that God's sovereign plan cannot be frustrated and will certainly be fulfilled.

What does the sermon reveal about God's methods of working versus human methods?

The sermon contrasts God's methods with human methods of evangelism. While humans might prefer starting in capital cities, with influential people, or through large, well-organized events, God often works in the opposite way. Lloyd-Jones points out that Christianity in Europe began not in Athens (the intellectual center) but in Philippi, and not through a grand event but in a small women's prayer meeting outside the city. He states, "He does it in a manner that is almost the exact opposite that you and I would ever have thought of. He does it in a way that even ridicules all our cleverness and all our plans and schemes and purposes." Lloyd-Jones cites 1 Corinthians 1 about God choosing the foolish things to confound the wise.

What does it mean that "the Lord opened Lydia's heart"?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the phrase "whose heart the Lord opened" in Acts 16:14 demonstrates the necessity of divine power in conversion. He emphasizes that "no man can convert another" and "no man can open a heart that is shut and cold." He describes this opening of the heart as God's creating work: "No man can turn a heart of stone into a heart of flesh. This God and his power alone can do. It's a new creation. And only the great Creator can do it." The result of this heart-opening was that Lydia "attended unto the things which were spoken by Paul" - meaning she began to listen personally and intensely, realizing the gospel applied directly to her life and salvation.

How does Lloyd-Jones address discouragement in evangelism?

Lloyd-Jones directly addresses the discouragement many Christians feel when facing modern challenges. He points to the example of Paul, who faced a completely pagan society in Greece - a sophisticated culture full of philosophy, art, politics, and multiple religions. He argues that if Paul's situation wasn't hopeless (though it appeared to be), neither is ours. Lloyd-Jones boldly states: "To be discouraged, to be despondent, to be pessimistic is sinful. It means a lack of a knowledge of God and a trust in the almightiness of God." He urges believers to remember the history of revivals that started in unlikely places through ordinary people, and to have faith in God's power rather than human methods or numbers.

What message does Lloyd-Jones say we must preach if we want to see true conversion?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that the message that brings conversion is Christ crucified. He describes how Paul would have explained to Lydia that merely believing in one God wasn't enough - she needed to know Christ personally. The message must include our sinfulness, Christ's deity, His incarnation, His substitutionary death on the cross, and His resurrection. Lloyd-Jones strongly criticizes those in churches who deny these fundamental truths: "There are people today calling themselves Christians, some of them in high positions in the so-called Christian Church... They deny the deity of Christ... They deny all miracles. They ridicule the idea of atonement." He insists we must return to "the only message: Jesus Christ and him crucified."

How should Christians respond to seemingly hopeless situations according to Lloyd-Jones?

Lloyd-Jones encourages Christians facing seemingly hopeless situations - whether in evangelism, family problems, or personal struggles - to trust in God's power. He gives the example of a parent praying for a child addicted to drugs or alcohol, saying "Keep on with God. Nothing shall be impossible." He also addresses those who feel hopeless about overcoming their own sins, reminding them that "None is ever hopeless when God begins to act." He uses the story of poet Francis Thompson, once a drunken tramp who was transformed by God's grace. Lloyd-Jones concludes by urging believers to stop focusing on the power of negative cultural influences and instead "believe in the power of God. It's invincible, it's almighty."

Itinerant Preaching

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.

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