From God's Womb

Acts 16:40-17:1 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left. 17:1 When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.  
 
​LET’S first clarify some language. Read verse 40 carefully. Silas and Paul are escorted from prison. They go to Lydia’s house. Who were the people at Lydia’s  house? Women, men and likely children. Then Luke wrote: They met with the brothers and encouraged them. Why did he not say, “They met with the brothers and sisters.” when women were present?
   In truth Luke was referring to all the people at Lydia’s home. It is common in the New Testament epistles to use brothers when referring to all in the church. This language can seem to minimize women and is often a deterrent today to women who do not know God or understand women’s remarkable role to advance God’s kingdom.
   Brother is actually very meaningful to all who believe Jesus is Lord. Brother in Greek means to “be connected in the womb”. In John’s gospel and epistles, he refers to believers as children of God. John teaches us we are connected to each other through Jesus, who came from Mary’s womb. Because he was born of the virgin, Jesus qualifies to be Savior. Through him, the Father has granted new birth to you who believe. Your profession of faith is new life, born into the light of God’s revelation. In a wonderful proclamation of God as Creator we read in Job 38:29 From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens. God births the world into existence. Indeed, our life in Christ is created from and through God’s power and favor. In this way, brother does refer to all in the church.
   Paul, Silas and let’s remember Timothy then traveled about 100 miles to Thessalonica. Why did they stop there? Thessalonica was independent of Roman governing authority. Jews had a synagogue and apparently lived there in peace. There was a base to work from as Paul had often done.
   Remember again, Jesus commissioned Paul to be an apostle to the Gentiles. Even though Paul is beginning his teaching with Jews, he will learn God has prepared many Gentiles to come to faith. Men, women, Jews and Gentiles come from God’s womb. He has sent Jesus to bless the nations.