Justin Houtz

Leviticus 15, Acts 16

DateVersionReading Plan
April 15, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

Leviticus 15

Observation

The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron to speak to the people regarding what they were to do in instances of bodily discharge. Anyone who had a discharge was unclean and everything they contacted was made unclean by interaction, including other people. If a clean person touched something that an unclean person had touched, they were to wash their clothes, bathe themselves and be unclean until evening (Lev. 15:7).

When the person was cleansed of the discharge, they were to count seven days for his cleansing, bathe his body and, on the eighth day, bring two turtledoves or two pigeons before the LORD and give them to the priest (Lev. 15:14). The priest would then make atonement for the man before the LORD for his discharge (Lev. 15:15).

More laws are given pertaining to emission of semen and discharges among women. Concerning the emission of semen, the man’s uncleanness “does not suggest that God considered sex sinful. Rather, God gave laws to ensure that sex must not be part of the sanctuary rites.” (CSB Notes). Concerning a woman’s discharge of blood from her body (”a euphemism for the female genitalia” – CSB Notes), this was impurity due to her menstrual cycle. Everything on which she lied or sat during this time was made unclean and if a man lied with her during her menstrual impurity, he was unclean for seven days (Lev. 15:24). However, if a woman’s discharge was not due to menstrual cycle, she was unclean all the days of her impurity (Lev. 15:25). If the woman was cleansed of her impurity, she was to count seven days and bring an offering to the priest on the eighth day who was to make atonement for her before the LORD (Lev. 15:29-30).

The people were to be kept separate from their uncleanness lest they die in their uncleanness and defile the LORD’s tabernacle in their midst (Lev. 15:31).

Application

In reading of the laws about bodily discharges (and especially those for women) I am reminded of the woman in Mark 5:25-34 who had a discharge for twelve years. It is remarkable to consider that this woman would have been unclean for the duration of her discharge, making every object and person unclean by contact. However, all the more profound is that by touching the fringe of Jesus’ garments, the woman not only did not transmit her uncleanness to Him, but by her faith she was made well and she was made clean. It is important to see this and the fact that Jesus is the only One by whom we can be cleansed and restored. And this, not merely temporally of bodily affliction but of eternal restoration of right relationship with our Creator.

Acts 16

Observation

Paul came to Derbe and Lystra where he met Timothy, a disciple whose mother was a Jew and whose father was a Greek (Acts 16:1). Timothy was well spoken of by the brothers and Paul took him in accompaniment, circumcising him because of the Jews in those places, as they knew that Timothy’s father was a Greek (Acts 16:3). Paul and Timothy delivered for observance the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem, thereby strengthening the faith of the churches and increasing their numbers daily (Acts 16:5).

The Lord guided them through several regions, forbidden by the Spirit to speak the word in Asia or going into Bithynia (Acts 16:6-7). In the night, Paul had a vision of a man who urged him to come over to Macedonia to help him (Acts 16:9). Paul sought to go on to Macedonia, interpreting the vision as a calling by God to preach the gospel there (Acts 16:10).

Paul and his companions continued traveling and came to Philippi, a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony, where they stayed some days (Acts 16:12). On the Sabbath day, they went outside the gate to the riverside where they thought there would be a place of prayer and they spoke to the women who had come together (Acts 16:13). One of the women was Lydia from Thyatira, a seller of purple goods and a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to what was said by Paul (Acts 16:14). After her and her household were baptized, she prevailed in compelling Paul to stay with her at her house (Acts 16:15).

On their way to the place of prayer, Paul and company were met by a slave girl who had brought her owners much gain through her divination (Acts 16:16). She followed them and cried out that they were servants of the Most High God (Acts 16:17). After she had followed them many days, Paul became annoyed and, turning to her, commanded the spirit to come out of her in the name of Jesus Christ and it came out that very hour (Acts 16:18).

When the slave girl’s owners saw that their hope of gain had been lost, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers (Acts 16:19). They brought them before the magistrates, telling them that Paul and his companions were disturbing the city and advocating customs that were unlawful for Romans to accept or practice (Acts 16:20-21). The crowd joined in attacking them and the magistrates tore off their clothes and gave orders to have them beaten with rods (Acts 16:22). After inflicting many blows, Paul and company were thrown into prison and the jailer was ordered to keep them safely (Acts 16:23). Receiving the order, the jailer put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks (Acts 16:24).

About midnight, as Paul and Silas were singing hymns to God, a great earthquake shook the foundations of the prison, the doors were opened and everyone’s bonds were unfastened (Acts 16:25-26). When the jailer awoke and saw the door open, assuming everyone escaped, he drew his sword with the intention of killing himself, but Paul cried in a loud voice not to harm himself as they were all still there (Acts 16:27-28). The jailer called for lights, rushed in and, trembling with fear, fell down before Paul and Silas and asked them what he must do to be saved (Acts 16:30). They spoke the word of the Lord to the jailer and all who were in his house (Acts 16:32). The jailer took them to his house, washed their wounds and the jailer was baptized along with all his family (Acts 16:33). The jailer rejoiced along with his entire family that he had believed in God (Acts 16:34).

When it was day, the magistrates sent the police and ordered Paul and Silas to be released (Acts 16:35). The jailer relayed the order to Paul and Paul replied to them that they had beaten uncondemned men who were Roman citizens and that they should come themselves to have Paul and Silas be taken out (Acts 16:37). The police reported this to the magistrates who responded in fear once they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens (Acts 16;28). Paul and Silas left the prison and visited Lydia and, when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed (Acts 16:40).

Application

It is fascinating to read of everything that happened to Paul and company as they were going to a place of prayer in Philippi. Along the way, they encountered Lydia whose heart the Lord opened to pay attention to what Paul said. As they continued to the place of prayer, they met the slave girl who cried out that Paul and Silas were servants of the Most High God and Paul rebuked her divining spirit, leading to his beating and imprisonment. In the prison, the earthquake led to Paul and Silas’ interaction with the jailer, with whom they spoke the word of God and he came to faith along with all his family. After leaving the prison, things came full circle as Paul and Silas went Lydia’s house to confer and strengthen the brothers.

Their path was by no means linear, but everywhere they went, Paul and his companions proclaimed the Word of God. Through their distractions and derailments, they never faltered from their calling to be heralds of the gospel. How true this should be for us as we are challenged with redirections along the course of life. Rather than meeting them with frustration, we should acknowledge God’s dominion over our circumstances and welcome the opportunity to be faithful ambassadors in unexpected contexts.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that by the blood of Your Son we are cleansed. Father, help us by Your Spirit to draw near to our Lord Jesus who washes away our sin and uncleanness and by this your glory is magnified. Father, help me to be ready in every situation, always being prepared to make a defense for the hope that is in me.

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