Welcome to Bible Study! I so love doing Bible Study. It’s so easy to learn so much. Today, just a few verses from Acts 16 to get us started, but keep it up because the whole chapter will be available when you’re ready to go on. This part, visions and obedience and the very first convert too.
Acts 16:1-15 – Amplified Bible
The Macedonian Vision
1 Now Paul traveled to Derbe and also to Lystra. A disciple named Timothy was there, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer [in Christ], however, his father was a Greek. 2 Timothy was well spoken of by the brothers and sisters who were in Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to go with him [as a missionary]; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, since they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decrees decided on by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem, for the churches to observe. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they continually increased in number day after day.
Timothy oh does he ever become one of the dearest people to Paul. Look how he’s described.. Well ________________ by ____________________________________________.
Forbidden by the Holy Spirit
6 Now they passed through the territory of Phrygia and Galatia, after being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in [the west coast province of] Asia [Minor]; 7 and after they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; 8 so passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.
Forbidden by the Holy Spirit… have you ever experienced that? Oh Lord, Holy Spirit, I ask, please if You want to keep us from doing something or going somewhere You would make it as apparent as it was for Paul and Silas.
Visions
9 Then a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man from [the Roman province of] [a]Macedonia was standing and pleading with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 And when he had seen the vision, [b]we (including Luke) tried to go on into Macedonia at once, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Immediate obedience. They concluded that the vision was from God telling them to go to Macedonia at once.
Visions, yes, God still gives visions. Sometimes I think probably just to help or encourage us, other times, to send us. Yes, He can and does still send visions. Ask for one if you need it. Otherwise just pray. It was a response to prayer when I saw one. Encouragement to keep praying and that He hears because I am at His feet when I pray.
Immediate obedience to Visions
11 So setting sail from Troas, we ran a direct course to Samothrace, and the next day [went on] to Neapolis; 12 and from there [we came] to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony. We stayed on in this city for several days; 13 and on the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate to the bank of the [Gangites] river, where we thought there would be a [c]place of prayer, and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had come there.
Does Philippi spark a memory for you? Yes, they start a church there
There was no synagogue in Philippi so the bank of the river was a common place for Jews to pray. And this time, they meet some Gentiles there as well.
First Convert in Europe
14 A woman named [d]Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a dealer in [e]purple fabrics who was [already] a worshiper of God, listened to us; and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention and to respond to the things said by Paul. 15 And when she was baptized, along with her household, she pleaded with us, saying, “If you have judged me and decided that I am faithful to the Lord [a true believer], come to my house and stay.” And she persuaded us.
Hospitality, it’s a gift, Faithful, also a gift but oh can you ever ask for the gifts. Sometimes we have not because we haven’t asked. Change that in your life. Want more faith? Ask for it, and stick with me because here I work on growing my faith.
Footnotes
[a] Macedonia – Acts 16:9 Northern Greece.
[b] we – Acts 16:10 At this point Luke (the writer) apparently joined the journey and includes himself in the narrative, speaking in the first person.
[c] place of prayer – Acts 16:13 Apparently there were not enough Jews living in Philippi to establish a synagogue.
[d] Lydia – Acts 16:14 The first recorded believer in Europe.
[e] purple fabric – Acts 16:14 This was an important and valuable fabric, having great demand, being used on the official toga in Rome and its colonies.