The Book of
Acts 16
40 verses≈ 7 min4 peopleBSB
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In this chapter
Timothy Joins Paul and Silas
Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father. The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.
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Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, so he took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
As they went from town to town, they delivered the decisions handed down by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
Paul’s Vision of the Macedonian
After the Holy Spirit had prevented them from speaking the word in the province of Asia, they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia. And when they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.
Come over to Macedonia and help us.
Acts 16:9
Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi
We sailed from Troas straight to Samothrace, and the following day on to Neapolis. From there we went to the Roman colony of Philippi, the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
Stylised map · locations approximate
Where it happened
Across to Macedonia
From Derbe and Lystra through Phrygia and Galatia, turned away from Asia and from Bithynia, down to Troas on the coast. Then by sea straight to Samothrace, the next day to the port of Neapolis, and a short road inland to Philippi. Two closed doors led to one open one.
The Lord opened her heart
Acts 16:14
Reflect
An opened heart
Paul spoke, but Luke says “The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” Then Lydia opened her home: “come and stay at my house.” Think of when God first opened your heart. What has He opened in your life since then that you could share with others?
Paul and Silas Imprisoned
One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling.
The slave girl
This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!”
She continued this for many days.
Paul
Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment.
The Conversion of the Jailer
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.
When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, presuming that the prisoners had escaped.
Paul
But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself! We are all here!”
Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.
The jailer
Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Paul and Silas
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Then Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house. At that hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed their wounds. And without delay, he and all his household were baptized. Then he brought them into his home and set a meal before them. So he and all his household rejoiced that they had come to believe in God.
0:21
Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
Pray
Songs at midnight
Beaten and locked in the stocks, Paul and Silas “were praying and singing hymns to God.” Hours later a jailer’s whole house “rejoiced that they had come to believe in God.” Bring God the place where you feel locked in. Ask Him for a song there, and for someone nearby to hear it.
An Official Apology
The magistrates’ officers
When daylight came, the magistrates sent their officers with the order: “Release those men.”
The jailer
The jailer informed Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders to release you. Now you may go on your way in peace.”
Paul
But Paul said to the officers, “They beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison, even though we are Roman citizens. And now do they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! Let them come themselves and escort us out!”
So the officers relayed this message to the magistrates, who were alarmed to hear that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. They came to appease them and led them out, requesting that they leave the city.
After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house to see the brothers and encourage them. Then they left the city.
Philippi’s first believers
Whiteboard
A merchant from Thyatira with her own household. A Roman jailer who kept the keys. Between them, a slave girl freed from a spirit her masters had made money from. Jesus reached each of them in Philippi. Two households were baptized, and the new believers gathered at Lydia’s house.
Question
Quick question
After the earthquake, the jailer fell trembling before Paul and Silas.
What did Paul and Silas tell the jailer to do to be saved?
You’ve experienced
Acts 16
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A verse to carry with you
Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.
Acts 16:31
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