Act16:1-15!
Acts 16:1–15: Chapter 16 begins the final section in the book of Acts, which focuses on Paul’s mission to spread the Good News. As he begins his second journey, Paul meets Timothy, who will become one of his co-workers. Paul has a vision, calling him to preach in Macedonia. When he and his companions arrive in Philippi (a Roman colony in the district of Macedonia), they meet Lydia, who invites them to her home.
Today’s Key Verse: Acts 16:5 GNT
So the churches were made strong in the faith and grew in numbers every day.
Read
16 Paul traveled on to Derbe and Lystra, where a Christian named Timothy lived. His mother, who was also a Christian, was Jewish, but his father was a Greek. 2 All the believers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of Timothy. 3 Paul wanted to take Timothy along with him, so he circumcised him. He did so because all the Jews who lived in those places knew that Timothy's father was Greek. 4 As they went through the towns, they delivered to the believers the rules decided upon by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem, and they told them to obey those rules. 5 So the churches were made stronger in the faith and grew in numbers every day.
6 They traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia because the Holy Spirit did not let them preach the message in the province of Asia. 7 When they reached the border of Mysia, they tried to go into the province of Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So they traveled right on through[a] Mysia and went to Troas. 9 That night Paul had a vision in which he saw a Macedonian standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 As soon as Paul had this vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, because we decided that God had called us to preach the Good News to the people there.
11 We left by ship from Troas and sailed straight across to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis. 12 From there we went inland to Philippi, a city of the first district of Macedonia;[b] it is also a Roman colony. We spent several days there. 13 On the Sabbath we went out of the city to the riverside, where we thought there would be a place where Jews gathered for prayer. We sat down and talked to the women who gathered there. 14 One of those who heard us was Lydia from Thyatira, who was a dealer in purple cloth. She was a woman who worshiped God, and the Lord opened her mind to pay attention to what Paul was saying. 15 After she and the people of her house had been baptized, she invited us, “Come and stay in my house if you have decided that I am a true believer in the Lord.” And she persuaded us to go.
Reflect
When Paul had the vision to go to Macedonia, what helped to convince him it was the right thing to do? How have you experienced God’s call in your life? What was Lydia’s role in the community in Philippi? What took place after she met with Paul? How would you describe your experience when you gather for prayer with members of your community of faith?
Pray
Sovereign God, you call me to be your voice, hands, and feet in the world. Open my eyes, ears, and heart to heed your call that I may grow in knowledge and obedience. In your holy name, I pray. Amen.
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