ACTS Go Tell the Good News Lesson 17

ACTS Go Tell the Good News! Lesson 17 Acts 15: 36— 16: 15

Paul’s 2 nd Missionary Journey Acts 15: 36 -40 Background and beginning: • This trip bridges Paul’s past efforts with his future endeavors -- visiting churches already established, but breaking new ground as well. • The trip will take 3 years and cover some 2, 800 miles. • Paul proposes the trip to Barnabas, but they disagree over taking John Mark (15: 36 -38) • Note that this was not a matter of faith or doctrine. • What were Paul’s later feelings toward Mark? (Colossians 4: 10; 2 Timothy 4: 11; cf. 1 Peter 5: 13) • Barnabas takes Mark and sails to Cyprus, while Paul takes Silas through Syria and Cilicia strengthening the churches (15: 39 -41)

Paul’s 2 nd Missionary Journey Acts 16: 1 -5 In Derbe and Lystra • Paul recruits Timothy (16: 1 -3) • Timothy is a disciple who is well spoken of by the brethren in Lystra & Iconium. • He probably knew about Paul’s stoning at Lystra • The son of a Jewish mother but a Greek father. • Paul had him circumcised because of the Jews in the region. • In light of the decrees of the apostles in Jerusalem, and the fact that Paul had not had Titus circumcised, why circumcise Timothy? • Paul & Silas deliver the Jerusalem decrees (16: 4). • The churches were strengthened in faith (16: 5).

Paul’s 2 nd Missionary Journey Acts 16: 6 -7 The Macedonian Call • After Paul & Silas had gone through Phrygia and Galatia, the Spirit forbids them to preach in Asia. • Continuing on to Mysia, the Spirit did not permit them to go to Bithynia (16: 7). Mysia

The Macedonian Call (Acts 16: 6 -12) • In Troas, Paul sees a vision of a man from Macedonia pleading for help • Apparently Luke joins Paul in Troas (note the “we”). • The evangelists conclude that the Lord had called them to preach in Macedonia, and so they sail to that region. • They travel through Samothrace, to Neapolis and then to the city of Philippi (a Roman colony).

The Romans were superb road builders. The Egnatian Way or Via Egnatia was a major link between Italy and Asia. In Macedonia, the route passed through Philippi and Thessalonica among other cities

The Conversion of Lydia and her household (Acts 16: 11 -15) • On the Sabbath, Paul and his companions go to the river, where prayer was customarily made, and speak to the women there (16: 13). • Lydia heard the word (16: 14). • She was a seller of purple from Thyatira (in Asia). • She worshiped God. • The Lord opened her heart to “heed” what she heard. • She and her household were baptized (16: 15 a). • She persuaded the travelers to stay at her house (16: 15 b).

The Gangitis River near Philippi