Pauls 2nd Missionary Journey Begins Acts 15:36-16:12

Introduction

In verses 22—35 we see Paul, Barnabas and a couple men named Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas go to Antioch to let the church know what the counsel had decided.

The counsel sent a letter, and Barsabas and Silas to speak what had been said in their meeting. They had decided that they didn’t need to lay a greater burden on the gentiles besides the small list they had come up with.

They should abstain from meet offered to idols

They should abstain from things strangled and of blood

They should abstain from fornication

None of these were required for salvation, but rather to bring unity in the church.

After Barsabas and Silas were in Antioch for awhile, Barsabas went back to Jerusalem, but Silas stayed in Antioch.

As we transition into Pauls second missionary journey we will see that neither Paul nor Barnabas allowed a disagreement to derail the mission that God had given them, and how a life yielded to the Holy Spirit can impact the lives of others as well.

Paul and Barnabas Separate 15:36-41

If you remember back to Paul and Barnabas’ first missionary journey, you’ll remember that John Mark started with them, but went home after things started getting rough.

Here we find Paul stirred up and ready to go visit the churches they had established on their first missionary journey with Barnabas.

He wanted to visit them and see how things were going.

Barnabas agrees and was determined to take John Mark with them.

In verse 38, we see that Paul is totally against John Mark coming with them because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and didn’t continue the work with them.

Paul didn’t want to go with a quitter. If John mark couldn’t handle it the first time how is he going to handle it the second time.

The arguing gets so bad between Paul and Barnabas the Bible says “the contention was so sharp between them that they departed asunder or went there separate ways.”

Barnabas took John Mark and went to Cyprus and Paul took Silas and went through Syria and Cilicia confirming or checking in on the churches.

Notice that Paul didn’t just choose Silas and leave, Silas was recommended by the church to go with Paul.

This separation taught us a few things about these men

They are human - Often times we get the idea that pastors/missionaries/evangelists are perfect but we indeed are flawed men as well.

We will all encounter relational challenges while doing God’s work, so let’s walk humbly and graciously before God and one another.

We can be encouraged that God worked even in this conflict to achieve his purposes.

Instead of one missionary journey there are two.

While God worked even in the midst of this disagreement, it doesn’t grant us permission to quarrel with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. That is still sinful behaviour.

Philippians 2:14 “Do all things without murmurings and disputings:”

The split surely hurt both men, they lost a friend and fellow companions in the work of the Lord.

Toward the end of Pauls life he reconciled with John Mark.

2 Timothy 4:11 “Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.”

Another Companion Added 16:1-5

As Paul and Silas come into Derbe and Lystra, there was a certain disciple named Timotheus that caught their eye.

This is the Timothy who would become a spiritual son to Paul.

Here we learn a few details about his heritage vs. 1

He was the Son of a certain Jewess, who believed

In 2 Timothy we learn more about his family

2 Timothy 1:1–6“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.”

But his father was a Greek

Aren’t you thankful for believing moms who step up and become the spiritual leader there kids need when the dads won’t.

Abraham Lincoln said this "All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother"

This isn’t the message this morning, but if you’re married be the spiritual leader in your home. If you’re a dad be the spiritual leader in your home. That is God’s design for the family.

Then we learn about his testimony in the city vs. 2

He had a good report or testimony with the brethren in Lystra and Iconium.

Notice it wasn’t just his mom and grandma living out their faith, but Timothy was living out his faith as well

Because of Timothy’s testimony Paul wanted to take him with them as they shared the gospel and checked on the churches.

As a way to keep unity between the Jews and Gentiles Timothy was circumcised because of his heritage.

Because his mom was Jewish and his dad a Greek, he was considered a Jew and Paul knew that Timothy would have constantly offended the Jews if he didn’t get circumcised.

We will see later that Timothy’s Jew-Greek background would allow him to bridge different cultures effectively.

Here we find a great example for us when reaching people with the Gospel. Timothy did what was needed to reach people with the unchangeable Gospel.

He wanted to adapt to different audiences without changing the gospel. We should be willing to do the same. As long as adapting doesn’t mean adopting a sinful action, we should be willing to follow certain cultural customs in order that hearers may receive the gospel.

You might be thinking what in the world is he talking about

If I was trying to reach a Jewish person with the Gospel over breakfast, I would abstain from eating bacon in front of them. They see me eating that bacon it doesn’t matter what the gospel says, i’ve already offended them. The gospel didn’t change my eating habits did.

That’s what Paul was asking Timothy to do. We should put no stumbling block in the way of the gospel.

In verses 4-5 we see the Gospel continuing because of their faithfulness.

They went to the churches to deliver the decrees that the apostles and elders came up with as a way to keep unity.

The churches were established in the faith and increased in number daily

The word established here means fixed firmly.

Following the Spirit vs. 6-12

As they finish up with the churches that were already established they move northwest toward Asia

They go through Phrygia and the region of Galatia and then were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the Word in Asia

Since they were forbidden from preaching in Asia they continued to Mysia and then they assayed or tried to go into Bithynia but the Spirit suffered them not.

Peter does greet believers in Bithynia so the Gospel eventually made it there 1 Peter 1:1 “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,”

After being forbidden from speaking in Bithynia they continued through Mysia and they came down to Troas.

When they are in Troas, A vision appears to Peter of a man in Macedonia and prayed or earnestly asked him to come to Macedonia and help him.

When Paul heard this call, without hesitation he got up and they went to Macedonia which is a region within the Balkan Peninsula north of Greece.

Look what he says in verse 10

How many of us try to reason with God when he asks us to do something, but Paul without hesitation goes to Macedonia because he knew the Lord was calling him there.

Paul goes from Troas to Samothracia which is an Island in the Aegean sea and then went to Neapolis which was the port for the city of Philippi and then went into Philippi which is the chief or first city their in Macedonia.

When they got to Philippi they abode there for certain days before continuing.

Application: When God closes a door for us, we should never force it open, because he has something better for us ahead. The cities that were shut to Paul would eventually be reached with the Gospel, but God sent Paul to Macedonia first.

We must be yielded to the spirit, like Paul, so that we know where he is leading us.

Conclusion

Christian have you had a disagreement with someone that you need to make right? Do it this week

When people hear our name what do they think about us? Do we have a good report like Timothy?

Are we yielded to the Spirits leading?

If you have never trusted Christ as your saviour today is the day. Jesus died for your sins, was buried and rose again so that we could have eternal life. Thats the message Paul preached and the message still being preached today. Will you trust Jesus for your Salvation today?