Acts.9

Paul’s Second Journey part one

Bible Passage: Acts 15:36–17:10

1. Conflicts Can Cultivate Growth

Acts 15:36–41 “Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” 37 Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. 39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.”

Disagreements:

Give it time. - don’t react if possible

The soft answer. Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.” Praise in public, reprimand in private.

Barnabas determined, Paul insisted; they both could be right. Look for Holy Spirit direction.

Resolve conflicts with grace and wisdom. Seek the higher purpose.

2. Collaboration Strengthens Ministry - Derbe, Lystra, Iconium

Acts 16:1–5 “Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek. 4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.”

Paul chose Silas a seasoned leader in the church at Jerusalem. Someone who worked directly with the other apostles.

Timothy’s background was a cross-cultural missionary. His mother was a Jew, so he knew Jewish history, culture, and customs. His father was a Greek, that passport opened many doors.

Paul’s team concept used gifts and abilities from others. He was not a lone wolf.

3. Guidance of the Holy Spirit - Macedonia

Acts 16:6–10 “Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.”

The Macedonian vision, who was it? Irregardless, the important thing was obedience. They tried many things. the Holy Spirit forbade them to preach in Asia, and He did not permit them to to into Bithynia (it did eventually get there 1 Pe 1:1).

The gospel was to go to Europe, starting in Macedonia. This was made crystal clear to Paul in a vision. The missionary team that was with him took his vision as theirs. Acts 16:10 “Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.” Paul’s vision constituted their call. Another interesting note here is the use of “we”. It appears that the author of Acts, Luke, joined the team at Troas and went with them to Philippi.

4. Faithful Witness Transforms Lives - Philippi

Acts 16:11–34 “Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. 14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.

After being directed by the Spirit to Macedonia, He further directs Paul to a riverside prayer meeting and a woman named Lydia. Her house would be the first meeting place for the future Philippian church (Acts 16:40). This speaks to the importance of being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Dealing with Adversity

16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. 19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. 20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; 21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.”

A certain slave girl caused a lot of problems for the team. The enemy will use whatever is available to stop the gospel from being spread. Here is a fortune-telling girl who speaks truth, but is an unreliable witness. Don’t let the world define what the gospel is. Don’t give credence to the abilities of the enemy. The true motivation of the enemy is not to spread the gospel, but to hinder it.

Singing at Midnight

22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.

Singing at midnight - this is the key to spiritual strength. What is our response when all looks bleak?

Gospel Message

28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” 29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.”

The jailer asked the correct question. Perhaps he had been listening to Paul and Silas as they sang and realized there was more to them than just some foreign troublemakers. From Lydia to the jailer and his family Paul and Silas have fruit in unusual ways.

There is a Time to Challenge Authorities

Acts 16:35–40 “And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, “Let those men go.” 36 So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.” 38 And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. 39 Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.”

5. Courageous Proclamation Prevails - Thessalonica and Berea

Acts 17:1–10 “Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas. 5 But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. 7 Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.” 8 And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. 9 So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. 10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.”

Thessalonica. Paul reasoned and some were persuaded. Faith is, in its essence, persuasion that something is true.

Again, those who did not believe were envious and caused a commotion.

Conclusion: This passage outlines the beginning of the second missionary journey of Paul, Silas, and Timothy. Highlighting conflicts, resolutions, and the spread of the Gospel. It addresses the complexities of relationships within ministry as well as the joy and challenges of spreading the Good News. Their work resulted in “turning the world upside down.”