Acts Chapter 16

1. The chapter begins with Paul and Silas in Derbe and then in Lystra, as they visited places they had already previously given out the gospel. They knew that it was important that the new believers be strengthened in their faith and a visit from Paul would encourage them. Paul had been travelling with Barnabas, but they had parted ways in chapter 15, and Silas was sent to assist Paul. Here in Lystra they met a young man named Timothy who was a believer. His mother was a believer and a Jew, but his father was not Jewish what was he?

2. Wanting to have Timothy to travel with them on his missionary journey, Paul thought it best to have Timothy circumcised so to avoid discussions and arguments from other Jewish believers. According to verse 5, what was the result of visiting the new believers in the various towns?

3. The next few verses talk about the direction they traveled and how the Holy Spirit guided them to not go to certain places. We don’t know whether Paul heard the voice of the Lord through prayer or if the circumstances that happened let Paul know not to go in a certain direction. Both ways can be true in our own lives too. Paul did receive a vision from the Lord that he was to go to a certain place. Where were they to go next?

4. Notice in verse 10 that the pronoun “we” is used indicating that Luke (the author of Acts) has now joined the other 3 men. Also notice the gender of the person in the vision calling for Paul to come and help them. What was the gender of the person in the vision?

Paul and his missionary team had to sail across the Agean Sea, from the continent of Asia to the continent of Europe. This was a big trip. “That they ‘sailed straight for Samothrace’ is quite revealing, because this is a nautical expression that means the wind was at their backs. So perfect were the winds that they sailed 156 miles in just two days, whereas returning the other way at a later time (Acts 20:6) it took five days.” [Hughes]

5. When they arrived they stayed in the city of Philippi for a few days. The first person in this Roman colony to accept the gospel message was a woman. What was her name?

6. Another female is talked about in this passage, but she had a completely different story. Her heart was not open to the gospel. Why?

7. This woman had been used by men to make money. The spirit(s) within her were used to tell fortunes. Paul had ruined their ill business by performing a wonderful miracle for this lady. But these men were angry and they grabbed two of the four men and brought them before the magistrates declaring they were Jews who were disturbing their city. What happened to Paul and Silas?

8. Around midnight Paul and Silas were doing what any Christian would do in this situation, they were praying. But they also were singing hymns to God. Notice what verse 25 says was happening?

9. An earthquake suddenly happened, and the men were free of their stocks. Did they leave the jail?

10. The jailer had been sleeping until that earthquake happened. He assumed he would be judged for allowing the prisoners to escape. What did he learn instead?

11. This jailer not only accepted Christ he wanted his whole family to hear the gospel. This man took care of Paul and Silas, took them into his home, fed them and then was baptized by them. What does verse 34 tell us about the jailer’s family?

12. How did God work to protect Paul and Silas from further punishment since they had “broken” out of jail?