Bible Chapter: Acts 16

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    As chapter 15 ended, Paul selected another traveling companion for his second missionary journey, he took Silas along.  In Lystra they met a young believer named Timothy.  He joined the team and went with them.  They traveled from town to town sharing the decisions reached by the church leadership in Jerusalem.  The churches were strengthened in faith and grew.  This is a good illustration that good teaching and faithful encouragement are important ingredients for the church.  Believers today must carefully guard the teaching and direction they follow.  Staying close to Jesus makes all the difference in the world.  Sound teaching keeps believers on the right track.
    Paul and Silas continued on their journey as they felt the Spirit leading them.  They reached Philippi under the direction of the Holy Spirit.  This opened the doors of the Gospel to Europe.  They stayed and met a woman named Lydia.  She became a believer, the first convert in the new continent.
    The spiritual battle continued as a demon possessed girl hassled them constantly.  In the name of Jesus Paul commanded the spirit to leave her.  This got them in trouble because she was a slave and make lots of money for her masters as a fortune-teller.  So, Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten and thrown in prison because the slave masters lost a good source of income.  As a result of their response in prison, the jailer and family were saved.  God can bring good out of evil.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    One thing that jumps out to me is the reaction of Paul and Silas when they were in prison.  They “licked their wounds”, so to speak, not by complaining but by worshiping God.  In the midst of a mess they sang praises to God.  Everyone in the prison heard them.  This resulted in God’s sending an earthquake to open the prison doors.  Instead of seeing this as the answer to escape, they realized it would be an opportunity to lead people to Jesus.  The Lord had been working on the heart of the jailer, for his immediate response was to ask what he needed to do to be saved.  The response was to believe in the Lord Jesus.  It means to focus faith and commitment to Jesus.  It means believing that Jesus forgives sins and takes us into His family.
    Because Paul and Silas responded as God would have them in this situation, many lives were changed.  That is an important response for anyone.  How would God want me to respond?  How can I make a difference for eternity?  These are good questions to ask.

3.  How can I help someone?
    How can I help someone?  Well, I don’t think this chapter is about getting people out of prison.  I think it is more about faithfulness in serving God.  I think it is more about learning to hear the leading of the Spirit for life.  As I am more faithful and listening to God, people will be helped because I will be doing what God wants.