Day 35: Acts 14-16

In Iconium - Acts 14:1-7

Understand It

• How did unbelievers oppose what Paul and Barnabas were doing? (14:2)
• How did the apostles respond to the opposition? (14:3)
• How was the city divided? (14:4)

Apply It

• How can you support those whom God has called to lead your church?

In Lystra and Derbe - Acts 14:8-20

Understand It

• How did the crowd respond to what Paul had done? (14:11-13)
• Why did Paul and Barnabas tear their clothes? (14:14)
• What was the apostles’ message to the crowd? (14:15-17)

Apply It

• What can you do to direct people’s attention to Christ and away from you?

The Return to Antioch in Syria - Acts 14:21-28

Understand It

• What did Paul and Barnabas do in Derbe? (14:21)
• Why did Paul and Barnabas retrace their steps to Antioch? (14:22)
• What encouragement and help did the apostles give the new Christians? (14:22-23)

Apply It

• What younger Christian can you encourage this week? How?

The Council at Jerusalem - Acts 15:1-21

Understand It

• Who came to Antioch? Why? (15:1)
• How did the apostles determine to resolve the problem in Antioch? (15:2)
• How did James summarize his views? (15:13-21)

Apply It

• Where can you get help resolving an issue about which you are unsure?

The Council's Letter to Gentile Believers - Acts 15:22-35

Understand It

• What was the letter to Gentile believers about? (15:24-29)
• How did the Christians in Antioch respond to the message from Jerusalem? (15:31)
• When Judas and Silas left for Jerusalem, what kind of send-off were they given? (15:33)

Apply It

• What difficult relationship should you improve this week for the sake of Christ? How?

Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas - Acts 15:36-41

Understand It

• What did Barnabas want to do? (15:37)
• Why didn’t Paul want Mark to accompany the apostles on their trip? (15:38)
• What did the apostles do about their difference of opinion? (15:39-40)

Apply It

• What step can you take toward resolving an old disagreement with another Christian? When?

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas - Acts 16:1-5

Understand It

• Who visited Derbe and then Lystra? (16:1)
• What was Timothy’s parentage? (16:1)
• What did Timothy have to do in order to minister with Paul? (16:3)

Apply It

• How do you need to open your heart and home to Christians who are ethnically different from you?

Paul's Vision of the Man of Macedonia - Acts 16:6-10

Understand It

• How did God guide the missionaries in their travels? (16:6-7)
• What did the missionaries do after they understood what God wanted them to do? (16:10)
• When did Paul and his companions respond to God’s instructions? (16:10)

Apply It

• What is one thing you can do to make yourself responsive to God and His will?

Lydia's Conversion in Philippi - Acts 16:11-15

Understand It

• How did Lydia respond to Paul’s words? (16:14)
• After Lydia became a believer, what did she and her household do? (16:15)
• What did Lydia offer Paul and his group after her baptism? (16:15)

Apply It

• How can you share your home and possessions with those called to the ministry?

Paul and Silas in Prison - Acts 16:16-40

Understand It

• What was distinctive about the slave girl that Paul and his companions met? (16:16)
• How did the demon-possessed girl damage Paul’s ministry? (16:17-18)
• Why were the owners of the slave girl angry with Paul and Silas? (16:19)

Apply It

• What can you pray about this week to put a check on evil in your place of work, neighborhood, or community?

Tomorrow: Acts 17-19