Timothy Joins Paul and Silas - Acts 16:1-5
Understand It
- Who visited Derbe and then Lystra? (16:1)
- Where was Timothy from? (16:1)
- What was Timothy’s parentage? (16:1)
- What was Timothy’s reputation? (16:2)
- What reputation did Timothy have among Christians? (16:2)
- Why did Paul want to take Timothy along on the journey? (16:2-3)
- What did Timothy have to do in order to minister with Paul? (16:3)
- Why did Paul have Timothy circumcised? (16:3)
- How is it safe to assume that Timothy was being treated as a Jew rather than a Gentile? (16:3-4)
- What did Paul and his companions do as they traveled from town to town? (16:4)
- What was the effect of the missionaries’ visit? (16:5)
Apply It
- How do you need to open your heart and home to Christians who are ethnically different from you?
- What missionaries can you support in prayer this week?
Paul's Vision of the Man of Macedonia - Acts 16:6-10
Understand It
- Where did the journey westward from Iconium take Paul and his companions? (16:6)
- Who directed the missionaries away from Asia? (16:6)
- How were the travelers hindered from entering Bithynia? (16:7)
- How did God guide the missionaries in their travels? (16:6-7)
- After leaving Mysia, where did the travelers go next? (16:8)
- When did Paul experience the vision? (16:9)
- What did Paul see in his vision? (16:9)
- How did Paul and his companions interpret this vision? (16:10)
- 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)
- How did the narrator of the story participate in Paul’s travels? (16:10)
Apply It
- How can you listen more closely to the Holy Spirit’s direction in your life?
- 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 Paul and his companions travel from Troas to Philippi? (16:11-12)
- Where did the travelers stop on their way from Troas to Philippi? (16:11-12)
- How did Luke describe Philippi? (16:12)
- Where did Paul and his friends go to pray on the Sabbath? (16:13)
- Why was there no synagogue at Philippi? (16:13)
- Whom did the travelers find at the place of prayer? (16:13)
- Who was Lydia? (16:14)
- How did Lydia respond to Paul’s words? (16:14)
- Who opened Lydia’s heart? (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
- In what area of your life do you need to be more open to the Lord’s teaching this week?
- How can you share your home and possessions with those called to the ministry?
- Following Lydia’s example, how can you take the initiative in helping someone else today?
Paul and Silas in Prison - Acts 16:16-40
Understand It
- Where were Paul and his companions going when they met the slave girl? (16:16)
- What was distinctive about the slave girl that Paul and his companions met? (16:16)
- How did Luke describe the slave girl? (16:16)
- How was the girl exploited? (16:16)
- How did the demon-possessed girl damage Paul’s ministry? (16:17-18)
- How did Paul gain victory over the slave girl’s demonic condition? (16:18)
- Why were the owners of the slave girl angry with Paul and Silas? (16:19)
- What did the girl’s owners do with Paul and Silas? Why? (16:19-20)
- What happened to Paul and Silas after several accusations were made against them? (16:20-24)
- What happened while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns? (16:25-26)
- Why did the jailer turn to God? (16:27-30)
- What were the results of the talk Paul and Silas had with the jailer? (16:31-34)
- Why did the magistrates change their minds about Paul and Silas? (16:35-36)
- Why did Paul respond the way he did to the officers? (16:37)
- What did Paul and Silas do after their release from prison? (16:40)
Apply It
- What can you pray about this week to put a check on evil in your place of work, neighborhood, or community?
- What songs and prayers of praise can you offer God today?
- How can you encourage someone else in his or her Christian walk this week?
