An Outline Of Acts 16:1-15

1 Paul and Silas add Timothy

Text: Acts 16:1-5, KJV: 1Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: 2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek. 4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. 5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Thoughts:

--Lystra and Derbe were two of the cities where Paul and Barnabas had preached while they were on their first missionary journey (Acts 13-14).

--Lystra was the city where Paul had been stoned, almost to death, but he arose and walked back into the city (Acts 14:19-20). What might Paul have been thinking as he approached this city for another time?

--This time, Paul and Silas found a co-worker! Timothy was the son of Eunice, a Jewish woman (her mother was Lois, 2 Tim. 1:5) and an unnamed Greek father. This may mean his father was a Gentile, not a “Hellenistic” or Greek-speaking Jew.

2 Paul, Silas and Timothy’s first travels

Text, Acts 16:6-10, KJV: 6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, 7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. 8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

Thoughts:

--“They” in verse 6 most likely means Paul, Silas, and Timothy. Others may have been part of the team but they’re not mentioned in the text.

--This group wasn’t idle: they had gone through Phrygia and “the region of Galatia”. Jews from Phrygia (how did they get there?) were at Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:10) and Paul had earlier preached in nearby cities such as Lystra, Iconium, Debe, and even Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13-14).

--They wanted to enter Bithynia, north and east of Mysia and bordering the Black Sea, but this was one of the times when the Holy Spirit said “No”. To Paul’s credit, he listened and obeyed.

--The group came to Troas, a seaport town. Some think this is the site of ancient Troy. That didn’t matter to Paul, as he wanted to preach the gospel wherever he could.

--During one night, Paul had a “vision” of a man from Macedonia saying “Come over into Macedonia and help us.” Paul didn’t waste any time in preparing to go

--Now note the “we”, meaning Luke was added to the team. The Scriptures give little information about Luke (or most of the people of that time) except he was a doctor (Colossian 4:14) and team member with Paul during most of Paul’s journeys (note the “we” passages mentioned in Acts after this point).

--Once the team received confirmation (verse 10), they headed for Macedonia. And several things were going to happen once they arrived!

3 Success in Philippi

Text, Acts 16:11-15, KJV: 11 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; 12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. 13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. 14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. 15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

Thoughts:

--Several commentators have noted how Luke uses nautical terms as well as medical terms in his writings (Gospel of Luke and The Acts). One example is his phrase “a straight course,” verse 11.