Bible Study Snacks, Acts 16:1-15

Hi, everyone!

Happy Friday, and welcome back to another presentation of Bible Study Snacks! As always, I thank you so much for joining me as we walk together through the richness of God's spoken word, and wisdom. I pray that today finds you in good health and strong in faith!

This week, I would like to continue our study of the Book of Acts, with Chapter Sixteen, Verses 1-15.

I have designed these studies to be brief, yet packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. I might add that these quick studies make perfect small group discussion starters, as well!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let's pray together...

Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen

If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are the objectives for this week's lesson...

OBJECTIVES: This week, the reader will...

1) Trace the route of Paul and Silas on their missionary journey.
2) Consider whether the Spirit led Paul through impressions or some other less subjective way.

For your convenience, here is a summary of Acts 16:1-15...  

With this chapter we find Paul on his second missionary journey that began in Acts 15:40 with Paul and Silas passing through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening churches along the way. In Derbe and Lystra, Paul enlists a young disciple named Timothy who will become a life-long fellow-worker in the kingdom. His mother is a believing Jew (cf. 2 Timothy 1:5) but his father is Greek, so with many Jews in the region Paul has Timothy circumcised. As Paul's company travels through Phrygia and Galatia, they deliver the decrees from the apostles and elders in Jerusalem and strengthen the churches (1-5).

With the guidance of the Holy Spirit they find themselves in Troas, where Paul has a vision of a man from Macedonia asking for help. Concluding that the Lord is calling them to preach the gospel there, Paul's company leaves Troas accompanied by the author of Acts himself, as indicated by the first person pronoun plural "we" (6-10).

From Troas to Samothrace and then Neapolis, the company finally arrives in Philippi. A major city of Macedonia and Roman colony, it marks Paul's first ministry on the European continent. On the Sabbath Paul and his companions go down to the river where women are praying. As Paul speaks, a religious business woman of Thyatira named Lydia listens. The Lord opens her heart to heed Paul, which results in her and her household being baptized. She then persuades Paul and his companions to stay at her house (11-15).

REVIEW QUESTIONS:  

1) Where did Paul go after passing through Syria and Cilicia (Acts 16:1; cf.15:41)
2) Who did Paul want to travel with him?  What is said about him? (Acts 16:1-2)
3) Why did Paul have him circumcised? (Acts 16:3)
4) What did Paul's company deliver as they traveled?  What was the reaction? (Acts 16:4-5)
5) How did the Spirit guide Paul's company in their travels? Where did they wind up? (Acts 16:6-8)
6) What vision did Paul have?  What did he and his companions conclude? (Acts 16:9-10)
7) From Troas, where did they go?  Who evidently joined them at Troas? (Acts 16:11-12)
8) Where did Paul's company go on the Sabbath?  What did they do? (Acts 16:13)
9) Who heard them?  What kind of woman was she?  What happened as she listened? (Acts 16:14)
10) What happened next?  Afterwards, what did she do? (Acts 16:15)

After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!

As we journey through the Bible together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!  

Sheri