*Acts 16:1-15
Paul travels with Timothy, encounters a God-fearing businesswoman named Lydia who is baptized, and finds hospitality at her house.
- Paul’s Recruitment of Timothy:
- Paul travels to Derbe and then to Lystra where he meets Timothy, a young disciple well spoken of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium.
- Timothy’s mother is a Jewish believer, but his father is a Greek.
- Paul wants Timothy to accompany him, so he circumcises him because of the Jews who live in the area, ensuring his acceptance and avoiding obstacles in their ministry.
- Guidance by the Holy Spirit:
- Paul and his companions travel through the regions of Phrygia and Galatia, but the Holy Spirit prevents them from preaching the word in the province of Asia.
- They try to enter Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus does not allow them.
- They pass by Mysia and go down to Troas.
- Paul’s Vision of the Macedonian Call:
- At Troas, Paul has a vision during the night: a man from Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
- After the vision, they immediately prepare to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God has called them to preach the gospel there.
- Arrival in Philippi:
- The group travels to Philippi, a leading city of Macedonia and a Roman colony. They stay there for several days.
- Encounter with Lydia:
- On the Sabbath, they go outside the city gate to the river, where they expect to find a place of prayer.
- They sit down and speak to the women who have gathered there.
- One of the listeners is Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who worships God. The Lord opens her heart to pay attention to Paul’s message.
- Lydia and her household are baptized, and she invites Paul and his companions to stay at her home. After persuading them, they agree to stay.
16:1 Then 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: 16:2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
16:3 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.
16:4 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.
16:5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
16:6 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, 16:7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
16:8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
16:9 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.
16:10 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.
16:11 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; 16:12 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.
16:13 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.
16:14 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.
16:15 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.