Lesson Thirty-One: Second Journey Begins

Supplementary Materials

Second Missionary Journey: Overview Aspect Details Scripture Acts 15:36 – 18:22 Approximate dates AD 49-52 Companions Silas (from start); Timothy (from Lystra); Luke (from Troas) New territory Macedonia (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea) and Achaia (Athens, Corinth) Major significance Gospel enters Europe; churches established in major Greek cities Letters written 1 & 2 Thessalonians (from Corinth)

Timothy: Paul's "Son in the Faith" (16:1-3) Aspect Details Hometown Lystra (possibly also Derbe — 16:1) Mother Eunice — a Jewish believer (2 Tim. 1:5) Grandmother Lois — also a believer (2 Tim. 1:5) Father A Greek (Gentile) — apparently not a believer Reputation "Well reported of by the brethren" at Lystra and Iconium (16:2) Scripture knowledge "From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures" (2 Tim. 3:15) Conversion Likely during Paul's first visit (Paul calls him "my own son in the faith" — 1 Tim. 1:2) Witness to Paul's suffering May have witnessed Paul's stoning at Lystra (2 Tim. 3:11)

Why Did Paul Circumcise Timothy? (16:3) This seems to contradict the Jerusalem Council's decision. But note the key differences: Timothy (Circumcised) Titus (NOT Circumcised) Half-Jewish (Jewish mother) Full Gentile (Greek) Considered Jewish by Jewish law Clearly Gentile "Because of the Jews" — for practical Pressure to require it for salvation (Gal. ministry access 2:3-5) Matter of expediency Matter of doctrine Removed a hindrance to ministry Would have compromised the gospel

Paul's principle (1 Cor. 9:20): "Unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews." Timothy's circumcision was not about salvation — it was about removing unnecessary barriers to reaching Jews with the gospel.

Divine Redirection (16:6-8) The Holy Spirit's guidance was dramatic and specific:

Key Point: We don't know HOW the Spirit communicated these prohibitions — perhaps through prophets, circumstances, or inner conviction. But the result was clear: Paul was funneled to Troas, the port city facing Macedonia. When every door closes except one, that's guidance!

The Macedonian Call (16:9-10) "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." The significance of this vision:

• Geographic turning point: The gospel crosses from Asia into Europe
• Historical turning point: Western civilization will be shaped by Christianity
• "Help us": The Macedonians' greatest need — whether they knew it or not — was the gospel
• Immediate response: "Immediately we endeavoured to go" — no hesitation once God's will was clear

Luke Joins: The "We" Sections Begin (16:10) "And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia..." Notice the shift from "they" to "we" — Luke, the author of Acts, has joined the team at Troas. The "we" sections in Acts are:

Note: Luke apparently stayed in Philippi when Paul left (the "we" stops at 16:17 and resumes at 20:5 when Paul returns to Philippi). Luke may have helped establish and nurture the Philippian church during this time.

Philippi: The First European Church (16:11-12) Aspect Details Location Northern Greece (Macedonia), about 10 miles inland from port of Neapolis

Aspect Details Name origin Named after Philip II of Macedon (father of Alexander the Great) Status "A colony" — Roman colony with special privileges; citizens were Roman citizens Historical significance Site of the Battle of Philippi (42 BC) where Antony/Octavian defeated Brutus/Cassius "Chief city" (16:12) First/leading city of that district of Macedonia No synagogue Apparently too few Jews (10 men needed); prayer meeting by the river instead

Lydia: Europe's First Convert (16:13-15) Aspect Details Name Lydia (possibly meaning "from Lydia" — a region in Asia Minor) Hometown Thyatira — a city in the province of Lydia, famous for purple dye Occupation "Seller of purple" — merchant dealing in expensive purple cloth/dye (indicates wealth) Religion before conversion "Worshipped God" — a God-fearer, Gentile who believed in Israel's God How she heard At the riverside prayer meeting on the Sabbath Divine action "Whose heart the Lord opened" — God enabled her to respond Her response "She attended unto the things which were spoken" — listened carefully, believed Baptism "She was baptized, and her household" — immediate obedience Hospitality "Come into my house, and abide there" — insisted on hosting the missionaries

"The Lord Opened Her Heart" (16:14) What does this mean?

• God worked through the preaching of His word (Paul spoke; she listened)
• God enabled her to understand and respond to the message
• This doesn't mean she had no choice — she "attended" (paid attention, gave heed)
• Divine initiative and human response work together

Evidence of true conversion: She was baptized (obedience); her household was baptized (influence); she showed hospitality (fruit); she "constrained" them to stay (persistence in serving).

Key Cross-References

Lessons from Acts 16:1-15 1. A good reputation matters — Timothy was "well reported of by the brethren." 2. Expediency differs from doctrine — circumcision for access vs. circumcision for salvation. 3. God guides by closing doors as well as opening them. 4. When God's direction is clear, respond immediately — "straightway we endeavoured." 5. God opens hearts through the preaching of His word. 6. True conversion produces obedience, hospitality, and influence on others.