ACTS LESSON 35

    We will begin this lesson in Acts 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:"

    It appears that Timothy and his mother, Eunice, had been early
converts of Paul.  Eunice was a Jewess, but she had received Christ.
II Timothy 1:5 tells us that Timothy's mother and grandmother were
believers in Christ, even before Timothy was.  II Timothy 1:5 "When I
call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt
first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am
persuaded that in thee also." You see, Paul was acquainted with all
three, Lois, Eunice, and Timothy.  He even calls Timothy his son.
Timothy is not his physical son, but his son in that Paul led Timothy
to Christ, II Timothy 1:2 "To Timothy, [my] dearly beloved son: Grace,
mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord."
We, also, see an inner faith marriage between Timothy's mother and
father.  She was a Jew and he was a Greek.

    Acts 16:2 "Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at
Lystra and Iconium."

    It seems that since Paul's last visit, Timothy has been
ministering.  It, also, appears that Timothy had been visiting other
churches than his home churches, because he was highly spoken of by
the brethren at Lystra and Iconium.  Timothy had been taught the
Jewish law by his mother and had been told of the Messiah, as well.
As we said above, he had received Paul's message that Jesus Christ was
the Messiah on Paul's earlier visit. Timothy means venerating God.

    Acts 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."

    We see, here, in this circumcision of Timothy that Paul does this,
because Timothy's father was a Greek, and the Jews will not accept him
unless he has been circumcised.  This seems to be a terrible
contradiction to Paul's fight against the Gentiles being circumcised.
Paul had even gone to Jerusalem and gotten Peter's support on non-
circumcision.  The only way that I can explain this is that, Paul
himself said he must be all things to all people, that by all means he
might save some.  You can find this in I Corinthians 9:11.  He did
this to appease the Jews they would minister to.  These Jews would not
have accepted Timothy had this not been done.

    Acts 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."

    Here, Paul and Timothy are teaching the doctrine set down in
 Jerusalem that circumcising the men and keeping the Mosaic law was
 not the doctrine of Christians.  The doctrine of Christians was to
 abstain from meats offered to idols and from blood, and from things
 strangled, and from fornication.  The doctrine of Christians, in a
 nut shell, is Love God and worship Him alone and love your neighbor
 as yourself.

    Acts 16:5 "And so were the churches established in the faith, and
increased in number daily."

    The faith they were established in was faith in Jesus Christ as
Saviour and Lord and faith that Jesus Christ rose from the grave.
Romans 10:9-10 explains perfectly about this faith that we must have.
Notice how the churches were established (on faith).  They were
undoubtedly having daily preaching, because they were saved every day.
The Bible says by the foolishness of preaching men believe and are
saved, I Corinthians 1:21 "For after that in the wisdom of God the
world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of
preaching to save them that believe."

    Acts 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,"

    The Galatians were possibly newly converted churches that Paul
started on this trip, rather than the first trip, but that is not
explained.  The Holy Ghost was leading Paul and telling him where to
go and where not to go.

    Acts 16:7 "After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into
Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not."

    We see, here, the Holy Spirit of God checking them from going into
Bithynia.  So many times we ministers run ahead of God and go places
God would not have us go.  We should be like Paul and let the Holy
Spirit lead us to a fertile place to minister.

    Acts 16:8 "And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas." Acts
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."

    Troas is in Asia, and Paul had his vision here.  Macedonia is a
country lying north of Greece.  It seems that Paul heeds this vision
and goes to Macedonia.

    Acts 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."

    One really admirable trait that Paul had, was when God called him
to do something, he did not hesitate, but immediately answered the
call.  Paul immediately goes to Macedonia and begins to preach the
good news of the gospel to them.

    Acts 16:11 "Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight
course to Samothracia, and the next [day] to Neapolis;" Acts 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."

    We see that, Paul went to the main city of Macedonia.  We did not
get any of the details of the vision he had in Troas, but we can
assume the Holy Spirit told him to come to Philippi.  He passed other
cities and made it to Philippi, so this appears that it was this
specific city he was told to come to.

    Acts 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]."

    There are several things we must notice here.  These people were
Jewish, because they observed sabbath.  We know that Luke was with
Paul here, because he says "we", and Luke is the penman.  It is rather
interesting that Paul is not speaking in the synagogue, but on a river
bank.  It is, also, interesting that his first ministry here in
Philippi is to the women.  This has to be the working of the Holy
Spirit.  We will find later in Philippians 4:3, that the church in
Philippi has two women ministering in the church and Paul tells the
church to be supportive of them.  Philippians 4:3 "And I intreat thee
also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the
gospel, with Clement also, and [with] other my fellowlabourers, whose
names [are] in the book of life."

    Acts 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."

    It appears that the Holy Spirit sent Paul and the others to
minister to Lydia and to start a church here in her home.  It appears
that Lydia worshipped God before Paul came, but after hearing the
gospel message, received it with gladness in her heart .

    Acts 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."

    We are not told who Lydia's household was.  She may have been a
widow.  At any rate, she was a seller of purple for a living.  She did
as Paul had preached, and was baptized and her household was baptized,
also.  She insisted on Paul and his helpers coming and staying in her
house, if they deemed her worthy.







                            Acts 35 Questions


1.  When Paul came to Lystra, what disciple did he find there that
    would go with him?
2.  Who was his mother?
3.  What were his mother and father?
4.  In II Timothy 1:5, who had faith first and passed it on to
    Timothy?
5.  Was Timothy related to Paul?
6.  Why did Paul call him his son in II Timothy 1:2?
7.  Who spoke highly of Timothy recommending him to Paul?
8.  What does Timothy mean?
9.  Why did Paul circumcise Timothy?
10. How is the only way the author can put this together with Paul's
    fight against circumcision?
11. In verse 4, what doctrine did Paul teach?
12. How were the churches established?
13. How often did they have new members?
14. In I Corinthians 1:21, we learn that by what some are saved?
15. Where did the Holy Ghost tell Paul not to go?
16. Where was Paul when he had the vision?
17. Where did the vision tell him to go?
18. Why did Paul believe the Holy Spirit had sent him here?
19. What were some of the towns Paul came through getting to Philippi?
20. On what day did he begin to minister?
21. Where did Paul go to minister?
22. Who was he ministering to?
23. What message does Paul give the church in Philippi on another
    visit, that can be found in Philippians 4:3?
24. What woman is specifically mentioned as receiving Paul's message?
25. What did she do for a living?
26. Who was baptized with her?
27. What did she insist Paul and his party do?
28. What can we probably safely assume about her husband?

                                 Notes