Introduction:

1. This missionary journey began as a welfare check at previous stops (15:36).

2. In the process, we bid farewell to Barnabas, welcome Silas and Timothy, and see the gospel begin to spread into Europe.

Discussion:

I. Rearranging and Doubling Missionary Teams (15:36-16:5)

A. Paul and Barnabas separated over John Mark who left the first journey early for reasons Paul clearly did not think valid (15:36-41; cf. 13:13).

1. If Galatians 2:11ff and Acts 15:1-35 cover the same events, tensions may have already been rising between Paul and Barnabas (cf. Galatians 2:13).

2. It appears all parties were reconciled (1 Corinthians 9:6; 2 Timothy 4:11).

B. Arriving in Lystra, Paul met the well-respected young Timothy (16:1-5).

1. Interestingly, he had him circumcised to placate Jews in the area.

2. Paul was simply removing ethnic barriers (1 Corinthians 9:20; cf. Galatians 2:3-5).

3. The result was spiritual and numerical growth of the churches.

II. The Macedonian Call (16:6-12)

A. The Spirit’s denying them to preach in Asia and Bithynia is baffling, so we must trust that He knew how to best facilitate the gospel’s spread.

B. His wisdom is vindicated as the church spread through Macedonia, Bithynia (1 Peter 1:1), and later Asia as Paul preached in Ephesus (Acts 19).

III. The Conversion of Lydia (16:12-15)

A. Once again Paul went directly to the place where devout Jews met to worship, and once again the strategy proved effective.

B. A woman named Lydia “…was hearing us” (16:14; YLT; LSV) resulting in the Lord opening her heart (cf. Romans 10:17).

C. She and her household obeyed the gospel, founding the Philippian church, a church with which Paul maintained a long, loving bond (16:15).

1. Paul’s unswerving dedication to the great commission facilitated the steady spread of the gospel and growth of the churches where he labored.

2. As the women by the river in Philippi, many open hearts await our arrival that they too may obey the gospel to the saving of their souls.