Acts 16 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Acts 16 in 5 Minutes

WHEN:

• Paul, Silas, and Timothy’s preaching journey most likely took place between the years 49-52 A.D.

CHARACTERS:

• Paul (Saul) – An Apostle who was working in Asia Minor planting churches.

• Silas – Originally from Jerusalem, he accompanied Paul on his 2nd missionary journey.

• Timothy – A disciple from Lysta or Derbe, he joined Paul when he passed through the region preaching.

• Lydia - A woman from Philippi who became one of the first converts in the city.

• Philippian Jailer - A prison guard who became a believer after a great earthquake.

WHERE:

• The chapter opens with Paul and Silas visiting the churches in Derbe and Lystra. He attempted to go north but was prohibited by God.

• After passing by the region of Mysia, Paul received directions to go to Macedonia.

• Paul, Silas, and Timothy sailed through the north Aegean Sea to the Roman colony of Philippi.

OUTLINE:

• A THIRD TRAVELLING COMPANION (ACTS 16:1-5):

  • Paul and Silas visited Derbe and Lystra and met a disciple named Timothy.

  • Paul asked Timothy to accompany them on their journey.

  • Timothy agreed and the trio travelled from city to city encouraging, teaching, and sharing the decision made by the Jerusalem council in Acts 15.

• PAUL RECEIVES DIRECTION FROM A VISION IN THE IN NIGHT (ACTS 16:6-10):

  • The Holy Spirit prevented Paul’s company from going to Asia to preach.

  • He also prevented the group from going north to Bithynia to spread the gospel.

  • In Troas, Paul received a vision of a man saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

• LYDIA BECOMES A BELIEVERS IN PHILIPPI (16:11-15):

  • Paul, Silas, and Timothy sailed to the city of Philippi in Macedonia.

  • Outside the city, there was a river where people gathered to pray, and the trio spoke to a group of women who had gathered there.  

  • A woman named Lydia heard them gladly and was baptized along with the rest of her family.

• PAUL AND SILAS ARE THROWN IN PRISON (16:16-24):

  • One day a “a slave girl who had a spirit of divination” met Paul and started yelling, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim the way of salvation.”

  • She did this for several days until Paul finally commanded the spirit to depart from her.

  • Her owners were angry because they made money from her divinations.

  • They seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the city rulers who commanded them to be beaten with rods.

  • They were then thrown into the inner part of the prison and fastened in stocks.

• THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE AND THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER (16:25-40):

  • At midnight, Paul and Silas were singing hymns in the prison.

  • Suddenly, there was a great earthquake and the doors of the prison opened and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.

  • The jailer almost killed himself, thinking all the prisoners had escaped, but Paul and Silas stopped him.

  • He asked Silas and Paul what he needed to do to be saved.

  • The two preachers taught the jailer and his whole house about Jesus and they were all baptized that night.

  • When it was discovered that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens and had been beaten unlawfully, the city rulers let them out of prison and apologized.

  • The preachers visited Lydia before departing to another city.

APPLICATION:

• Your positive attitude during times of trial can have a huge impact on the people observing you.

• Paul and Silas were beaten and chained in prison, but they found joy in Jesus and were singing hymns during their incarceration.

• Whatever they were singing must have had a big effect on the jailer, because after the earthquake he immediately ran up to Silas and Paul and asked what he needed to do to be saved.

• When we rejoice through suffering rather than sulking through it, we may be impacting people in powerful ways, even if we never aware of the impact.