Leader's page and Student's page best viewed left/right side together
Leader’s notes: Acts 15:40 – 18:22. A.D. 50-52
Like the last lesson, you will need to have gone through this page, and have your own answers, before leading the lesson!
Lead from the front, but with the ladies split into twos or small groups.
Encourage them to make notes so they have them for future reference.
Walk round the groups as they work, inspiring them to keep on track.
After a while get the ladies to share their information.
Syria and Cilicia 15:40-41 consolidated, helped to improve local churches
Derbe and Lystra 16:1-5 informed them about the Council decisions, from 15:23-29
supporting and backing up the letter’s content, verse 27
the result was increase as faith in Jesus Christ was reinforced.
Move into a class-wide discussion from the Timothy questions opposite
Mixed race, respected in local church, gifted, see 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6.
The New Living Translation says in Acts 16:3 “In deference to the Jews of the area, he (Paul) arranged for Timothy to be circumcised”. He wisely considered other
people’s viewpoints as well as his own. He wanted no barriers for his gospel.
Back to looking for information. Read the Bible verses suggested:
Phrygia and Galatia, Acts 16:6-10 unsure of direction, given clear answers
Troas, Samothrace, Neapolis, Philippi, 16:11-12, ‘we’ 16:10-12 shows Luke joined them
Think about guidance from this incident and the references opposite
Philippi Acts 16:13-40 Read about three incidents:
First incident verses 13-15
Ask the ladies what they have found out about Lydia, fill in five answers opposite:
- devout, 200 miles from home, in business, hospitable, God working in her heart.
Place of prayer – women there - no synagogue – that required ten Jewish men.
Purple cloth was a luxury item.
Paul did not walk away from a group of women – he was not by himself –‘we’ verse 13, probably included Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke, no-one could misunderstand.
Second incident 16:16-22 Check answers the ladies found to five questions.
Share this: Can you see a change in motivation within 16:19-21?
The owners of the slave girl had a financial problem, but what they said to the magistrates was a racial and a religious argument. Jews have often been unpopular for their frequent business success, and because they stick to their religion and its rules, not integrating with their host community.
As you well know racialism and religious persecution or oppression exist today. In the UK there is a big debate now about the treatment of Jews within one of the political parties. Here we find the same thing in Philippi a long, long time ago.
Student's page:
Lesson 21 Second Missionary Journey Acts 15:40 – 18:22. A.D. 50-52
Don’t forget you have a map where you can mark Paul’s route – page 4.
It is different from the first journey.
You are looking for what happened in each of the places, good or bad.
Syria and Cilicia 15:40-41
Derbe and Lystra 16:1-5
What do you know about Timothy? 1.
2.
3.
4.
Why did Paul decide it would be good for Timothy to be circumcised? Ouch!
Paul is not saying that all new non-Jewish believing men have to be circumcised. He is saying that because he is taking Timothy on ministry where it would be good to be able to sit, talk and eat with Jews, table fellowship would not be possible with strict Jews unless Timothy was circumcised.
Phrygia and Galatia, 16:6-10 How did they know where to go and where not? Can this work over decisions in your life? How?
Troas, Samothrace, Neapolis, Philippi, 16:11-12
Why do you think they went to Philippi after the vision? See verse 12 and think!
Guidance in 16:6-10 - compare John 15:26, 16:13-14; Galatians 4:6, 5:25.
There is no formula for knowing what God wants us to do. We need to trust God the Holy Spirit working in us to show us the way, however He wants to.
Philippi read Acts 16:13-40 First incident verses 13-15
What do you know about Lydia? 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Paul thought women were of value and needed to know Jesus as much as men.
Second incident verses 16-22
1, Who was doing the fortune telling?
2. Who was getting the money?
3. Was what the slave girl said in 16:17 right? compare James 2:19.
4. Why was Paul annoyed?
5. Why were Paul and Silas taken to the authorities?
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Leader's page:
Third incident in Philippi, Acts 16:23-40
Talk through the questions opposite
The jailer – revise 12:19 - if there was an escape then the jailer would receive the punishment the prisoner was due to receive. This jailer was not going to wait for that.
Pride? Much more likely to raise the standing and respect for the new, young church.
Philippi’s church - Lydia and her household? The slave girl? The jailer and his family and household? Plus others who responded.
Thessalonica, Acts 17:1-10
Read the verses and share answers to the questions opposite.
Another house church - Jews, Greeks and influential women.
Is it always right to stay and fight? Or is it always right to run away? Why?
Berea, Acts 17:10-15
Same again!
Athens, Acts 17:16-34
And again.
The Areopagus was an intellectual debate centre where new ideas could be presented, thought about, questioned and otherwise discussed.
Paul took something he saw in their city – an altar ‘To an unknown god’ –
and he ‘talked them from there to Jesus’. A great guide in witnessing.
Ask the group: If only a few respond positively, is it a successful mission?
Corinth, Acts 18:1-18 Read the verses and share ladies’ answers.
So we discover there were Christians in Rome.
God gave a vision of Encouragement. Or Assurance. Or Confidence. Or Support.
Gallio’s ruling means that Christianity became a protected religion under Roman law, and that Christians became innocent of breaking Roman law.
God is able to use all rulers (even non-Christian ones) to further His will as He chooses.
Ephesus, Acts 18:18-22
Jerusalem was still where the apostles and leaders were based.
Antioch in Syria was his home church.
Student's page:
Third incident in Philippi, Acts 16:23-40
What was the first punishment for Paul and Silas?
And the second?
What happened then?
Why did the jailer immediately think to kill himself?
Do you think the jailer had heard Paul and Silas in the town? Why?
Conversions, medical treatment, baptisms, a meal, an unplanned night they had!
The authorities had decided to release Paul and Silas – why the delay?
Did Paul and Silas refuse to leave quietly because of their own pride?
If not, what others reasons did they have?
In 16:40 the church met in Lydia’s house. Who do you think was part of it?
On to Thessalonica, Acts 17:1-10
Who made up the new church?
What emotion caused the riot?
What did the believers do?
Berea, Acts 17:10-15
Who was with Paul? check 17:14-15.
What was the response? Who responded positively to the gospel?
Trouble came from Thessalonica and once again the believers protected Paul.
Athens, Acts 17:16-34
Had Silas and Timothy caught up with Paul?
What distressed Paul?
Where was Paul able to speak?
At the Areopagus how did Paul start his talk?
Is this a good method for us - always to ‘start where people are’?
Were there any believers?
Corinth, Acts 18:1-18
What job did Paul do? With whom? Why had they left Rome?
Silas and Timothy arrive – what big change does Paul make? Why?
The Jews oppose Paul, so what does he say and do? Who was converted?
Can you describe God’s message in the vision, verses 9-10, using just one word?
Would you like to have been in Paul’s teaching class for those 18 months? Why?
The Jews take Paul to the area Governor who is not interested in their case -how significant is this?
Ephesus, Acts 18:18-22
Why go to Jerusalem?
Why go to Antioch?
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