The Second Missionary Journey of Paul Paul and Silas Jailhouse Experience Acts 16:1-40

As chapter 15 concluded, we discover that Paul and Silas “went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches” (v. 40).  From Syria and Cilicia, they will go up into Galatian country.  Paul will visit the Galatian churches because of the problem that had arisen with the Judaizers.  Paul will address this problem of the Judaizers in the book of Galatians because the Judaizers were leading the Galatian believers astray by trying to put the Galatian believers under the Mosaic system.  In the book of Galatians, Paul will unfold a sturdy defense of the doctrine of justification by faith.  In other words, a man is justified solely by grace through faith without the keeping of the Law!  Grace is a way to life and a way of life!

As chapter 16:1-2 opens, Paul arrives at Derbe and Lystra, and at Lystra, he meets Timotheus (Timothy).  Timothy is now with the missionary team of Paul and Silas.  In verse 3, Paul has Timothy circumcised because Paul didn’t want any degree of offense, or argument as Timothy carried the gospel to Jewish synagogues.  There was simply no merit in circumcision but Paul didn’t want circumcision to be an issue!  Paul had Timothy circumcised so that Timothy’s ministry among the Jews would not be handicapped.

As the missionary team of Paul, Silas, and Timothy traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:23-29).  As they visited the churches, Paul and his team had tremendous spiritual success (vv. 4-5).  After Paul had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, Paul was forbidden of the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia (v. 6).  After Paul goes to Mysia, he was forbidden to go Bithynia but goes to Troas (vv. 7-8).  From Troas, Paul will receive his Macedonian call, for the gospel is going across from Asia into Europe (v. 9).  From verse 10, Dr. Luke joins the missionary team of Paul, Silas and Timothy.  Leaving Troas, the team came to Samothracia, Neapolis and then to Philippi (vv. 11-13).  In Philippi, Paul and his team came into contact with Lydia, the first convert to Christ in Europe.  Her whole household was saved (vv. 14-15).

From verses 16-24, Paul and his missionary team encountered a demon possessed girl who had brought her masters much gain.  Paul cast out the demon in the girl, resulting in Paul and Silas being severely beaten.  From verse 25, Paul and Silas are in jail at midnight, engaged in “prayer and singing praises unto God.”  As Paul and Silas were rendering praises unto God, suddenly the earthquake shakes the jail, the doors were opened, and the jailer opens his heart to receive Christ as Saviour (vv. 26-31).  The Philippian jailer’s household was also saved (vv. 32-34).  Chapter 16 closes with the magistrates apologizing to Paul and Silas for severely beating them (vv. 35-40).