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Lesson 29

Where the Spirit Leads

Acts 15:36 – 16:12

There have been times in my life, probably far too many, when according to the standards I have set or my personal agenda someone has done something to hurt me. My usual reaction is to no longer have anything to do with that person. This of course is not always possible, but the way which I deal with them certainly changes. When that happens, the level of trust that once was there or easy give and take between them and me no longer exists. One of the areas that has been the most difficult has been the way I see Church members treating each other or hurting the body of believers by their words or actions. This is something I will struggle with the rest of my days. Only God can bring peace in to such situations.

I am afraid that my feelings are sometimes multiplied exponentially within the body of Christ. Each of us does not leave who we are at home. All of our different ideas of how church is to be done are brought with us every time we come together as a community of believers. All we have to do is look around and see what “self” has done to the body. It is amazing that God can still use any of us when we keep getting in the way of His purpose for the church.

In this lesson we start off with conflict between two strong followers of Christ. It would typical to immediately place blame on one or other of the parties. We have to be careful to be objective even though we not like what we see. Remember in the scheme of things God is able to use fallible humans to accomplish His work in spite of our shortcomings.

Acts 15:36

Paul must have concluded that the church at Antioch was on stable enough footing that he and Barnabas could leave and check on the churches they had established on the first missionary trip.

1. What caused Paul to make the decision to once again embark on a new missionary journey?
2. Why is there no mention of the Holy Spirit in this decision?
3. What does this say about the church at Antioch?
4. Why did he want return to the same cities that he had visited before?
5. What could he have happened since he had left them?

Acts 15:37

Barnabas was willing to go. There was one condition to him making the trip. He wanted to take John Mark along with them.

1. Why would Barnabas want to take John Mark along?
2. In what ways would they be taking a chance by including him on the team?
3. What did Barnabas see in the young man that made him want to give him a second chance?

Acts 15:38

Paul was inflexible. Notice that Paul was persistent in his opposition. He spelled out the sequence of events that taken place on the previous trip and added that John Mark, “had not gone with them to the work.” Because John Mark had deserted them before he was not willing to take the risk that it might happened again.

1. In what instances would the actions of Paul be justified in his refusal to let John Mark go with them on the next missionary trip?
2. What does this say about the personality of Paul?
3. What attribute of a prophet is on display in this incident?
4. In what ways could it be said that Paul was a result oriented person?
5. What effect would Paul’s attitude have on John Mark’s life?
6. What effect could the desire of Barnabas to include him on the team have on the John Mark?
7. What does it say about Barnabas?
8. If you were in Paul’s place, how would you have handled the situation?

Acts 15:39

Because the two men could not come to an agreement about the young man they went their separate ways. Luke tells us that before they parted there was a sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas. Here were two godly men who had such opposite views that it resulted in them going in two different directions. Barnabas still true to his personality as one who encourages, took John Mark with him and sailed off to Cyprus.

This incident is full of dangers for the church. On the one hand Paul may have concluded that John Mark had done nothing prove that he was capable of handling the stresses and hardships of another missionary trip. Remember before he left with the team he had been in the safe and comfortable environment of the Jerusalem Church. Paul was looking for someone who could eventually take over for him in the work. In his mind John Mark was not that man. The other danger is that Paul may have focused too much on the past failure and therefore could not see the strengths that Mark may have possessed.

Barnabas could have been just as culpable in his zeal to take Mark along. He may have let his own personality get in the way of the reality of the fitness of Mark to become an asset to the team. He was willing to overlook his weaknesses and focus on the strengths he perceived that the young man possessed.

Both men may have been right in their assessment. Paul was about to embark into places where he had already experienced opposition. Barnabas wisely chose familiar territory and went off to Cyprus where the team had previously met with some success and no persecution. If Mark was going to prove himself what better situation could be found than that chosen by Barnabas.

1. What are your feelings on the final decision?
2. What if both men were right, how could this conflict been resolved differently?
3. Of the two types of men which are needed in the church? Why?
4. What do we see in Barnabas’ character that we might want to copy?
5. What good might be seen in the separation?
6. What dangers does a situation like this present to the church?

Acts 15:40

Paul did allow this incident deter him from his plans. He selected Silas, a prophet and one of the men who had come to Antioch from the church in Jerusalem, to travel with him. He took with him a man of proven character and ability. The church in Antioch again showed their support for the work and sent them on their way committed to the watch care of the Lord. The two men then travelled by land through Syria and Cilicia. From what is said other churches must have been formed which were not as a result of Paul’s first trip. They must have been started in the same way that the church at Antioch had by those fleeing from the persecution of the Jews. Paul still saw it as his responsibility to encourage followers of Christ wherever he found them. Notice this route would take him through his home town on Tarsus. Remember he had ministered in that city a number of years before going to Antioch.

1. Why would Paul select Silas to go with him?
2. What part did the church play in the decision of Paul?
3. Why do we not find the same words of commission for Barnabas as we do for Paul and Silas?
4. Why did Paul take a different route than he had previously?
5. What news would he be able to bring to the churches in Syria and Cilia that would provide encouragement?
6. Why would Paul want to visit his home town?

Acts 16:1-3

On his third visit to Lystra Paul became acquainted with a young man by the name of Timothy. Luke gives a good biographical sketch of the young man. He is described as:

• A disciple
• The son of a Jewish believer. In the book of 2 Timothy we find her name, Eunice and the name of his grandmother (Lois).
• His father was a Greek.
• He had a good reputation among the people of Lystra.

Paul saw the qualities first hand and wanted Timothy to travel with him. The first thing he did was to circumcise him because of the Jews and the fact that his father was a Gentile. Although the Gentiles were exempt from the ceremony of circumcision the Jews still performed this ritual. This would allow Timothy to move freely among both Jew and Gentile.

1. What were some of the qualities Timothy possessed that would make him a good travelling companion?
2. In what way was Timothy different than John Mark at this point?
3. Why did Paul need another person to go with him? Silas was already part of the team?
4. How important was it for the growth of the church for young men to be brought alongside someone like Paul?
5. What was Paul going to do with Timothy?

Acts 16:4-5

Part of the message that Paul and the others shared with all the churches in the cities they visited were the decrees that had been approved by the Church in Jerusalem. When the believers heard the words of Paul they were:

• Being strengthened in their faith
• Increasing in number each day.

 

1. What was the message Paul spoke to the churches of Asia Minor?
2. Why would the words strengthen them and bring new people into the church?

Acts 16:6-8

Paul’s ministry was about to take a new turn. Up until that point he had only preached in the areas of Syria and what today would be southern Turkey. As he tried to move north and east the Holy Spirit prohibited him from going into Asia. Some commentators suggest that Paul’s illness kept him from those areas. One piece of evidence that might confirm that fact is that Luke, the physician, joined the missionary team as is seen in verse 10. Paul’s journey then took him between Phrygia and Galatia. Being forbidden to go into Bithynia they found themselves in Troas in Mysia.

1. Why did the Holy Spirit forbid them to go into Asia or either Bithynia in the northern part of Turkey?
2. What indicates that Paul was obedient to the prohibition?
3. Who was actually in charge of this missionary Journey?
4. What evidence do we have that this was true?
5. What is our tendency when we decide to do something?
6. How much like or unlike Paul are we in carrying out the ministry of the church?

Acts 16:9-10

Finally there was a break-through for Paul and others as to the direction God wanted the team to take. It came in the form of a vision. A man from Macedonia, some believe that this was none other than Luke, made an appeal for the team to come over to Macedonia which is present day Greece. Paul took this as an affirmation that God wanted him to proceed into Macedonia. Notice he was not given a specific city but a region in which he was to share the gospel. Arriving in Neapolis, present day Kavala, they did not stay there but travelled on to Philippi.

1. Why was Paul willing to wait at Troas for further instruction?
2. Why did it take the dream or vision as a sign that he was to go into Macedonia?
3. How sensitive are we to the different ways God desires to communicate with us?
4. What is our usual response to the message of God given to us?

Acts 16:12-13

Philippi is described as a leading city of that district. It was also a Roman colony. The Romans had a unique way of guaranteeing loyalty in cities they considered strategic. They would place in those cities a number of former soldiers who had finished their service. Therefore the city became Roman in every way from the way people spoke to maintaining Roman law. It was into this environment that Paul and the others came. Before they started sharing the gospel with the citizens they spend several days there?

1. Why did Paul choose the city of Philippi in which to start his teaching in Europe?
2. What did it mean for Philippi to be called a Roman Colony?
3. Why did Paul delay presenting the gospel for several days?
4. What did he hope to discover by waiting?

In the next lesson we will be introduced to three different people who lived in Philippi and their relationship with Paul and Silas.

What are the lessons that you can take away from these chapters in Acts?

1. Determine your motives as you interact with people at Church.
2. See if the decisions you make or based on a foundation of God’s word.
3. Look carefully at the leadership with an eye to encouraging them in the areas of their strengths without putting too much emphasis on their shortcomings.
4. Ask yourself if you would want to be judged in the same way as you judge others.
5. Prayerfully consider whether are those with whom you need to be reconciled.

God truly wants His church to be a discerning people. Quite often we are going to be called on to make difficult decisions. We are to prayerfully consider the direction we are to take to build God’s kingdom. There will be times when we need both those who see things in black and white and others who always see the best in others. God put the church together as a mosaic of people, each wired differently. We are to be careful that we do not discount those who may have a different opinion than ours. Their viewpoint may save us from a lot of heartache and mistakes in the future. This is God’s church. It is His world. The decisions we make and the leadership we put in place will determine how we impact the world for Christ.

Other Notes:

C-Paul and Barnabas could have remained in Antioch teaching and preaching. He decided, however, to revisit the churches he had established on his previous journey.   (Acts 15:35-36)

RT-Like so many churches that have splits or people leave, the reason for the division quite often has nothing to do with the teaching of doctrine but some peripheral issue. In this particular situation John Mark became the center of the controversy.

Barnabas was a man who believed in giving people a second chance while Paul was not willing to take the chance that Mark would fail them again. It is interesting to note that in the latter years of his life, Paul came to depend on Mark as a vital part of his ministry. (Acts 15:37-39; 2 Tim. 4:11)

C-Barnabas agreed to go and wanted to take John Mark with them. Paul balked at that idea because John Mark deserted them on the earlier trip. When the two men could not come to an agreement, they went their separate ways. Barnabas teamed with Mark and went to Cyprus. Paul selected Silas and began on his trip “travelling through Syria and Cilicia strengthening the churches. (Acts 15:37-41)

DM-Paul and Barnabas went their separate ways not being able to agree on taking Mark with them because he had deserted them earlier. (Acts 15:37-41)

GC-As difficult as it is to practice there is to be no division among believers.             (Acts 15:39)

GC-Before we begin any ministry we are to be affirmed by the body and place under the guidance and watch care of the Lord. (Acts 15:40)

C-Paul travelled in Derbe and Lystra. There he met a man of good reputation named Timothy. Paul wanted Timothy to become part of his team so he circumcised him because his father was a Greek while his mother and Grandmother of Jewish descent. (Acts 16:1-3)

C-The churches Paul and the others visited were being strengthened in the faith and others were also joining them daily. (Acts 16:4)

S-It was obvious that the Holy Spirit was not sending them into Asia. We are told that Paul and Silas were not permitted to travel there. (Acts 16:6-7)

DM-Paul did not try to go through doors that were closed to him but into he went to Macedonia the place opened to him by the Holy Spirit. When his travels took him into Macedonia he began the first missionary work ever into Europe. (Acts 16:6-10)

GC-A godly man must always be sensitive to the leading of God’s Spirit.                   (Acts 16:6, 9-10)

C-The plans of the missionary team were altered when the Holy Spirit forbade them from going into Asia. At Mysia they were also redirected from Asia so they journeyed on to Troas. Paul had a vision of a man beseeching him to come to Macedonia. Based on that vision the team immediately set out for Macedonia finally arriving in Philippi where they stayed for several days. (Acts 16:6-12)

GC-The believer proceeds only under the guidance (direction) of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit may forbid certain which on the surface may seem right. He, however, has the best results for us at the core of who He is and the actions He leads us to take. Paul is a good example of one who obeyed. (Acts 16:7)

RT-Paul certainly understood his mission was to carry the gospel to the Gentile world. He left the how, when, where and what he was to share up to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 16:9-10; Col. 4:4)

S-After Paul had the vision of the man calling him to come to Macedonia, he concluded that God was sending him there. (Acts 16:9-10)