Acts, Chapter 16 - The Macedonian Vision

Outbless Weekly

Acts, Chapter 16 - The Macedonian Vision

16 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, 2 and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium.

- Paul “small” or “humble”

- Derbe “tanner of skin”; “coverer with skin”

- Lystra “ransoming”

- Timothy “honoring God”

- Lystra “ransoming”

- Iconium “little image”; “icon”

- Jesus humbled himself and became a man, to pay the ransom for sin and honor God the Father as the Son (paid himself) as the ransom (as He was the little image of His Father).

3 Paul wanted this man to go with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

- Paul wanted this man to go with him

o Sounds just like when Barnabas wanted John Mark to go with them but Paul got into a dispute with Barnabas about it so much so that they parted ways

- And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts

o For they all knew his father was Greek (not a Jew)

o Now we see Paul still leaning toward the Jewish system and appeasing them even though he knows that salvation is by grace alone (based on Chapter 15)

o He circumcises a grown man (that had to hurt)

§ Physical harm

§ Spiritual harm

4 Now while they were passing through the cities, they were delivering the decrees which had been decided upon by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem, for them to observe. 5 So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily.

- They were delivering the decrees which had been decided upon by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem

o These decrees were to rely upon grace not circumcision

o Paul knew this was not to save Timothy instead it was to appease the Jews who knew his father was a Greek (this is Paul trying remain in the “in-crowd” of Jews)

o They are preaching the Word correctly but notice the hypocrisy

o Do as I say not as I do (Paul was way off on this subject and yet God still used him)

o Where sin abounds, Grace abounds even more

- So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily

o Real church growth is measured by souls saved not donations

6 They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; 7 and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; 8 and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Intro to Outbless Weekly

Thanks for listening to Outbless.com