Acts 16:1—10
Acts 13 and 14 tell the story of the amazing successes our intrepid missionaries had in their missionary endeavors in and around Asia Minor. Not only had Christian churches popped up all over in their wake, but two very important things happened at the same time.
First, there was the now-famous Jerusalem Council that met to consider Paul and Barnabas’ ministry among the Gentiles (Acts 15). There was tremendous opposition to the “new thing” God was doing among some parts of the Church. The decision of the Council was profound and far-reaching: Gentiles who found Christ were not obligated to observe the Jewish Law. This single decision was the turning point in the history of Christianity, because it forever separated the Church of Jesus Christ from the local Jewish synagogues. It also paved the way for Paul and his friends to preach the Gospel freely to anyone who would listen, whether they be Jew or Gentile, Greek or Roman.
Second, was the surprising separation of Barnabas and Paul (15:36—41). Given the success the team had, it would be logical for them to continue ministering together. But the Lord had other ideas. As they planned their second journey, Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them again. Previously, he had been their assistant but had left them t return home. Paul felt that Mark was not mature enough to travel with them; perhaps he was afraid Mark would up and leave them in the lurch again. Verse 39—
They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus.
Barnabas took his cousin, Mark, and Paul went his way, taking his new friend, Silas, with him into Syria and Cilicia. What could have been a cause of hard feelings resulted in something very good. Now, using the personalities of two men, the Lord had two, instead of one, missionary groups. Barnabas, an effective preacher and missionary in his own right, was able to train and strengthen young Mark so that the young man would become one of the great Christian leaders and writers of his day. Paul was teamed up with Silas, a man with incredible potential who worked well with Paul.
For a very full discussion of the events of Acts 16:16—40, please refer to:
1. The Spirit Guides
It is in this section of Acts that we are first introduced to a young man named Timothy. We know that later Paul would write a couple letters to this young pastor, but here Luke describes the initial meeting.
Paul (note Luke does not mention Silas, although they did travel together) came to the Galatian border town of Derbe by way of the Cilician Gates. It was a rough journey from Tarsus and over the Taurus Mountains; in all, about 80 miles of very bad road. From Derbe, Paul and Silas went to Lystra. It was here that Paul would meet young Timothy and his family. His mother’s name was Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5) and was Jewess married to a Greek man. Some scholars believe that Timothy’s father was dead by this time, because both Eunice and Lois, Timothy’s mother and grandmother, were strong spiritual influences in his life. Lois was a devout believer who taught Timothy the Scriptures from his infancy (2 Tim. 1:5; 3:15). Some have speculated Eunice and Lois became Christians during Paul’s first missionary journey. From his letters, it seems Paul knew Timothy’s family well, mentioning them by name.
Paul adopted Timothy as his spiritual son; we might use the word “mentor” to describe their relationship. Obviously Paul saw great potential in young Timothy as he was “well spoken of” by those who knew him. Just how young was Timothy? In 1 Timothy 4:12, we read this—
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
That was written some 14 years after the events of Acts 16. If Timothy was, at most, 30 when he received his first letter from Paul, that would make him a teenager when he became Paul and Silas’ traveling companion.
Interestingly, the man who argued so strenuously against circumcision now insisted Timothy be circumcised prior to the troupe setting out on their missionary journey. Had Paul had a change of theological heart? Not at all; this was a practical, not spiritual, decision. It demonstrated Paul’s longstanding philosophy of being “all things to all people” in order that he “might by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22). Because of his mixed heritage, Timothy had no real standing among the Jews or the Greeks. In fact, in Judaism, his mother’s marriage was considered illegal. To nip any controversy in the bud regarding Timothy’s fitness to bear the Gospel among the Jews, Paul had him circumcised.
The ordination of Timothy was a great event in the history of the Church. Paul, not comfortable about Mark, discerned something in Timothy that he deemed useful to the progress of the Gospel.
(a) Blocked by the Spirit, verses 6, 7
Looking at all of Paul’s journeys, we realize that they were successful because of both spiritual guidance and careful planning. Paul depended on the leading of the Holy Spirit, but he also made plans, bought tickets, made reservations for accommodations, etc. Not only that, Paul also seemed to have a strategy for where to preach the Gospel. Whether God’s idea or his, Paul’s routine was to preach the Gospel in large, important cities, where trade and commerce took place, where travelers would be exposed to his message and take it back home with them. Sticking to his plan, Paul had planned to head west into modern Turkey. Perhaps he desired to visit Ephesus, but we are told that the Holy Spirit had other plans. This is a great lesson to learn: it is wise to make plans, but it is even wiser to be willing to alter our plans at the discretion of God.
The prompting of the Spirit was strong and unmistakable. The Greek word translated “kept” in the NIV means “to hinder” or “to restrain.” Our missionaries were literally being “held back” by the Spirit! Technically, the Spirit did not forbid them to travel in the area, He just did not want them preaching there. As to why, we do not know, and we also have no idea how the Spirit communicated to Paul. The co-operation of God and man in the Work of the Lord was common in New Testament times (“It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…”) as it should be common in our times. The Holy Spirit leads us several distinct ways today:
- He may direct circumstances around us so that the guidance from His unseen Hand is unmistakable;
- He may enlarge our mental capabilities and heighten our faculties so that without our conscious knowledge, we think and see more clearly than usual;
- He may speak to us through those around us, whether we are close to them or not.
It is imperative that we who follow Christ actually follow Christ; we should never cease to pray for His will, trusting that in His providence He will make it made known to us.
(b) Guided by a vision, verses 8—10
Paul and his friends had been stopped by the Holy Spirit, and now that same Holy Spirit communicated to Paul is an obvious fashion: he has a vision at night. Having these kinds of visions was common to the the apostles; consider Acts 9:10, 12; 10:3; 17, 19; 11:5; 12:9; 16:6—10; 18:9. In this vision, the man who appeared to Jesus offering guidance was not Jesus or an angel; at Troas Paul saw a man begging him to come to Macedonia.
Although not in Paul’s original itinerary, Macedonia in the first century was a happening place. It was surrounded by other large metropolitan centers, with Greece just to the south. It was ruled by the Romans and the citizens of Macedonia spoke Greek fluently. It was a simple enough deviation from the plan to move from one continent, Asia, to another, Europe, thanks to a common language and legal system.
The man in the vision said to Paul—
“Come over to Macedonia and help us.” (verse 9b)
The first part of the plea refers to our band of missionaries crossing the Aegean Sea, and the second part is clear request for help. The use of the Greek verb suggests “coming to one’s aid,” and was used in Mark 9:24—
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
In that instance, the request for help was linked to the need for spiritual help, and clearly this was how Paul understood his request. The man from Macedonia, though, was not speaking just on his behalf; the people of that entire region were ready to hear and receive the Gospel.
2. The importance of obedience
In history, turning points are few but significant. These turning points may take the form of a conflict, like the Civil War or the civil rights movement. Sometimes turning points are achievements, like the invention of the telegraph or the automobile or penicillin. Paul’s decision to go to Macedonia was a turning point in every sense of the word. Because Paul was obedient to the Holy Spirit, the Gospel went westward into Europe, and as a result of that, the western world would be evangelized. Responding to the prompting of God, whether as the result of circumstances or visions, is never a trivial thing.
On a smaller, though no less significant note, had Paul not journeyed to Troas, another turning point would have been missed and our firsthand historical record would be nonexistent. It is here, at Troas, that the first of the “we” sections occurs. It was at Troas that Luke joined our missionary group. Just how these two men met is an intriguing consideration. Some scholars have suggested that Paul was sick and in need of continued medical care. According to Paul’s own testimony, Luke was or became a good friend—
Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. (Colossians 4:14)
Coincidentally, the foremost medical school of the day was located at Tarsus, Paul’s hometown, and Paul was likely educated at the university there. The school at Tarsus was the greatest in the world at that time, ranking just behind Athens and Alexandria. It is possible that these two men, towering servants of Christ, met years earlier at school and by chance recognized each other at Troas. Even if that is mere wild speculation, the fact that these two men would find each other at all in that teeming city is one more example of how God moves and manipulates people and things.
This whole story gives us a valuable lesson in how God guides us. Paul was like a man walking down a corridor, looking for a door that was unlocked. To his left and to his right, he finds locked doors or doors with a “Do Not Enter” sign hanging on them. So he keeps on walking, frustrated as he approaches to be a blank wall. Yet the closer he gets, the clear he sees, and suddenly that blank wall parts; the double door swings open revealing an auditorium full of people, waiting to hear the Gospel. (Earl)
Like Paul, we may be tempted to get frustrated or impatient as we walk down the corridor of our lives. And like Paul, we may keep in walking as we approach our land’s end. But just as Paul’s journey of faith opened more doors, so ours will in time. God closes smaller doors all along the way, because He has other, bigger ones, waiting for us to walk through. It’s a lifelong journey of faith.
