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Paul added Timothy to the team and circumcised him—not for salvation, but to remove a barrier to sharing Jesus with Jews. As they traveled, they delivered the Jerusalem Council’s decision, and the churches grew stronger and larger (vv. 1–5). The Spirit redirected their route until a vision called them to Macedonia, and Luke joined the mission (“we”), showing God’s clear guidance (vv. 6–10). In Philippi, Lydia—the Lord opened her heart—believed and was baptized with her household, and her home became a base for ministry (vv. 11–15).
After Paul cast a spirit out of a slave girl, a mob formed, and Paul and Silas were beaten and jailed (vv. 16–24). Near midnight they prayed and sang; God shook the prison, opened doors, and loosed chains (vv. 25–26). Rather than escape, they stayed and pointed the terrified jailer to Christ: “Believe in the Lord Jesus” (v. 31). He and his household heard the word, believed, and were baptized; joy filled their home (vv. 31–34). The next day, Paul insisted on public acknowledgment of their rights as Roman citizens to protect the young church’s witness (vv. 35–40).
🌀 Reflection:
Where do you need to trust God’s redirection? Ask Him to turn closed doors into clear steps of obedience, and to give you a Lydia-like openness and a jailer-like urgency to believe and rejoice (vv. 14, 31–34).
💬 Mission Challenge:
Sing the gospel in your suffering this week—choose one hard moment to respond with prayer and praise, and look for a person nearby (like the jailer) to serve and share Christ with (vv. 25–32).
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Just Keith Harris 
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