Read: Acts 16:1-10

Read: Acts 16:1-10

Paul must have felt bad for the way he and Barnabas parted ways. I think by the time his traveling entourage gets to Lystra he was ready to mentor another young man, maybe thinking of how he failed John Mark. We are introduced to a very influential future leader of the church here in Lystra, Timothy. This young man has two letters that bear his names and was influential in the church after Paul is executed. Whatever the reasons were Paul wants Timothy to accompany he and Silas on their journeys. As they continue to travel, Paul and his traveling companions share the verdict that the Jerusalem leaders had decided on in chapter 15. You read that Paul has Timothy circumcised. We just read earlier that circumcision was not mandatory, so, I make this observation, while not mandatory it was voluntary and we are told that Timothy’s mother was a Jewess and his father a Greek, but on account of the Jews who lived in the area, Paul has Timothy circumcised. There is no indication in the circumcision of Timothy that Paul or anyone else tied this action with salvation. It appears that Paul’s action is about credibility and not observing custom for the sake of custom.

We also encounter today another difficult passage about the Spirit of Jesus keeping Paul and his companions from going into Asia and Bithynia to preach the gospel. This does not mean that God was less concerned about Asians or Bithynians than other people. It appears here in this text as well as our own experience that the Spirit directs where he wants us to go. There are just some places that we may not have a door to enter. We musn’t resist the Spirit. We must be willing to go wherever the Spirit leads, even if it is a place we hadn’t expected or a place that is not in our life’s travel itinerary!

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Also, pay special attention to verse 10 of chapter 16. For up to this point we have been reading Acts in a third person narrative, merely someone dictating to us the events that took place. Well, here in Acts 16:10, Paul, Silas and Timothy pick up Luke for the narrative will know use "we" language. It would appear then that the Spirit\’s plan was to direct Paul and his companions to Troas where they would meet and pick up Luke who will play a major role in the life of the church. When God tells us "no" and leads us in a different direction, we may be about to meet influential people that God wants us to meet and who knows what kind of impact we can have on the world when we are willing to partner with the people God brings our way. \n

—
Gratefully His,
Jason Retherford
Youth Minister
Chisholm Trail Church of Christ
1404 W. Main St.
Duncan, OK 73533
(580) 255-7038
\nwww.chisholmtrailchurchofchrist.com
http://www.xanga.com/youthguy4him
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Also, pay special attention to verse 10 of chapter 16. For up to this point we have been reading Acts in a third person narrative, merely someone dictating to us the events that took place. Well, here in Acts 16:10, Paul, Silas and Timothy pick up Luke for the narrative will know use “we” language. It would appear then that the Spirit’s plan was to direct Paul and his companions to Troas where they would meet and pick up Luke who will play a major role in the life of the church. When God tells us “no” and leads us in a different direction, we may be about to meet influential people that God wants us to meet and who knows what kind of impact we can have on the world when we are willing to partner with the people God brings our way.