Acts - Week 53

Week 53 Acts 16 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 16:20-21 

20 “The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!” they shouted to the city officials. 21 “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.” 

This is what happened after Paul cast out the demon from the slave girl who was earning money for her master. The Romans allowed idol worshipping but the people didn’t want to hear the message of salvation by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Surely the master who lost the income was behind the mob’s reaction. No one was rejoicing the demon had been cast out of the slave girl. 

REFLECT 

Have you seen that God gets people’s attention most quickly when their pocketbooks are touched? Do you realize that what you have has been given to you by God? 

RESPOND 

You and your disciple need to read Matthew 6:20-21 that reminds believers to focus on eternal, not material, treasures.  

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 16:22-24 

22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. 24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. 

The city officials were not open to hearing what Paul and Silas had to say. They were stripped, severely beaten with rods and thrown into prison. The officials were concerned about the possibility of escape so Paul and Silas were put into the inner dungeon. Plus, their feet were put in the stocks. Surely the unbelievers felt comfortable at this time that these two would never escape. 

REFLECT 

Can you think of times when it seemed circumstances had reached a dead end and all hope was lost? That was the time to rely on God. 

RESPOND 

Read 2 Corinthians 11:24-27 where Paul rehearses what he had willingly gone through serving Jesus. Notice verse 25 that says he was beaten with rods three times. The beating in Acts 16 was one of those. 

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 16:25-26 

25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! 

In spite of their desperate situation, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns. What a testimony this was to the other prisoners who were listening. Suddenly at midnight a gigantic earthquake shook the building to its foundations, the doors flew open and the chains fell off all the prisoners. Think what a surprise all this was to the prisoners. What would they do now? 

REFLECT 

Have you sometimes been surprised by a natural phenomenon that was allowed by God to occur? Was God trying to get everyone’s attention? Were you ready to witness to those in fear? 

RESPOND 

The late Bible teacher Warren W. Wiersbe said, “A faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted.” Talk with your disciple about this. When your faith was tested, can it now be better trusted? 

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 16:27-28 

27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” 

The penalty was death for any guard who let a prisoner escape. Knowing this, the jailer planned to kill himself before others could. How relieved he must have been when Paul shouted that all prisoners were still there. Now the jailer must have been really confused. What just happened? Why are the prisoners still here? What should he do now? 

REFLECT 

Have you had occasions when something happened that caused a multitude of questions to race through your mind? What did you do then? 

RESPOND 

Take courage by reading Proverbs 3:5-6. An individual is to have some understanding but is not to trust in it alone. Work with your disciple on memorizing these verses so in confusing times they can be recalled.  

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 16:29-30 

29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 

The jailer realized he was now at the mercy of Paul and Silas. He did not fear their escape so he brought them out of the dungeon. Then he asked the question that is the most important one because it determines one’s eternal destiny. He asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” The jailer was concerned about more than physical safety; he recognized Paul and Silas could tell him how to be right with God. What would they say?  

REFLECT 

Had you been there when the jailer asked Paul and Silas how to be saved, what would you have answered? Be sure you are ready if someone asks you that question. 

RESPOND 

Talk with your disciple how to be ready to answer if someone asks how to be saved. Sometimes the thought is no one will ask that question, but then shock comes when they do. Are you ready with an answer?