Acts - Week 54

Week 54 Acts 16 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 16:31-32 

31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” 32 And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. 

The Philippian jailer asked the question that determines one’s eternal destining, “What must I do to be saved?” The answer was the gospel in a nutshell: “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” That is, if the household believes in Jesus they also will be saved. The Bible never teaches that one person’s trust in Jesus saves someone else. 

REFLECT 

What would you have answered if asked this question? You can use the same answer now and pass it on to others.  

RESPOND 

Some want to add good works to what Jesus has done on the cross for mankind. If so, Jesus never gave the full gospel in John 3:16 nor did Paul and Silas in Acts 16:31. Don’t let others add anything to the finished work of Christ (read John 19:29-30).  

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 16:33-34 

33 Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. 34 He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God. 

Here is an example of how good works follow believing in Jesus for salvation. It was not part of the gospel message but followed as a result of a changed heart. Notice it says that “his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.” It was not just the jailer who had believed. This also reveals how the faith of one can sometimes help convince others of the need to believe. 

REFLECT 

Do you know of others who believed in Jesus for salvation after first seeing a person they admired believe in Him? It is to be remembered, however, that salvation is only for an individual not a group. 

RESPOND 

Just as the other prisoners were listening as Paul and Silas were praying and singing in the prison, others are listening to you and your disciple. Read Ephesians 4:25-32 that tells how believers should live. 

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 16:35-37 

35 The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, “Let those men go!” 36 So the jailer told Paul, “The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace.” 37 But Paul replied, “They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!” 

The city officials who had Paul and Silas severely beaten were now willing to let them leave. “Certainly not,” says Paul. He wanted a face-to-face meeting with these responsible for punishing Roman citizens, which was against the Roman law. Paul wanted this made public and did not want to leave secretly as if the officials had not done anything wrong.  

REFLECT 

Believers need to know the laws in their land because they may need to use them as Paul did. Unbelievers need to be shown when they contradict their own laws.  

RESPOND 

May the Lord give you and your disciple insight into any instance contradicting Christianity and wisdom to know how to handle it. For Bible statements about wisdom, read Proverbs 1:1-7 and James 1:5-6.  

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 16:38-39 

38 When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. 39 So they came to the jail and apologized to them. Then they brought them out and begged them to leave the city. 

The city officials were horrified when they learned Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. The leaders had gone against Roman law when they had them beaten. Paul wanted them to admit it. The city officials came to the jail and apologized to them. The leaders realized they were at Paul and Silas’s mercy so they “begged them to leave the city.”  

REFLECT 

Notice how unbelievers sometimes tremble when they are shown to be wrong. Normally they never admit when they are wrong. They keep persecuting those they don’t agree with. 

RESPOND 

Read Philippians 3:20-21 where Paul mentions about being citizens of heaven. The Philippians would remember the issue he made about being a citizen of Rome when he was first in Philippi.  

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 16:40 

40 When Paul and Silas left the prison, they returned to the home of Lydia. There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more. Then they left town. 

Paul and Silas were in no hurry to leave Philippi because they knew the city officials would be afraid to do anything more to them. They went to the home of Lydia and encouraged fellow believers. These believers may have been concerned for their safety having seen what happened to Paul and Silas. Many believers need encouragement. Then finally Paul and Silas left the city. 

REFLECT 

Are there believers that you should encourage today? There are many ways to do this, but at least choose one way so you can help and strengthen their lives. 

RESPOND 

Read what Paul told the believers in Thessalonica as he wrote 1 Thessalonians 5:10-12. Are you and your disciple encouraging and building up other believers?