“COME AND HELP US”
Passage: Acts 16:1-15
Key verse: 9
NIV
chapter 16
1. Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek.
2. The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.
3. Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
4. As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.
5. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
6. Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.
7. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
8. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.
9. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
10. After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
11. From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis.
12. From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
13. On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.
14. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.
15. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
From Lystra Paul wanted to go into the province of Asia, but the Holy Spirit prevented this. When Paul had a dream of a man of Macedonia begging him to come and help them, Paul obeyed the vision. God opened the door to Europe, and this changed the history of the Christian church.
Upon arriving, Paul went to Philippi, the leading city of the region. There he met Lydia and her family. The Lord opened her heart to the gospel message Paul spoke. As Paul followed God’s leading, the Gentile ministry would spread throughout the world.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be guided by your will and your word. Make me a source of help in this world.
One Word: Obey God; help God’s people