Paul The Apostle:
Part 7: Paul’s second missionary journey:
A great deal of courage was required for the work to which Paul was now publicly pledged. Concerning the gospel, he would not associate himself with anyone who had already shown a lack of firmness in the work of preaching the gospel. This was also a time of what must have been a painful difference between him and his comrade’s in the faith and in past and present dangers!
Acts 15:35-40: Barnabas and Silas became Paul’s chief companions as they went together through Syria and Cilicia visiting churches, and they eventually coming to Derbe and Lystra. Here they found Timotheous who had become a disciple on Paul’s former visit, and now taking Timothy and had him circumcised.
Paul and Silas were actually delivering the Jerusalem decree to all the churches they were visiting. They were with joy triumphing in the freedom given to the Gentiles through the gospel.
At this time Paul had the wisdom and understanding to deal with the feeling of the Jews by circumcising Timothy. Luke in his writing steps rapidly over a considerable time of the apostle’s life and work.
Acts 16:6, “They went through Phrygia and the region of Galatia.”
Paul was now establishing,
Galatians 1:2, “the churches of Galatia.” He gives us hints of the circumstances of his preaching in that region of the world. He received a welcome reception from the people who had received the gospel, though they were unstable in their character Galatians 4:13-14.
It is difficult to understand what Paul meant when he said, “Through infirmity of the flesh.” Undoubtedly the sense concerns the “weakness of the flesh” or an illness, it being the cause of Paul’s preaching in Galatia. Some think the form and order of the words are not what we should have expected if the Paul meant to say this. He may have been saying that it was in the weakness of flesh he preached to the Gelation’s. In either case whatever the problem was; it was a great distraction to his work.
Up to this time Paul had not preached his gospel in Europe, but was limited to the area of Asia Minor. He intended to visit the western coast; but “they were forbidden by the Holy Ghost to preach the word” there. Being on the borders of Mysia, they thought of returning to the north east into Bithynia; but again the Spirit “suffered them not.” So they passed by Mysia and came to Troas.
Paul saw in a vision a man of Macedonia, who sought him saying, “Come over into Macedonia, and help us.” The vision was received by him as being from God; and the help wanted by the Macedonians was believed to be the preaching of the gospel.
We read in Acts 16:11, where Luke wrote, “We” instead of “they.” He mentions nothing of himself; but we can infer that Luke became a companion of Paul at Troas. The party now being reinforced, immediately set sail for Troas, touching at Samothrace, then landed at Neapolis and from there went on to Philippi.
Philippi was a Greek city which had received a body of Roman settlers, and was politically a colony. There were a few Jews, but not many; and when the Sabbath came, the apostles joined them by the riverside where prayer was made. The narrative is very graphic, Acts 16:13.
The first convert in Macedonia was an Asian woman who already worshipped the God of the Jews. She was a sincere believer, and sought after the apostles to honor her by staying in her home. They could not resist her urgency, and during their stay at Philippi they were the guests of Lydia, Acts 16:40.
Phillip Laspino www.seekfirstwisdom.com