Acts 16

This is probably one of the most memorable chapters in Acts concerning Paul for many people. In chapter 16 we see where Paul and Silas are imprisoned by the magistrates because of the course of action they took regarding a young slave girl who was hindering their ministry attempts. The young girl, filled with an evil spirit was a fortune teller and earned money for her master. When she continued to speak out against Paul he cast the demon out of her leaving her unable to continue soothsaying. The owner raised she a stir among the magistrates that they beat Paul and Silas and had them cast into prison. Once again we see God taking improbable circumstances and turning them into divine encounters. As Paul and Silas sat in chains, having bodies hurting from the beatings they still sang praises and prayed unto God. Oh Lord, let us all have such a close walk with you that we rejoice in our times of affliction and pain. Let us seize the moments to offer praise to our God who is still in control. Because of the might of our great God, the chains were released and the doors were opened from an earthquake; yet Paul and Silas nor any of the other prisoners left. This act of God drew the jailer to a moment of crises and allowed Paul and Silas to lead him to salvation, along with his entire family. Oh that we all would see the divine moments in our times of crises surrendering unto God our entire lives.

Earlier in the chapter we see a seeming contradiction from the decision of the Jerusalem Council. Paul decides to take young Timothy with him to mentor him for ministry. However, Timothy being from a Jewish mother and a Gentile father had not been circumcised. This could present a matter of division among some of the Jewish people. Therefore, Paul circumcised Timothy. Why? Didn't the Council say this was not necessary? Yes! However, Paul takes upon himself to become all things to all people in order that he might win one to Christ. What a humble lesson we must learn, yet what a state of those in the church. Yes, we should do all we can to lead others to Christ but this was a matter of those inside the church. How sad when the church becomes so focused on legalistic matters that we miss the joy of Christ.

Lessons We Learned:
1. Any moment, good or bad, could result in divine encounters.
2. The act of praise in the midst of calamity is the mark of a mature believer and allows the power of the Holy Spirit to draw others to Christ.
3. We must become all things to all people to win them to Christ, yet we do not have a license to sin or break the Word of God in so doing.