Paul came to Derbe and Lystra. Timothy was there; the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer. His father was Greek. Timothy was well spoken of at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted him to come, he circumcised him because of the Jews. As they went through the cities they delivered the decision of the Jerusalem council. The churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. They went through Phrygia and Galatia, because they were forbidden to speak the Word in Asia. When they came up to Mysia they tried to go to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus didn’t let them. They passed by Mysia and went to Troas. Paul saw a vision of a man from Macedonia asking Paul to come help. Paul immediately sought to go to Macedonia and concluded that God had called them “us” to preach the gospel to them [seems Luke was with them]. They went to Troas, Samothrace, Neapolis, Philippi. Lydia heard them speaking to the women who had come together. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention. She was baptized, and her household as well. She showed them hospitality. A slave girl followed Paul and Silas for days crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” Paul got annoyed and commanded the spirit in her to come out and it did. Her owners were angered and had them arrested. The crowd attacked them, tore their clothes off, beat them with rods, then put them in prison with their feet in stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, there was an earthquake, the doors opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. The jailer was about to kill himself, but Paul cried out, “Don’t harm yourself, for we are all here.” He fell with fear before Paul and Silas and asked, “What must I do to be saved?” You and your household must believe in the Lord and you will be saved. They spoke the word of the Lord to him and his household. He was baptized at once – he and his family. The magistrates let Paul and Silas go the next day. Paul said that they beat uncondemned Roman citizens, they can’t just let them out secretly, but they must take them out. The magistrates came and apologized. They left, visited Lydia, encouraged the brothers, and left.
People may not hate the message of the gospel, but they hate the fruit of the gospel. The converting power of the gospel to change a person’s life here meant that people were no longer able to manipulate a poor soul for financial gain. The slave girl’s life was changed. Collective societal sin prefers our enslavement, spiritual poverty, misery, and ruin if it can make a buck at our expense. If hearts are converted from the sin of gambling the government-run Lotto would shut down. If hearts are converted from the selfish sexual sin of pornography and masturbation the porn industry and undercurrent cultural demand for prostitution and sex-trafficking industry would dry up. If hearts are converted from killing lives in abortion the government funding of abortion clinics would dry up. These are just a few examples of what the power of the gospel can do when hearts are radically transformed by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. Pray that God would use us to preach the gospel, and that God would use His Word. Also, success in ministry may mean prison and beatings. It’s not easy to be a Christian. Persevere in faithfulness.