36 “And after some days Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city wherein we proclaimed the Word of the Lord, and see how they fare. And Barnabas was minded to take with them John also, who was called Mark. But Paul thought not good to take with them him who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. And there arose a sharp contention, so that they parted asunder one from the other; and Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away unto Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas, and went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.”
1 “And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra; and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess which believed; but his father was a Greek. The same was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those parts; for they all knew that his father was a Greek. And as they went on their way through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, which had been ordained of the apostles and elders that were at Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.”
6 “And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden of the Holy Ghost to speak the Word in Asia; and when they were come over against Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia; and the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not; and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There was a man of Macedonia standing, beseeching him, and saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And when he had seen the vision, straightway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us for to preach the Gospel unto them.”
11 “Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis; and from thence to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the first of the district, a Roman colony; and we were in this city tarrying certain days. And on the Sabbath day we went forth without the gate by a river-side, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which were come together.”
QUESTIONS.
1. Give a statement of the cause, the work, and the result of the general meeting held in Jerusalem.
2. Where did Paul and Barnabas labor immediately after the meeting?
3. After some days, what proposal did Paul make to Barnabas? Acts 15:36.
4. What did Barnabas determine to do? V. 37.
5. What objection had Paul to this plan? V. 38.
6. What was the result of this disagreement? Where did Barnabas go with his chosen companions? Verse 39.
7. Whom did Paul select to labor with him? V. 40.
8. Where did they go? Verse 41.
9. After passing through Syria and Cilicia, to what place did they come? Whom did Paul find at Lystra? Chapter 16:1.
10. What do we know about this young man? Verses 1, 2.
11. What did Paul wish? What did he first do? Why was this done? Verse 3.
12. As they went through the cities, what did they do? Verse 4.
13. With what result? How often were additions made to the churches? Verse 5.
14. What countries did the apostles next pass through? What were they forbidden to do? By whom? Verse 6.
15. Where did they then go? In what province did they then think to preach? Why did they not do so? Verse 7.
16. To what place did they then come? Verse 8.
17. While at this place, what appeared to Paul in the night? What was the vision? Verse 9.
18. After this vision, what did Paul and his companions immediately set out to do? Of what did they feel assured? Verse 10.
19. By what course did they sail to Macedonia? Verse 11.
20. Having reached Macedonia, what important city did they first visit? Verse 12.
21. Where did they go on the Sabbath day? What did they do? Verse 13.
NOTES AND QUESTIONS.
1. Is the example of the apostles alone an infallible guide? What evidence can you give? What must back their example, in order to have it of authority? Whose example may be followed implicitly? 1 Peter 2:21, 22; 1 John 2:6.
2. In circumcising Timothy, did Paul go contrary to his position before the meeting at Jerusalem? What was the difference between the reason for which he circumcised Timothy and that given by the men who came from Judea to Antioch? What positive statements does Paul in his epistles make concerning the nature and value of circumcision?
3. “Forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the Word in Asia.” As a matter of fact they were in Asia all the time, that is, they were in the continent of Asia; but as used in the Acts, the word “Asia” signifies what is known as Asia Minor—the extreme western part of the continent. In Biblical maps this portion of the country is designated as Asia.
