Acts 15–16

Acts 15 and 16 contain two of the most defining moments in the early church. In Acts 15 the church faces its first major doctrinal crisis — the question of Gentile salvation and circumcision — and must decide together what the Gospel actually requires. In Acts 16 the second missionary journey launches, the Gospel crosses into Europe for the first time, and Paul and Silas demonstrate what it looks like to worship God in the middle of a midnight crisis. Read both chapters completely before working through this lesson.

Verses 1–5: The Crisis Arrives

Certain men came down from Judea to Antioch and began teaching the Gentile believers that unless they were circumcised according to the custom of Moses they could not be saved. This was not a minor theological disagreement. This was a direct attack on the sufficiency of Christ and the complete plan of salvation. Paul and Barnabas had sharp dispute and debate with them. The church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to settle the question before the apostles and elders.

Verses 6–21: The Council Speaks

The apostles and elders came together to consider the question. After much debate, Peter stood up and recounted the story of Cornelius — how God had chosen to give the Holy Ghost to the Gentiles just as He did to the Jewish believers, making no distinction between them and purifying their hearts by faith. He declared that to add the yoke of the law to the Gentiles would be to test God.

Paul and Barnabas then reported all the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. James spoke last, citing the prophet Amos to confirm that God’s plan had always included the Gentiles. The council decided to send a letter to the Gentile believers freeing them from the requirement of circumcision while asking them to abstain from certain practices that would cause offense.

Verses 36–41: Paul and Barnabas Part Ways

Paul proposed returning to check on the churches they had planted. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark — who had deserted them on the first journey. Paul disagreed sharply. The disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus. Paul chose Silas and went through Syria and Cilicia strengthening the churches.

Verses 1–10: Timothy Joins — The Macedonian Call

At Lystra Paul met Timothy — a disciple with an excellent reputation whose mother was a Jewish believer and whose father was a Greek. Paul wanted to take him along and had him circumcised because of the Jews in that area — not for salvation but for effective ministry among the Jewish community. As they traveled the Spirit prevented them from preaching in Asia and Bithynia. Then at Troas Paul had a vision — a man of Macedonia standing and begging: Come over to Macedonia and help us.

Verses 11–15: Lydia — Europe’s First Convert

At Philippi on the Sabbath Paul and his companions went outside the city gate to the river where they expected to find a place of prayer. They sat down and spoke to the women who gathered there. One of them was Lydia — a dealer in purple cloth from Thyatira who was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. She and her household were baptized. She urged Paul and his companions to stay at her home.

Verses 16–24: The Slave Girl and the Arrest

A slave girl who had a spirit of divination followed Paul and his companions for many days crying out that these men were servants of the Most High God showing the way to salvation. Paul was greatly troubled and commanded the spirit to come out of her in the name of Jesus Christ — and it left her immediately. Her owners, seeing that their hope of profit was gone, seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities. They were stripped, severely beaten with rods, thrown into prison, and their feet were fastened in the stocks.

Verses 25–40: The Midnight Praise and the Earthquake

At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken, all the doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up and drew his sword about to kill himself thinking the prisoners had escaped. Paul cried out not to harm himself — they were all there. The jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.

That same hour of the night the jailer and all his household were baptized. He brought Paul and Silas into his house and set food before them, and he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God.