Keep Speaking

Many Need to Hear the Word of God Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” And he continued there a year and …

Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens

Whether Many or Few The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea. Acts 17:14 Paul and his team continued to have highs and lows on their second missionary journey. Jealous Jewish leaders ran them out of Thessalonica, then followed them to Berea and harassed them there (17:1–13). But in the midst of all …

Lydia

Time to Shift Priorities? She [Lydia] was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” Acts 16:14 Lydia was a savvy businesswoman who had established a relationship with many, if not most, of the wealthiest citizens in Philippi. Her specialty was purple cloth, a high-end fabric that symbolized status in first-century Europe because the …

The First Missionary Journey

No Smooth Sailing They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. Acts 13:50 Have you ever felt like God led you to start a ministry or participate in one, but then faced one obstacle after another? In Acts 13, Luke records that while the Christians at Antioch “were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the …

An Unexpected Answer to Prayer

At the Door Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” Acts 12:13–14 Many people had gathered to pray for Peter, who had been arrested by Herod and would certainly …