By Adam Winn, Ph. D.
Chair and Professor, Department of Biblical and Religious Studies at Samford University
WHEN DOING GOD’S WORK IS INTERRUPTED
Acts 16:4–15
It’s encouraging to see how God is working through us. (4–5)
These verses follow three significant events in the Book of Acts. The first event is the Jerusalem Council, at which the apostles and elders of the Church met in Jerusalem to determine whether Gentile believers needed to follow the law of Moses, with the circumcision of Gentiles being the primary issue. It was decided that Gentiles should not be required to be circumcised or follow the law of Moses, yet they were told to abstain from certain aspects of the pagan world around them.
The second event is Paul and Silas beginning Paul’s second missionary journey. The third event is Paul and Silas meeting Timothy in Derbe and Lystra and Paul taking Timothy on as a disciple. Thus, verses 4 and 5 describe the work of Paul, Silas and Timothy, who are visiting churches and relaying to them the decision of the Jerusalem Council. This work strengthened the churches in their faith, resulting in their numbers increasing daily.
God can change the course of even a productive ministry. (6–10)
This missionary team worked their way west through what is modern-day Turkey but was then known as Asia Minor. Galatia was a province in the center of Asia Minor, with Phrygia to its northwest. Yet we are told that they were not permitted by the Spirit to enter Asia or Bithynia. Thus, they went to the region that lay between those two provinces, Mysia, and a major port city there, Troas.
The reason they were prevented by the Spirit from going to two major provinces soon becomes clear. Paul had a vision of a Macedonian man pleading with him to come and help them in Macedonia, a major population center and a region adjacent to Greece. We do not know how the Holy Spirit prevented Paul and his companions from entering these provinces.
Natural obstacles seem likely and as such, these missionaries might have felt defeated in their thwarted plans. But God had a larger purpose in their frustration.
This is a good reminder for us when our own plans — even ones that seem righteous and good — are thwarted.
An interruption could be God’s way of opening a new avenue of ministry. (11–15)
After landing in the port city of Neapolis, Paul and his fellow missionaries went to the city of Philippi. Because Philippi had no synagogue, Paul went to a nearby river outside the city where he hoped he might find Jews praying.
Paul found a group of women there and began to share the gospel. Whether these women were Jews is unclear, but one woman named Lydia is described as a “God-fearing woman.” We are also told that she was a dealer in purple cloth, a detail that indicates she was a woman of great wealth, as purple garments were incredibly expensive. Lydia received the gospel and was baptized, along with her entire family.
In this way, Lydia became the first known Christian convert on the continent of Europe. After her conversion and baptism, Lydia invited Paul and his missionary companions to stay with her and they accepted her invitation. Here we see God’s design to lead Paul to Philippi and bring him to a woman with a heart open to the Lord, a woman who also likely had significant influence in her community who would be a strong representative of the gospel.
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