Acts 16: Trial of Our Faith
Apparently, Timothy was already a follower of Jesus when he met Paul. What might have been the circumstances that led him to the Lord?
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King James
Why might Paul have wanted Timothy to join him?
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King James
With a Greek father, Timothy would have been regarded as a non-Jew. With the decision that had already been made in Jerusalem, why do you think Paul thought he should be circumcised?
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King James
Why might freedom from all the requirements of the Mosaic Law have promoted growth of the church?
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King James
By what means do you think the Holy Spirit redirected Paul’s steps?
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King James
Some scholars believe Luke joined Paul at Troas. However, if Luke is the Lucius of Cyrene mentioned in Acts 13:1, he would have been a longtime associate of Paul and could have been a constant companion. When do you think Luke joined Paul?
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King James
What process might Luke have used in learning the details and documenting all the information recorded in the book of Acts?
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King James
Why would Paul have thought his invitation to Macedonia in a dream was from the Lord and not just a mysterious process of the human mind?
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King James
Why was it important to leave immediately?
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King James
The travel by ship took more than one day. Who else might have been on that ship, and what do you suppose Paul and his company would have said to them?
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King James
When the group arrived at Philippi in Macedonia, what kinds of expectations might they have had? Do you think they anticipated staying there for a long time? Why or why not?
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King James
How might Paul have heard about the people who gathered for prayer on the Sabbath? Why would they be at the river outside the city, not in the synagogue?
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King James
Before she met Paul, what do you think Lydia’s religious background was?
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King James
Why might Paul and his party have been reluctant to stay in Lydia’s home? Would they have been willing to stay with someone who wasn’t a believer? Why or why not?
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King James
When the woman with a clairvoyant spirit showed up, where do you think people were gathered for prayer?
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King James
If the woman following Paul was speaking the truth, what was the problem?
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King James
Surely on the first day, Paul recognized a problem with what the clairvoyant woman was saying. Why would he have waited “many days” before he commanded the evil spirit to leave?
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King James
How do we know the deliverance of the woman was real, that she was not merely using her own intuition and psychic skills?
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King James
How do you think the owners described the “trouble” they claimed was being stirred up in the city?
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King James
What would have motivated the officials to order the beating and imprisonment of Paul and Silas?
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King James
Why do you think the jailor was warned not to let the prisoners escape?
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King James
What security measures did the jailor take to make escape impossible?
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King James
After Paul and Silas had been severely beaten and locked in a dungeon, what might have motivated them to pray and sing praises to God?
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King James
How do you think other prisoners felt when they heard prayer and singing?
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King James
If you were reporting the event, what would you say was the center of the strong earthquake and the extent of its damage?
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King James
How would you explain how an earthquake could have freed prisoners from their shackles?
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King James
Why do you think Paul and Silas didn’t flee? Why would the other prisoners have remained in their cells?
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King James
Why would a jailor want to kill himself when an earthquake had made escape possible?
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King James
What might have motivated the jailor to kneel before Paul and Silas?
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King James
What motivated the jailor to take his prisoners to his own house?
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King James
What is involved in completely trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ? How is that important for salvation?
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King James
When the jailor and his household became believers and were baptized, why might we think they were filled with the Holy Spirit?
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King James
Under these circumstances, what kind of table might have been set before Paul and Silas?
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King James
When the city officials sent officers to order the release from prison, where do you think Paul and Silas were?
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King James
How would those who had beaten Paul feel about ordering his release?
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King James
How would the jailor have felt when he delivered the message? What response might he have expected from Paul?
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King James
Why did Paul refuse to leave the prison? Why do you think he chose to mention his Roman citizenship now, and not before he was beaten?
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King James
What consequence did the city officials fear when they learned that they had beaten a Roman citizen without first convening a trial?
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King James
Why do you think Paul chose to (1) leave the city and (2) not make a public complaint?
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King James
How much of their story about imprisonment and release would Paul and Silas have shared with believers?