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FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five modern translations. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one main subject.
1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Third paragraph
4. Etc.
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS INTO Act_15:36 to Act_16:40
I. THE SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY (Act_15:36 to Act_18:23)
A. This mission took much longer than the first journey, possibly lasting 3-4 years.
B. It focused primarily in Macedonia and Achaia, which is modern Greece.
C. Brief Outline
1. Barnabas and Paul split, Act_15:36-40 (fight over John Mark)
2. Syria and Cilicia, Act_15:41 (when and how these churches began is uncertain.)
3. Lystra and Derbe, Act_16:1-5 (Timothy joins the team.)
4. Troas (Troy), Act_16:6-10 (Paul receives a vision to turn west.)
5. Philippi, Act_16:11-40
6. Thessalonica, Act_17:1-9
7. Berea, Act_17:10-14
8. Athens, Act_17:15-34
9. Corinth, Act_18:1-17
10. Back to Antioch of Syria, Act_18:18-22
PAUL'S CO-LABORERS
A. John Mark (John is a Jewish name. Mark is a Roman name, Act_12:25.)
1. He grew up in Jerusalem. His mother's house is mentioned in Act_12:12 as the place that the early church in Jerusalem met for prayer.
2. Many have asserted that his house was the site of the Lord's Supper and that the naked man of Mar_14:51-52 was John Mark. Both of these are possible, but they are only speculation.
3. He was the cousin of Barnabas (cf. Col_4:10).
4. He was the companion of Barnabas and Paul (cf. Act_13:5).
5. He left the team early and returned to Jerusalem (cf. Act_13:13).
6. Barnabas wanted to take him on the second journey, but Paul refused (cf. Act_15:36-41).
7. Later Paul and John Mark were apparently reconciled (cf. 2Ti_4:11; Phm_1:24).
8. He apparently became close friends with Peter (cf. 1Pe_5:13).
9. Tradition says that he wrote the Gospel that bears his name by recording Peter's sermons preached in Rome. Mark's Gospel has more Latin terms than any other NT book and was probably written for Romans. This comes from Papias of Hierapolis, as recorded by Eusebius ' Eccl. His. 3.39.15.
10. Tradition says he is associated with the establishment of the Alexandrian Church.
B. Silas
1. He is called Silas in Acts and Silvanus in the Epistles.
2. He, like Barnabas, was a leader in the Jerusalem Church (cf. Act_15:22-23).
3. He is closely associated with Paul (cf. Act_15:40; Act_16:19 ff; Act_17:1-15; 1Th_1:1).
4. He, like Barnabas and Paul, was a prophet (cf. Act_15:32).
5. He is called an apostle (cf. 1Th_2:6).
6. He, like Paul, was a Roman citizen (cf. Act_16:37-38).
7. He, like John Mark, is also associated with Peter, even possibly acting as a scribe (cf. 1Pe_5:12).
C. Timothy
1. His name means "one who honors God."
2. He was the child of a Jewish mother and a Greek father and lived in Lystra. The Latin translation of Origen's commentary on Rom_16:21 says Timothy was a citizen of Derbe. This is possibly taken from Act_20:4. He was instructed in the Jewish faith by his mother and grandmother (cf. 2Ti_1:5; 2Ti_3:14-15).
3. He was asked to join Paul and Silas' missionary team on the second journey (cf. Act_16:1-5). He was confirmed by prophecy (cf. 1Ti_1:18; 1Ti_4:14).
4. He was circumcised by Paul in order to work with both Jews and Greeks.
5. He was a dedicated companion and co-worker of Paul. He is mentioned by name more than any other of Paul's helpers (17 times in 10 letters, cf. 1Co_4:17; 1Co_16:10; Php_1:1; Php_2:19; Col_1:5; 1Th_1:1; 1Th_2:6; 1Th_3:2; 1Ti_1:2; 1Ti_1:18; 1Ti_4:14; 2Ti_1:2; 2Ti_3:14-15).
6. He is called an "apostle" (cf. 1Th_2:6).
7. Two of the three Pastoral Epistles are addressed to him.
8. He is last mentioned in Heb_13:23.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
1. Why is the Holy Spirit called the Spirit of Jesus?
2. Why did God allow the missionaries to encounter so much opposition and trial?
3. Why did Paul not accept the slave girl's testimony?
4. List the people saved at Philippi.
5. Why were only Paul and Silas imprisoned?
6. Why did the other prisoners not escape?
7. List the elements of salvation in this chapter. Are they different from those in other chapters in Acts?
8. Did this jailer have any background in Judaism or Christianity?
9. What does "his household was saved" mean?
10. Why did Paul make the city officials apologize in person?