Acts 16 (résumé): Timothy joins Paul and Silas

Paul's second missionary journey started in Acts 15:36 and went till 18:22 and even took the Gospel to the European countries of Greece and Macedonia. When Paul and Silas got to Lystra Timothy joined their team. He was of Jewish mother and a Greek father so Paul circumcised him "because of the Jews". As they travelled round the churches "the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers". Then Paul had a vision of a Macedonian man "begging him: Come over to Macedonia and help us", so they got ready straight away to go there and preach the Gospel. They travelled to Philippi which was the leading city of Macedonia where they stayed for several days, and whilst there a woman dealer in purple cloth was converted and she and members of her household were baptized. Next a slave girl with a fortune-telling spirit, which made a lot of money for her owners, kept following Paul and the team shouting that "these men are servants of the Most High God". Paul exorcised her so the girl's owners dragged Paul and Silas before the authorities because they had lost their source of income, and they were "stripped, beaten and thrown into jail". Paul and Silas however responded in jail with prayer and praise! Then came an earthquake which opened all the doors and the jailor was about to commit suicide when he was stopped by Paul shouting, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" The jailer then asked: "what must I do to be saved?" He and all his household were converted and baptized. The following day Paul and Silas were officially released from jail by the magistrates, and they went to Lydia's house and encouraged the church.

Tropical Screech-Owl

As I arrived at Green Pastures meeting hall tonight I heard a Tropical Screech-Owl calling in prolonged fashion near at hand. I conducted the communion service and preached on "Unbelief" from John 10:22-42. Sister Nega led the praise and worship. It was a lovely service. 

QPR sadly lost 1 x 0 at home to Middlesbrough yesterday. We hit the bar but couldn't find the equalizer. We are now in 3rd place in the Championship.

I have prepared a new sermon on 'thankfulness' as requested by our Teixeira church up in the mountains where I will be preaching on September 26th at their 61st anniversary service.

Green Pastures

I went out to Green Pastures yesterday and saw a lovely little flock of Cactus Parakeets plus orange Campo Troupials and Red-cowled Cardinals. I also saw a large Hawk but I couldn't see which species it was. Later on I will go out to Green Pastures again to take the monthly communion service and preach the Gospel on 'Unbelief' (John 10:22-42).

This morning I have been listening to the chirping and chatter of the House Sparrows in our garden in Patos, and the cooing of the Ruddy Doves, the singing of the Southern Wren and the Great Kiskadee.

Firefighter

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study, and firefighter Romildo brought an good study from the Book of Acts. Sister Maria gave a testimony, Vasti and Espedita sang solos and Deacon Dedé led the praise and worship.

I have now written résumés of half the chapters of the Book of Acts and have just completed Paul and Barnabas's first missionary journey as recorded in chapters 13 and 14, so that leaves 14 chapters to go.

Yesterday I did Pilates in the morning and aquarobics in the afternoon as I keep my physical exercise up regularly. I really enjoy both these regular activities.

Acts 15 (résumé): The Council at Jerusalem

 Acts 15 tells how some men were teaching that nobody can be saved without circumcision, so Paul and Barnabas strongly disputed this and went to Jerusalem to discuss the matter with the apostles. Peter addressed them pointing out how God had given the Holy Spirit to converted Gentiles just he had with Jews. So, he said, don't put a yoke on their necks because "it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are". The whole assembly was gripped in silence as they listened to all that Barnabas and Paul told about God's blessing on the Gentiles through their ministry. Then James replied saying: "It is my judgement that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God... and we should abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from strangled animals and blood". Then the Council sent a letter to Antioch with Paul, Barnabas, Judas Barsabbas and Silas saying what James and Paul had earlier declared. The Antioch church was very pleased with the letter's encouraging and embracing content, and Paul and Barnabas stayed there for some time. Later Paul and Barnabas decided to go ministering around the young churches established here and there, but they had a sharp disagreement as to who to take with them so Paul ended up going in one direction with Silas and Barnabas went in another direction with Mark.

Acts 14 (résumé): In Iconium

Next Paul and Barnabas were in Iconium where "a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed", however many Jews resisted the Gospel and stirred up Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. When they discovered that there was a plan to stone them Paul and Barnabas went to preach in Lystra and Derbe. When Paul healed a cripple he was acclaimed as a god, but they told them to stop it saying "we too are only men, human like you". However eventually the Jews won over the crowd against Paul and Barnabas and stoned Paul leaving him for dead, but he survived and he and Barnabas left the next day for Derbe where they preached with much fruit. They then returned to towns previously evangelized appointing elders in each church established and preaching the word. Then they sailed back to Antioch from where they had been sent in mission and reported everything to the brethren, and they stayed there a long time.  

Acts 13 (résumé): Paul's first missionary journey

Whilst the church at Antioch was worshipping and fasting the Holy Spirit indicated that Barnabas and Saul should be separated and sent out in service. They first sailed to Cyprus, with John with them as a helper, and they travelled through the whole island preaching the gospel. At Paphos they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus (Elymas) who worked for the proconsul who was very interested in the gospel. However Elymas did everything he could to combat his conversion and Saul, "who was also called Paul", condemned him as "a child of the Devil" and he became temporarily blind, and "when the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord". From Paphos Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, but John returned to Jerusalem. From Perga they went to Pisidian Antioch where Paul preached a long detailed message tracing the hand of God on his people through Egypt and Canaan and then sharing the gospel about Jesus' death and resurrection. Interest was great so that many invited Paul and Barnabas to preach more the following Saturday, and on that day nearly the whole city came to hear the gospel which filled the Jewish leadership with jealousy. So Paul and Barnabas made it clear that in the light of such rejection of the gospel by the Jews, the gospel and the church were now more that open to the gentiles. And "the word of the Lord spread through the whole region... but the Jews stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from the region... but the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit".