Project 119: Acts 16:1-15
| Project 119 | Dr. Wayne Splawn
Many of us are intimidated by the thought of sharing the gospel with others. One reason we sometimes refrain from sharing the gospel is we don’t feel we are equipped to effectively share the good news of Christ with others. What if we get something wrong in our presentation? What if someone asks us a question we are not able to answer? These questions reveal we think that our success in sharing the gospel is somehow dependent on our abilities.
The story of Lydia’s conversion in Acts 16:11-15 provides a helpful corrective to such concerns. When Paul arrives in Philippi, he encounters a woman named Lydia by the riverside. Paul faithfully shares the gospel with her and other women who had gathered there. Lydia responds to Paul’s message in faith. Why did Lydia have this positive response? Did it have anything to do with Paul’s presentation? The thing Luke chooses to highlight in Lydia’s conversion is the fact that God opened Lydia’s heart to hear what Paul had to say (Acts 16:14). Paul was faithful to share the gospel and God did the work of opening Lydia’s heart.
As we think about bearing witness to the good news of Jesus Christ, we would do well to keep this important truth of evangelism in mind. The outcome is not dependent on our abilities to effectively share the gospel. Instead, we are called to be faithful to share the gospel with others while relying on God to open their hearts to respond to the good news in faith.
Acts 16:1-15 (ESV):
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.