Pam Padgett ... teacher
When Paul and Silas were preaching the gospel in various places, they
were stopped by the Holy Spirit from going to Asia. Although not
allowed to go to Asia, Paul was shown in a vision to go to Macedonia.
They immediately went to Macedonia, believing God had called them to
preach the gospel there.
Acts 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region
of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in
Asia, 7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia:
but the Spirit suffered them not. 8 And they passing by Mysia came down
to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a
man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and
help us. 10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured
to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us
for to preach the gospel unto them.
While in Macedonia, Paul preached the gospel and a certain woman, Lydia, believed ... And
a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of
Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened,
that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. (Acts 16:14)
Later, Paul and Silas were beaten and put into the inner prison after casting a spirit of divination from a damsel
who had brought much gain to her masters through soothsaying.
Acts 16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they
cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24 Who,
having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and
made their feet fast in the stocks.
As Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God, God brought a great
earthquake, opened all the doors, and loosed every one's bands. Yet none of the prisoners left.
Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises
unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a
great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and
immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were
loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and
seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have
killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul
cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all
here.
As a result of these things which showed the power of God, the
prison keeper asked what he must do to be saved. Paul and Silas spoke
the gospel to him and to all in his house. They believed and were
baptized.
Acts 16:29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came
trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out,
and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And
they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his
house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their
stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he
had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced,
believing in God with all his house.
Paul and Silas were guided by the Holy Spirit in where to go. When the Holy Spirit forbid
them to go to Asia, they didn't go there.
When Paul was shown in a vision to go to Macedonia, they immediately set
out to go there. By these things Paul and Silas were led by the Holy
Spirit to preach the gospel to those who were to believe in Macedonia,
according to the will of God.
This is a strong example in being sensitive to what God speaks through the Holy Spirit and to obey, knowing the Holy Spirit leads
according to the will of God for our lives.