- Covered In His Dust
- Posts
- Acts Chapter 16
"When disciples followed a rabbi, they followed him closely so they would never be out of his sight, never be someplace where they couldn’t hear him speak. They followed him so closely that his sandals often kicked up dust."
May you be covered in His dust.
If this is your first time getting Covered in His Dust, WELCOME!
👉🏽 Read Chapter 16 HERE before reading my notes. If you don’t, my notes won’t make sense.
You can access previous notes on Acts and Luke HERE.
Let’s wrap up the day in His glory, Saints! ☀️
At the end of Acts 15, Paul and Barnabas separate after a disagreement about whether to take John Mark with them on their missionary journey. Barnabas takes John Mark and sails to Cyprus, while Paul chooses Silas and sets out through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Remember that John Mark is the author of the Gospel of Mark, which is widely believed to be based on Peter’s eyewitness testimony.
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. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.
Remember, Paul and Barnabas visited Derbe and Lystra during their first missionary journey—a few chapters ago in Acts 14.
A lot went down in Lystra. Paul healed a man who had been lame from birth. The crowd was amazed, so much so that they started calling Paul and Barnabas gods—Zeus and Hermes.
But things took a turn. Jews from Antioch and Iconium showed up and stirred the crowd against them. Paul was stoned, dragged out of the city, and left for dead. But, by God’s grace, he got up, went back into the city, and continued the journey.
In the book of Acts, this event happened just two chapters earlier—but in reality, it’s been five years!
Every time I’ve read Acts, it felt like all of this happened in just a few months. Now it makes more sense: in five years, the seeds Paul and Barnabas planted had time to take root, and someone like Timothy could rise up.
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.
Wait. What?
The whole reason for the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) was to settle the debate about whether Gentile believers needed to be circumcised to be saved. The conclusion? They don’t. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus, not by the works of the law.
So, why does Paul turn around and circumcise Timothy here in Acts 16?
It wasn’t about salvation; it was about the mission.
Let’s break it down.
Timothy's mother was a Jewish believer, and his father was Greek. In Jewish tradition, a person's Jewish identity comes from their mother, so Timothy was considered Jewish.
Timothy’s heritage highlights an important truth about Jesus’ identity. Like Timothy, Jesus was considered Jewish because His mother, Mary, was Jewish.
In Jewish tradition, lineage is traced through the mother, which ensured Jesus was recognized as part of the Jewish people, fulfilling the prophecies that the Messiah would come from Israel.
Joseph’s family line, listed in Matthew 1, traces back to King David and Abraham, showing Jesus’ legal right to David’s throne. This makes Jesus both legally and biologically tied to the messianic prophecies and firmly rooted in Jewish heritage.
Paul had Timothy circumcised, not for salvation but to help their ministry. They were preaching in areas with strong Jewish communities, and Timothy being uncircumcised could have caused unnecessary conflict.
By circumcising Timothy, Paul avoided distractions about Timothy's Jewish identity. This allowed them to focus on sharing the message of Christ.
This aligns with Paul's model of ministry, removing obstacles and meeting people where they were to reach them with the Gospel, as he wrote:
"To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews.
To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.
To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.
To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak.
I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some."
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. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
Remember the decisions that were made:
Gentiles didn’t need to be circumcised or follow all the Jewish laws to be saved. Salvation comes through faith in Jesus.
To keep peace between Jewish and Gentile believers, Gentiles were asked to:
Avoid food offered to idols.
Stay away from sexual sin.
Don’t eat meat from strangled animals.
Don’t consume blood.
And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.
The Holy Spirit protects: Acts 23:11
The Holy Spirit gives boldness: Acts 4:31
The Holy Spirit empowers: Acts 1:8
And as we see in Acts 16:6-7, the Holy Spirit guides.
I want more of that in my life!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."
The Bible says that when we believe, we are filled with the Holy Spirit.
"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."
"And Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"
"You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him."
But how do we know it’s the Holy Spirit?
There are many ways, but here are a few:
Through Scripture: God’s Word is the foundation for understanding His voice. Any guidance that contradicts Scripture is not from the Holy Spirit.
Through Prayer: The Spirit often works in our hearts during prayer, giving us peace or clarity about a decision.
Through Circumstances: Doors closing or opening may not always feel significant at the time, but they often reveal God’s will when we reflect on them later.
So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 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.” 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.
In biblical times, Macedonia was a Roman province located in the northern part of modern Greece and parts of what are now North Macedonia and Albania. So, when Paul traveled to Macedonia, he was bringing the Gospel to Europe for the first time.
Cities like Philippi and Thessalonica, mentioned in the New Testament, were part of Macedonia.
What I love most about verse 10 is one tiny word. Did you catch it? Go back and read it again—I’ve underlined verse 10 for you.
The one tiny word that stands out in Acts 16:10 is "we." This little word marks an important moment. Before this, Luke, the author of Acts, talks about Paul and his companions as "they." But here, the shift to "we" shows that Luke has joined Paul’s team.
It’s a beautiful reminder: the Gospel isn’t just something to read about—it’s something to be part of. Luke didn’t just write about history; he lived it. And we’re invited to do the same by stepping into God’s mission.
Wait. Me? How?
Here are a few ways:
Sharing the Gospel: Just as Luke joined Paul in spreading the message of Jesus, we’re called to share the good news with the people around us—our neighbors, friends, and those God puts in our path in our everyday lives (Matthew 28:19-20).
Serving Others: God invites us to be His hands and feet by meeting the needs of those around us, showing His love through acts of service and kindness (Galatians 5:13).
Being Part of a Community: Like Luke joining Paul’s team, we’re not meant to do this alone. We’re called to work alongside other believers in the mission of making Christ known (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Listening to the Spirit’s Leading: Just as Paul and Luke were guided by the Holy Spirit, we’re invited to follow the Spirit’s direction in our daily lives, trusting Him to lead us to opportunities to glorify God (Romans 8:14).
Living a Life of Obedience and Faith: By stepping out in faith, even when it’s challenging, we show that we’re part of God’s story, living as witnesses of His grace and truth (Acts 1:8).
We’re called, like Luke, to stop being spectators and actively join in God’s mission around us.
In 2012, my wife and I sold everything we owned and moved from the United States to the developing country of Guatemala.
We sold our home, our cars, and even all our kids’ toys.
Why would we do that?
We established a small Christian middle school for boys in the mountains of Guatemala. At our school, we teach math, science, and history—but we also teach the Bible. We founded the school with one goal: to raise boys to become men of God.
Once a year, we hold an online email fundraiser. For 7 days, we send out one inspiring story each day as we raise the operating costs for our school.
That once-a-year event starts this Monday! So, this week will look a little different. You can expect part 2 of Acts Chapter 16 next Saturday, but you’ll also find those stories right here at Covered in His Dust.
One Minute Inspiration
I love you,
George
Uncovering Scripture
PS: If a friend shared this Bible study with you and you’d like to receive it straight to your inbox, just click HERE to subscribe—it’s free and always will be!
George Sisneros is a full-time missionary in Guatemala and the founder of Ordinary Missionaries and the El Rosario Christian Academy for Boys.
He’s been married to his wife, Vonda, for 26 years. He’s a father to nine children, five adopted.
In 2024, George and his wife expanded to Cuba, joining forces with nine pastors committed to transforming lives through the gospel.