Paul and Silas Recruit Young Timothy for the Time of His Life! - Acts 16

Act 16:13 Lydia the Purple Cloth Dealer In the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

Acts 16:29 Conversion of the Philippian Jailer The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

As Paul and Silas get ready for their 2nd missionary journey, they recruit young Timothy, who joins them on their way to Macedonia.  Paul received a vision from the "Macedonian man", who urged Paul to come across the sea and preach to them.  Notice Paul's obedience when immediately he gets into a boat to cross the sea.  Acts 16 is an action packed chapter, with great stories of the men and women who Paul, Silas and Timothy reached for Christ.  

Both stories have several things in common.  

1. Both Lydia and the Jailer were most likely Gentiles.  Though some people think Lydia might have been Jewish, it is more likely she was a Gentile. Her name is of Gentile origin. She is called a "God-fearer", which is used for Gentile converts. And it would be usual for a woman in the Jewish faith to be leading a prayer group in public.  This continues the theme of Paul reaching out to the  Gentiles even though he usually started first preaching in the Jewish synagogue.

2. Both responded to Paul's message about salvation through Jesus and were baptized.  When the Jailer realizes how God had delivered Paul and Silas from prison he says, "Sirs what must we do to be saved."  Paul answers simply "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household." In both cases both Lydia and the Jailer's households came to faith and were baptized.  It is somewhat curious how that might have happened.  It shows us the communal nature of belief in the middle Eastern culture.  Whereas often in the U.S. and Western world, we are very individualistic about coming to faith.  This also shows us two examples of "believers baptism".

3. Finally, in both cases the two families invited Paul and his men to stay at their house.  They were now a new spiritual family in Christ.  This is one of the first two instances of Christian hospitality.  Later, Paul lists "hospitality" as a spiritual gift, and perhaps he was thinking of these two families when he described it.  

What can we learn from this?  As Paul lived out his life in obedience, God brought people across his path, who heard the message and were saved.  Note this did not happen in the church or the synagogue, it happened in public.  As we live out our faith and trust God in all circumstances, we have opportunities to share the gospel in our daily lives.  Secondly, you don't need to have a church service to preach the gospel.  The gospel is on your lips and you can be ready at all times to give a reason for the faith you have been given.  Finally, hospitality for other believers is an important gift.  

When I went to seminary back in 1991, I moved out from the Midwest to California.  I knew virtually no one.  There were so many families who took me in and made me feel at home.  I will always be grateful for their hospitality.  

I'm sure Timothy had the time of his life as he joined Paul and Silas on this trip.  Later, he would become a pastor at the church of Ephesus.  Let's learn from these stories so we too can be used to help others outside the faith know Jesus.