When Barnabas took Mark to Cyprus, Paul chose Silas to assist him through Syria and Cilicia. In Lystra, Paul again met Timothy and chose him as a traveling companion. Timothy was the son of a Jewish woman and a Greek father. Paul’s circumcision of Timothy seems odd when we consider how ardently he argued against it being a requirement at the council in Jerusalem. Paul could have used this occasion to flaunt his victory in the council. Although Timothy was half Greek, Paul knew he would be in constant contact with Jews. Being circumcised would help Timothy avoid trouble with those who did not agree with the exemption for the Gentiles. Paul showed more concern about their mission than about defending a specific principle. Although Timothy spent the rest of his life spreading Christianity, we know little about him other than from Paul’s Epistles. Some people are destined to play conspicuous parts in history while others play equally important but less spectacular parts.

Paul went through Asia to Macedonia. Three specific statements indicate that Paul’s travels were guided by God. The Holy Spirit stopped him from preaching in Asia. The "Spirit of Jesus" prevented him from going into Bithynia. A "man of Macedonia" in a vision called him to Greece. We don’t know how literally Paul took this guidance. It could be an imaginative way of dramatizing the response of a God-centered mind to the total opportunity and responsibility to meet God’s will. It could also be objective experiences by which the Spirit communicated with Paul. Most of us do not expect to be guided by God. But, we believe God has an all-encompassing plan. When we talk of providence, we refer to some manner of following that plan. This providence is somewhere between fatalism and accidentalism. Fatalism says that everything is arranged and planned before hand. Accidentalism says that nothing is arranged beforehand.

When we talk of the providence of God, we should remember three things. First, it is flexible enough to include free men. God does not plan every little item in our lives. He leaves as much as possible to us. In like manner He lets some things work themselves out and take their own course. His plan is flexible enough to bring out what is most natural to each of us. What we do plays a large part in the success of the plan.

Second, the providence of God is forceful enough to preclude the possibility of ultimate failure. Parts of God’s plan may suffer setbacks but He never gives up. For example, even the foolish family feud in the story of Joseph carried God’s purpose forward.

Third, the purpose of the providence of God is to preserve life. The quality of it and the richness of it are as important as the length of it. The purpose is not always apparent on a day to day basis. On Good Friday, the Cross must have seemed to be the most purposeless events in the history of mankind. After the resurrection and ascension, its purpose became clear.

The Will of God is not easily interpreted. Specific instructions for specific circumstances are not to be found written in any sacred book. We cannot depend on objective visions directly from God. Instead, we must study the events of history, illuminated by God’s revelation, and perceived by the inspired mind and spirit of man. Victor Hugo wrote, "God makes visible to men his will in events, an obscure text written in a mysterious language."

Paul encountered two women during his ministry at Philippi. The first is Lydia, a seller of purple. From a few statements, we learn she was a businesswoman. She apparently represented a firm that sold dyes and was sent from Thyatira to Philippi to represent the firm. She was not only well to do, she was deeply religious. As soon as she was baptized, she insisted that Paul and his friends stay at her house. To share your home with other people is really sharing your life with them. You are offering a chance for others to see into the sacred precincts of your life. It is more than a human grace, it is a virtue. Jesus makes it one of the basic requirements of life in his kingdom: "I was a stranger, and ye took me in" (Matthew 25:35).

The other woman Paul encountered in Philippi was quite different from Lydia. She was a slave girl with a disordered mind. The border line between insanity and inspiration is so fine it is often possible to mislead the public into believing that the ravings of a mad person are the revelations of God. This is what brought profit to her masters. Unlike Lydia, this poor girl was a nuisance to Paul. She followed him everywhere and when he spoke, she screamed. When he finally rebuked the evil spirit from her, she was healed. Without the power of divination, she was no longer of any value to her masters. To extract revenge, her masters incited the crowds and had Paul and Silas beat and cast into prison.

Again, Paul will miraculously escape from prison, but this time by quite different means. This time the jailer plays an important part by asking a question still being asked today. We know from earlier chapters the fate of jailers who let prisoners escape and this jailer was ready to kill himself when he assumed they had left. But they had not left. He then asked, "what must I do to be saved?" They said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." This convinced the jailer and he and his whole household were baptized. But as true as the answer was, most of us would require more explicit directions. We know we must intellectually assent to the principles in His teachings. We also know we must surrender our will to the love of God as did Jesus.

To surrender our will to the love of God requires at least four things. First, those who desire to be saved must join the Christian Church. You cannot be a Christian in isolation. Christianity involves people working together in relationships both private and public. A complete knowledge of Christ is not possible outside the community of Christ.

Second, those who would be saved must learn the fundamental principles underlying Christian belief and behavior. You must have at least an elementary knowledge of the principles upon which Christianity rests. While detailed technical knowledge is not required, we must have some understanding about the Love of God before we can learn to love our enemies.

Third, those who would be saved must perform spiritual exercises daily. Just as our physical bodies require exercise to maintain fitness, our spiritual natures must be strengthened by practice. We must pray. It may be praise, thanksgiving, or confession and repentance, petitions or intercessions for others. Whatever form is taken it must be repetitive and consistent to be effective.

Fourth, those who would be saved must take part in some specifically Christian activity. We know we are not saved by our good works. However, just as you cannot be a Christian in isolation, or in complete religious illiteracy, or in spiritual inaction, you cannot be a Christian in separation from the needs of humanity.

It is interesting to note how this prison experience differed from the earlier ones. They were singing hymns at midnight before the earthquake. They did not leave though their shackles were loosed. They saved the jailer from killing himself. They baptized the jailer and all his household. They were in no hurry to leave Philippi at all.

When the magistrates decided to let them go, they refused to leave until the magistrates came in person. Paul pointed out that they were not condemned and yet beaten even though they were Roman citizens. It was explicitly illegal to scourge Roman citizens. The magistrates had violated the protection given by Roman citizenship. They were concerned about being disqualified to hold local office. So they came to apologize.

At this point, the magistrates were concerned the people might again be incited and Paul and Silas might again be brought before them. Thus Paul and Silas were compelled to leave in spite of being informally acquitted.