CRS TEACHER’S CONTENT NOTE
Class :JSS 3
Week :WEEK 10
DAY 1
OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to;
- Outline the places that Paul visited in the second missionary journey.
- Explain the mystery of Paul and Silas experience in the prison.
THE PLACES PAUL VISITED IN THE SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY
Paul’s second missionary journey, as documented primarily in the book of Acts in the New Testament, covered a significant portion of the eastern Mediterranean region.
- Antioch (Syria): Paul begins his journey from Antioch, where he and Barnabas had been commissioned by the church (Acts 15:40).
- Cilicia and Derbe: Paul revisits the churches in these regions, where he had previously preached during his first journey (Acts 15:41).
- Lystra: Paul encounters Timothy, who becomes a significant companion during his travels (Acts 16:1-3).
- Phrygia and Galatia: The exact route through these regions is not explicitly detailed, but Paul likely passed through as he journeyed toward Troas (Acts 16:6).
- Troas: Paul receives a vision of a man from Macedonia, prompting him to journey across the Aegean Sea (Acts 16:8-10).
- Philippi: Paul and his companions establish the first Christian congregation in Europe in Philippi (Acts 16:11-40).
- Amphipolis and Apollonia: Paul likely passed through these cities on his way from Philippi to Thessalonica (Acts 17:1).
- Thessalonica: Paul preaches in the Jewish synagogue but faces opposition from some Jews, prompting him to leave the city (Acts 17:1-9).
- Berea: Paul finds a more receptive audience in Berea, where the Jews search the Scriptures to verify Paul’s teachings (Acts 17:10-14).
- Athens: Paul engages in philosophical discussions with the Athenians at the Areopagus (Mars Hill) (Acts 17:15-34).
- Corinth: Paul spends a significant amount of time in Corinth, where he meets Aquila and Priscilla and establishes a Christian community (Acts 18:1-18).
- Cenchreae: Cenchreae was the eastern port of Corinth, where Paul cuts his hair as part of a vow (Acts 18:18).
- Ephesus: Paul briefly visits Ephesus but does not stay long (Acts 18:19-21).
- Caesarea: Paul sails from Ephesus to Caesarea before journeying back to Antioch (Acts 18:22).
- Antioch (Syria): Paul completes his second journey by returning to the church in Antioch (Acts 18:22).
These journeys demonstrate Paul’s extensive travels throughout the Mediterranean world, spreading the message of Christianity and establishing communities of believers in various cities and regions.
THE MYSTERY OF PAUL AND SILAS EXPERIENCE IN THE PRISON
The mystery surrounding Paul and Silas’s experience in prison refers to the events described in Acts 16:16-40, where they were imprisoned in Philippi.
The Encounter with the Slave Girl: As Paul and Silas were preaching in Philippi, they encountered a slave girl who had a spirit of divination. This girl followed them, proclaiming that they were servants of the Most High God, which annoyed Paul. Eventually, Paul commanded the spirit to come out of her, setting her free from her bondage to divination (Acts 16:16-18).
Arrest and Imprisonment: The girl’s owners, realizing that their hope of profit through her divination was gone, seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the authorities. They were accused of causing a disturbance and promoting unlawful customs, and subsequently, they were beaten with rods and thrown into prison, with their feet fastened in stocks (Acts 16:19-24).
The Miracle of the Earthquake: While Paul and Silas were in prison, around midnight, they were praying and singing hymns to God. Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, shaking the foundations of the prison, and all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were unfastened. The jailer, fearing that the prisoners had escaped, was about to kill himself when Paul assured him that they were all still there. The jailer then asked what he must do to be saved, and Paul and Silas preached the gospel to him and his household. The jailer and his family believed and were baptized (Acts 16:25-34).
Release and Departure: The next morning, the magistrates sent word to release Paul and Silas. However, Paul, being a Roman citizen, insisted that they come themselves and personally escort them out of the prison. The magistrates apologized to them, and they departed from Philippi, encouraging the brethren before leaving (Acts 16:35-40).
The mystery in this narrative lies in the sudden and miraculous events that unfolded in the prison, including the earthquake that opened the doors and unfastened the chains of the prisoners. It’s seen as a demonstration of divine intervention, showing God’s power and protection over His faithful servants.
Additionally, the conversion of the jailer and his household adds to the mysterious and miraculous nature of the events, illustrating how God can work even amid seemingly hopeless situations to bring about salvation and transformation.
DAY 2
OBJECTIVE: At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to;
- Identify the cause of Paul and Silas’s imprisonment.
- Discuss the encounter of Paul at Philippi
THE CAUSE OF PAUL AND SILAS IMPRISONMENT.
Paul and Silas were imprisoned in Philippi primarily because of the disturbance caused by their actions towards a slave girl who had a spirit of divination. This disturbance led to their arrest and subsequent imprisonment.
Encounter with the Slave Girl: Paul and Silas encountered a slave girl in Philippi who had a spirit of divination, enabling her to predict the future. This girl followed Paul and Silas, proclaiming that they were servants of the Most High God, which annoyed Paul (Acts 16:16-18).
Exorcism of the Spirit: Paul, recognizing the spirit within the girl, commanded it to come out of her, freeing her from her bondage to divination. This action caused her owners to lose their source of profit, as they had been using her ability to make money (Acts 16:18).
Arrest by Authorities: Enraged by the loss of their source of income, the owners of the slave girl seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the authorities, accusing them of causing a disturbance and promoting unlawful customs (Acts 16:19-21).
Beating and Imprisonment: The authorities, upon hearing the accusations, ordered Paul and Silas to be beaten with rods and then thrown into prison. Their feet were fastened in stocks to ensure they could not escape (Acts 16:22-24).
So, the primary cause of Paul and Silas’s imprisonment was their interference with the economic interests of the slave girl’s owners by casting out the spirit of divination, which resulted in their arrest and subsequent incarceration.
THE ENCOUNTER OF PAUL AT PHILIPPI
The encounter of Paul at Philippi, as recorded in the Bible in Acts 16:11-40, is a significant event in Paul’s missionary journeys and the spread of Christianity in Europe. Here’s a discussion of the key aspects of this encounter:
Arrival in Philippi: Paul, along with his companions Timothy, Silas, and Luke, travelled to Philippi after receiving a vision of a Macedonian man urging them to come and preach the gospel there (Acts 16:9-10). Philippi was a Roman colony and an important city in Macedonia.
Conversion of Lydia: Upon arriving in Philippi, Paul and his companions went to a riverside where they expected to find a place of prayer. There, they met a group of women, one of whom was Lydia, a seller of purple cloth from Thyatira. Lydia was receptive to Paul’s message, and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the gospel. She and her household were baptized, becoming the first converts in Philippi (Acts 16:11-15).
Encounter with the Slave Girl: As Paul and his companions continued their ministry in Philippi, they encountered a slave girl who had a spirit of divination. This girl followed them, proclaiming that they were servants of the Most High God. Although what she said was true, Paul became annoyed by her constant following. Eventually, he commanded the spirit to come out of her, setting her free from her bondage to divination. This action led to Paul and Silas’s arrest (Acts 16:16-18).
Imprisonment and Miracle: Following the exorcism of the spirit from the slave girl, her owners seized Paul and Silas and brought them before the authorities, accusing them of causing a disturbance. Paul and Silas were beaten with rods and thrown into prison, with their feet fastened in stocks. However, while they were praying and singing hymns to God at midnight, a great earthquake shook the foundations of the prison, opening all the doors and unfastening everyone’s chains. The jailer, fearing the prisoners had escaped, was about to kill himself when Paul assured him that they were all still there. The jailer and his household were subsequently converted to Christianity, and they were baptized (Acts 16:19-34).
Release and Departure: The next morning, the magistrates sent word to release Paul and Silas. However, Paul, being a Roman citizen, insisted that they come themselves and personally escort them out of the prison. The magistrates apologized to them, and they departed from Philippi, encouraging the brethren before leaving (Acts 16:35-40).
Overall, the encounter of Paul at Philippi illustrates the power of God to work through unexpected circumstances, such as imprisonment and persecution, to bring about the spread of the gospel and the establishment of Christian communities. It also highlights themes of divine intervention, conversion, and the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity.
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