Acts 16:16-24
ACTS STUDY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What stood out to you during our study of Acts 16:16-24?
What do the biographical details in Acts 16:16 tell us about the slave girl’s physical and spiritual condition? How does the slave girl contrast with what we learned about Lydia, and what does this contrast tell us about who the gospel is for and the power of the gospel to transform?
Compare and contrast how Lydia and the slave girl receive the good news about Jesus. What does this teach us about being flexible and personal in evangelism?
The Scriptures tell us that the demons knew who Jesus was (cf. Acts 19:15, Mk 1:34, James 2:19). What did they know about Jesus according to Luke 4:41, Matt 8:29, Mark 1:24, and 5:7? While it is true that Paul and Silas are servants of the Most High God proclaiming the way of salvation, how and why might this declaration by the evil spirit mislead and confuse those living in a culture that had endless “highest gods?” How does the enemy water down and reduce the name of Jesus today?
Luke tells us Paul was “greatly annoyed.” That phrase can be understood in two general ways: 1) angry or frustrated, and 2) burdened or grieved. How does Paul’s wisdom in Ephesians 6:12 help us maintain the right perspective of anger toward the enemy, evil and sin, and grief for those in sin or experiencing the consequences of sin (cf. Eph 6:12 and John 11:33)? Why is this so hard?
What does Paul do to the evil spirit who is reducing and relativizing the name of Jesus (cf. Acts 16:18)? What does that declare about the name, nature, and character of Jesus?
If the gospel of Jesus can liberate this girl who is physically, spiritually, and culturally oppressed, what can it do today for you or those you are praying for?
Paul and Silas are accused and then immediately attacked, stripped, humiliated, and beaten by the crowds and magistrates. Despite this, Paul remains silent, never claiming his Roman citizenship. Why is that so significant? While the story starts with the girl imprisoned and oppressed, it ends with Paul and Silas taking her place as the imprisoned and oppressed. How do this scene and their actions point us to Jesus and his work on our behalf (cf. Is 53:7-8)?
What does this text teach us about the gospel of Jesus Christ? What does it teach us about our spiritual condition apart from Jesus? What do we learn about evangelism? What will you take away and apply from our study?
