Salvation teaching featuring Acts chapters 16 and 17

Here is a teaching featuring Acts chapters 16 and 17 which chronicle Paul’s continuing missionary journeys and what is now Greece. People were saved and baptized and many accepted the gospel but also there were challenges, persecution, and miracles which all show God’s goodness and faith. The story of the earthquake in Acts 16 is remarkable for it not only helped free Paul it also led the jailor and his family to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, and be saved. I will include salvation scriptures too in this study.

(Acts 16:1)  Now he arrived at Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek,

(Acts 16:2)  who had a good testimony by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium.

(Acts 16:3)  Paul desired this Timothy to go forth with him, and taking him, he circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was Greek.

(Acts 16:4)  And as they were going through the cities, they were delivering to them the decrees to keep, which had been decided by the apostles and the elders at Jerusalem.

(Acts 16:5)  Therefore the churches were strengthened in the faith, and were growing in number each day.

(Acts 16:6)  Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the Galatian region, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit from speaking the word in Asia,

(Acts 16:7)  having come to Mysia they attempted to go to Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.

(Acts 16:8)  So they bypassed Mysia, and went down to Troas.

(Acts 16:9)  And a vision appeared during the night to Paul. A certain man of Macedonia was standing, urging him, and saying, "Come across to Macedonia and help us."

(Acts 16:10)  Now when he saw the vision, immediately we sought to go out to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

(Acts 16:11)  Therefore, putting to sea from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis,

(Acts 16:12)  and from there to Philippi, which is chief of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were spending some days in that very city.

(Acts 16:13)  And on the Sabbath day we went outside the city beside a river, where prayer was customarily made; and having sat down we spoke to the women who assembled together there.

(Acts 16:14)  And a certain woman named Lydia, a dealer of purple cloth of the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God, heard us, whose heart the Lord opened to give heed to the things spoken by Paul.

(Acts 16:15)  And when she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." So she persuaded us.

(Acts 16:16)  Now it came to pass, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl, having a spirit of Python, met us, who brought much profit to her masters by fortune telling.

(Acts 16:17)  This girl, following after Paul and us, was crying out, saying, "These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation."

(Acts 16:18)  And this she did for many days. But Paul, being greatly annoyed and turning around, said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out in that very hour.

(Acts 16:19)  And when her masters saw that the hope of their profit was gone, they took Paul and Silas, and dragged them to the marketplace to the rulers.

(Acts 16:20)  And bringing them to the magistrates they said, "These men, being Jews, are agitating our city;

(Acts 16:21)  and they are proclaiming customs which are not lawful for us to receive or to do, since we are Romans."

(Acts 16:22)  And the crowd rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore their clothes and ordered men to beat them with rods.

(Acts 16:23)  And when they laid many strokes on them, they cast them into prison, commanding the prison keeper to keep them securely;

(Acts 16:24)  who, having received such a command, cast them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

(Acts 16:25)  Now about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

(Acts 16:26)  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and all the bonds were loosed.

(Acts 16:27)  And becoming awake, the prison keeper, seeing the doors of the prison open, drawing a sword, he was about to kill himself, supposing the prisoners to have escaped.

(Acts 16:28)  But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here."

(Acts 16:29)  And asking for a light he rushed in, and he came trembling, and fell before Paul and Silas,

(Acts 16:30)  and he brought them forth outside and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

(Acts 16:31)  And they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, you and your household."

(Acts 16:32)  And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all those in his house.

(Acts 16:33)  And taking them along in that same hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he and all his family were baptized.

(Acts 16:34)  And bringing them up into his house, he set a meal before them; and he rejoiced with his whole house, having believed in God.

(Acts 16:35)  Now when it became day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, "Release those men."

(Acts 16:36)  And the prison keeper announced these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent so that you may be released. Now therefore depart, and go in peace."

(Acts 16:37)  But Paul said to them, "They beat us publicly, although we were uncondemned Romans, and they cast us into prison, and now do they cast us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and lead us out."

(Acts 16:38)  And the officers related to the magistrates these words, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans.

(Acts 16:39)  And coming, they appealed to them, and bringing them out, they asked them to depart from the city.

(Acts 16:40)  And coming out from the prison, they entered into the house of Lydia; and seeing the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

(Acts 17:1)  Now traveling through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.

(Acts 17:2)  And according to Paul's custom, he went in to them, and for three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

(Acts 17:3)  interpreting and pointing out that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer, and to arise from the dead, and saying that "This is the Christ, Jesus, whom I proclaim to you."

(Acts 17:4)  And some of them were persuaded and were joined with Paul and Silas, both of the devout Greeks, a great multitude, and not a few of the chief women.

(Acts 17:5)  And the Jews who did not believe became envious, and took some wicked men from the marketplace, and forming a mob, they threw the city into disorder, and came upon the house of Jason, and sought to bring them to the people.

(Acts 17:6)  But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brothers to the rulers of the city, crying out, "The men who have upset the whole world, these have come here, too;

(Acts 17:7)  whom Jason has received; and these all practice contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king--Jesus."

(Acts 17:8)  And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things.

(Acts 17:9)  And having taken the security bond from Jason and the rest, they released them.

(Acts 17:10)  Then the brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away during the night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

(Acts 17:11)  And these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all readiness, each day examining the Scriptures to see whether these things might be so.

(Acts 17:12)  Therefore many of them believed, and not a few of the prominent Greek women and men.

(Acts 17:13)  But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul in Berea, they came there also, agitating the crowds.

(Acts 17:14)  Then immediately the brothers sent Paul away, to go toward the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there.

(Acts 17:15)  And those conducting Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy, that as quickly as possible they should come to him, they departed.

(Acts 17:16)  And in Athens, while Paul waited for them, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was full of idols.

(Acts 17:17)  Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshippers, and in the marketplace daily with those coming by.

(Acts 17:18)  And also some of the Epicurean and of the Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. And some were saying, "What does this seed-picker wish to say?" But others said, "He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign deities," because he was preaching the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.

(Acts 17:19)  And taking hold of him, they brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "Are we able to know what this new doctrine is you speak about?

(Acts 17:20)  For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we desire to know what these things might mean."

(Acts 17:21)  Now all the Athenians and the strangers staying there as visitors spent their time in nothing other than to say or to hear some new thing.

(Acts 17:22)  Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men, Athenians, according to all things I perceive you as being very religious;

(Acts 17:23)  for as I passed by and considered the objects of your worship, I found also an altar on which it had been inscribed: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, Him whom being ignorant of you worship, Him I announce to you:

(Acts 17:24)  The God who made the world and all the things in it, Him being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands,

(Acts 17:25)  nor by the hands of men is He served, as though He needed anything, for He gives to all life, and breath, with respect to all things.

(Acts 17:26)  And He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell upon all the face of the earth, and He ordained their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,

(Acts 17:27)  in order for them to seek the Lord, if perhaps indeed they might grope for Him and find Him, and yet being indeed not far from each one of us;

(Acts 17:28)  for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'

(Acts 17:29)  "Therefore, being the offspring of God, we ought not to suppose that the Godhead is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and the imagination of man.

(Acts 17:30)  So then these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all men everywhere to repent,

(Acts 17:31)  because He has appointed a day in which He is going to judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He appointed, having given proof to all, by raising Him from the dead."

(Acts 17:32)  But when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some were scoffing, but others said, "We will hear you again concerning this."

(Acts 17:33)  And thus Paul went forth from their midst.

(Acts 17:34)  However, some men were joined to him and believed, among whom were also Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Now I will include a salvation tract and teaching so you can share with others and have that special relationship with the Lord as well. The following verses state how mankind is fallen and all do wrong but that is why out of love God sent Jesus into the world

(Romans 3:10)  as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;

(Romans 3:11)  no one understands; no one seeks for God.

(Romans 3:12)  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one

(Romans 3:23)  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

(Romans 3:24)  and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

(Romans 3:25)  whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

(Romans 3:26)  It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus

These verses in Romans chapter 5 states that Jesus died for us while we were weak and that as sin came through one man righteousness came from one man’s obedience- Jesus to death so that the gift of God can be given- this is verses 6 through 21

(Romans 5:6)  For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

(Romans 5:7)  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--

(Romans 5:8)  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

(Romans 5:9)  Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

(Romans 5:10)  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

(Romans 5:11)  More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

(Romans 5:12)  Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned--

(Romans 5:13)  for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.

(Romans 5:14)  Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

(Romans 5:15)  But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.

(Romans 5:16)  And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.

(Romans 5:17)  For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

(Romans 5:18)  Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.

(Romans 5:19)  For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.

(Romans 5:20)  Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,

(Romans 5:21)  so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The last four verses in Romans 6 further add to the point of our need of a savior to avoid the wages of sin and how Jesus did that for us

(Romans 6:20)  For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.

(Romans 6:21)  But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

(Romans 6:22)  But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

(Romans 6:23)  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus expresses His purpose of coming to the Earth here in these verses

(John 3:16)  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

(John 3:17)  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

(John 3:18)  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

(John 3:19)  And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

(John 3:20)  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

(John 3:21)  But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."

Here John the Baptist is speaking of Jesus in these two verses

(John 3:35)  The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.

(John 3:36)  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

These  verses in John chapter 5 further drive home the point of Jesus having life for His believers

(John 5:19)  Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father doing; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.

(John 5:20)  For the Father loves the Son, and shows to Him all things which He Himself does; and greater works than these He will show Him, so that you may marvel.

(John 5:21)  For as the Father raises up the dead and gives life, thus also the Son gives life to whom He wills.

(John 5:22)  For the Father judges no one, but He has given all judgment to the Son,

(John 5:23)  so that all may honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him

(John 5:24)  Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

(John 5:25)  "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

As some of the above verses do remind us, this verse really drives home the point that eternal life from heaven is really a gift from God and cannot be earned in any way by our own works  so God Himself has provided the means to escape hell and to have eternal life with Him.

(Ephesians 2:8)  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

(Ephesians 2:9)  not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

(2 Corinthians 9:15)  Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

The scriptures in 1 Timothy which encourage prayer and supplication for God wants all people to be saved as stated in these verses

(1 Timothy 2:1)  First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,

(1 Timothy 2:2)  for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

(1 Timothy 2:3)  This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,

(1 Timothy 2:4)  who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

(1 Timothy 2:5)  For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

(1 Timothy 2:6)  who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

These verses in 1 Peter shed more light on this purpose of Jesus

(1 Peter 2:24)  He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

(1 Peter 2:25)  For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls

That message also is here in this 1 Peter 3 verse

(1 Peter 3:18)  For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit

And so does these two verses in 2 Peter 3 for time is nothing to the Lord and He wants all to come to repentance and is patient

(2 Peter 3:8)  But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

(2 Peter 3:9)  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

These two verses in 1 John 2 also state how Jesus was the propitiation for our sins and all mankind’s

(1 John 2:1)  My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

(1 John 2:2)  He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Also a very similar message is given in these two verses in 1 John chapter 4 how God loved us and sent Jesus to be a propitiation for our sins

(1 John 4:9)  In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.

(1 John 4:10)  In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

And here is this passage in 1 John 5 which reinforces the 1 Timothy passage well, stating the power of prayer but also the gospel message of how it is necessary to have the Son of God to have eternal life.

(1 John 5:5)  Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

(1 John 5:6)  This is he who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

(1 John 5:7)  For there are three that testify:

(1 John 5:8)  the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.

(1 John 5:9)  If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son.

(1 John 5:10)  Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.

(1 John 5:11)  And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

(1 John 5:12)  Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

(1 John 5:13)  I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

(1 John 5:14)  And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

(1 John 5:15)  And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

Here is a message from Jude to build ourselves in the live of God for the mercy of Jeus leading to eternal life

(Jude 1:20)  But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,

(Jude 1:21)  keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

Here Jesus Himself says that He is the only way to Heaven and the Father and in so doing avoid hell that Jesus Himself spoke of

(John 14:6)  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

But Jesus also makes it clear in Revelation that He indeed is seeking people always

(Revelation 3:20)  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

The verses in Romans ten state how we are to be saved, believing the word which is near to us, to hear it then confess Jesus as Lord and believe God has raised Him from the dead- in that is our key to salvation

 (Romans 10:8)  But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);

(Romans 10:9)  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

(Romans 10:10)  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

(Romans 10:11)  For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."

(Romans 10:12)  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.

(Romans 10:13)  For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

(Romans 10:14)  How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

(Romans 10:15)  And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"

(Romans 10:16)  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?"

(Romans 10:17)  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Now those people are now a new creation in Christ

(2 Corinthians 5:17)  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come

And also at peace with God being justified by faith

(Romans 5:1)  Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

(Romans 5:2)  Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

These two verses promise no condemnation with those in Jesus

(Romans 8:1)  There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

(Romans 8:2)  For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death

Then it also asks if God is for us then who or what can be against us, in these verses towards the end of Romans chapter 8

(Romans 8:31)  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

(Romans 8:32)  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

(Romans 8:33)  Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.

(Romans 8:34)  Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

(Romans 8:35)  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

(Romans 8:36)  As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."

(Romans 8:37)  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

And nothing can now separate us from the love of God in Jesus, either

(Romans 8:38)  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

(Romans 8:39)  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I am sure you have now seen enough now to be ready to pray to be saved. I am now including a short prayer that you can say to ensure that you are saved and have eternal life when you die, going to heaven to be with Jesus forever and not end up going to hell.

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.

Amen.

God bless you and yours