Sunday, June 8 – Acts 15, 16 – Additional reading, Acts of the Apostles Chapters 19-21 and 35

1. Where in your life is God calling you to trust His grace instead of your performance?

2. Have you experienced a “closed door” recently? How might God be redirecting you, not rejecting you? What would it look like to seek His vision for the next step?

3. How do you respond in your “midnight moments”? Do you retreat, react, or worship when suffering or injustice comes? What would it look like to trust God with your chains?

The book of Acts captures the explosive growth of the early church as the gospel spread across borders, cultures, and even opposition. Acts 15 and 16 mark a pivotal transition in this journey that highlights how God’s grace, guidance, and sovereign hand open doors we could never open on our own.

Acts 15 begins with a sharp debate: Should Gentile believers be required to follow Jewish customs like circumcision? Some Jewish Christians insisted they must, but Paul and Barnabas, backed by Peter and James, argued that salvation comes by grace through faith, not by keeping the law. This debate of law and grace has impacted the Jesus movement for over two thousand years. However, Peter’s words cut to the heart of the matter:

“Why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear?” (Acts 15:10).

The Jerusalem Council ultimately agrees: Gentiles are saved by grace, just as Jews are. This moment is more than a theological clarification: it is the Holy Spirit preserving the purity of the gospel. Grace is not earned. It is a gift. The early church could have fractured here, but instead, unity was preserved by rooting itself in the truth of God’s mercy.

Next, we witness a sharp personal disagreement between Paul and Barnabas over John Mark, who had previously deserted them. They part ways, forming two mission teams instead of one. Though conflict occurs, God’s mission expands through it. This is a reminder that God can redeem even our relational fractures. Ministry is not immune to tension; even division can serve His greater purpose when surrendered to Him.

As Paul sets out on his second missionary journey with Silas, something strange happens: the Holy Spirit “blocks” them from preaching in certain regions. Twice, they are stopped from going where they intended. Then, Paul has a vision: a man from Macedonia pleading, “Come over and help us!” Sometimes, God’s “no” isn’t rejection but redirection. These closed doors lead them to Philippi, where key events unfold: the conversion of Lydia, a businesswoman and worshiper of God; the dramatic deliverance of a slave girl; and the imprisonment that would lead to a jailer’s salvation. All because God guided them to a different door.

Toward the end of Acts 16, Paul and Silas are unjustly beaten and imprisoned. Yet, at midnight, they are found singing hymns. In a moment of darkness and suffering, they choose to praise God. Suddenly, an earthquake shakes the prison, doors fly open, and chains fall off. But instead of escaping, Paul and Silas stay, and through their actions, the jailer falls before them, asking,
“What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30).

Their test becomes a testimony. It’s easy to worship when it’s convenient and with A/C. But worshiping when we are chained shows the world the power of the gospel.

Acts 15 and 16 share a plethora of lessons that room doesn’t allow me to write them all. For this moment, I love how the Word reveals a God who preserves the truth of the gospel of grace alone, guides his people when He closes doors, and uses hardships as a platform of salvation and praise. Whether you’re facing conflict, redirection, or suffering, these chapters remind us that God is always working behind the scenes, in our relationships, and even in our pain.