Surprising Hope

Trinity Presbyterian Church

Acts 16:6-15
And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by
the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7And when they had come up to Mysia, they
attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8

So, passing
by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man
of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia
and help us.”

10And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on in-
to Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following
day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of
Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13And on the
Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a
place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.
14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of

purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay atten-
tion to what was said by Paul. 15And after she was baptized, and her household as well,

she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my
house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.