SUNDAY August 13, 2023
Opportunities for Evangelism
Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.
Acts 16:11-13
Philippi was a beautiful seaport. It was founded by the Macedonian emperor Philip II, in 356 BC, and was intended to be developed into the resemblance of Rome. Philippi became a Roman colony where the laws of Rome were practiced. Men who had retired from the Roman army were given the opportunity to go there, or they could choose from any number of other European cities.
Paul and his companions traveled over the mountains and into the valley to stay in Philippi. Paul, as a Roman citizen, must have felt right at home. Philippi’s population was almost all Gentile. There were hardly any Jews, and, therefore, no synagogue was built for worship. In any given place, at least ten Jews had to live there in order to establish a synagogue.
On the Sabbath, as there were no synagogues, Paul and his company decided to go down to the river to preach the Gospel. The river was the place where people were accustomed to praying. We see that it was the women who were leading the prayer meeting down by the river. Paul led the company, and he took the opportunity to share Christ with them.
It is so important to look for opportunities to share the Gospel with other people. You will find there will be people who will listen to the message and have an open heart to accept Christ as their Savior.
The key [to sharing the gospel] is that you be inspired of God, that you ask Him for direction and then go and do as the Spirit prompts you. I recognize that not all of us may have the same abilities and talents in sharing the gospel. But I want to keep the heat on all of us for getting the good news out there.
~Charles Stanley~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
