Acts Chapter 16 Study Guide

Family Study Guide for December 27, 2006 - January 3, 2007
(Read Acts 16 Online)

Reflections on Acts 16 by Mark Chesner, Coach

There is a verse in Matthew that has always bothered me.

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Matthew 10:16

As I read the verse the "innocent like doves" part makes perfect sense to me. It fits in with "turn the other cheek", "do unto others as you would have them do to you", "live at peace with all men", and the other commands that Jesus gave. But "shrewd as snakes"? That seems completely out of place here, doesn't it? The devil is depicted as a snake in Genesis, and we aren't supposed to be like him are we?

In Acts 16, we see this verse played out in the marketplace and jail of Macedonia. Paul and Silas start out preaching in the marketplace. But quickly they are joined by a woman who is posessed by a demon. The demon follows them around screaming out "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." At first glance, this seems like a great thing - a respected fortune teller calling upon the people of the city to listen to the missionaries. An "innocent dove" would be pleased. But you will note that she keeps it up day after day, and the "shrewd snake" in Paul recognizes what she is really doing - she is heckling the disciples and driving away the crowds who would quickly get tired of her same shout over and over and over again. So Paul casts the demon out of the woman, ending the scene.

But this displeases the woman's owners who were using her demon-inspired powers to earn money, so they have Paul and Silas publicly beaten, and thrown into prison. Now, we are back to seeing "innocent like doves" as Paul and Silas pray and sing to God in prison, as though they had not a care in the world. An earthquake comes and opens all the doors, and still they act the part of the "dove" by staying in prison despite an easy escape. This leads the jailer to listen to the gospel and become a Christian. Finally, a message comes from the magistrates: "Let them go", and Paul shifts back into "shrewd as a snake" mode. He notes that they were publicly beaten which will lead all the people to assume they are guilty. If they are released secretly because they are innocent, that won't change public opinion about them! So they force the local leaders to escort them out of prison, showing everyone they were innocent of any crime. Thus, no one is left to wonder if a servant of Christ was also a crook.

In serving Jesus, we are called upon to be innocents, viewing the world like a child. But we also need to use our minds critically, and seek to be shrewd in dealing with the world. Doing both gives us the balance that God is looking for as we seek to serve him.

Questions to Consider
- When have you seen a time when a Christian needed to be "shrewd as a snake"?
- When would it be important to set shrewdness aside, and just be "innocent like a dove"?
- What is a situation in your life that could use both innocence and shrewdness right now?

Bible.Org Outline for Acts 16
2. In South Galatia (Derbe, Lystra): Timothy Joins Paul and Silas (16:1-4)
E. Conclusion of Book Five (16:5)
VI. Book Six: The Extension of the Church to the Aegean Area (16:6–19:20)
A. Philippi (16:6-40)
1. Throughout the Phrygian-Galatian Region (16:6)
2. To Troas in Mysia (16:7-8a)
3. Paul’s Vision: Come to Macedonia (16:8b-10)
4. Troas to Samothrace to Neapolis to Philippi (16:11)
5. In Philippi (16:12-40)
a. The Conversion of Lydia (16:12-15)
b. The Exorcism of a Slave Girl (16:16-18)
c. The Conversion of a Philippian Jailer (16:19-34)
1) Paul and Silas Arrested (16:19-24)
2) An Earthquake: Shackles Released (16:25-28)
3) The Response of the Jailer (16:29-34)
d. The Release of Paul and Silas (16:35-40)