Acts 16:1, Luke mentions that Timothy is a combination of Jewish and Gentile descent. His mother is a Jewish believer, which makes Timothy a Jew, but his father is a Gentile. Timothy's mother's faith is an excellent example of how a believing parent can impact their child's life. Paul and Timothy traveled together frequently, and Paul spoke to Timothy in a nurturing manner, referring to him as "my true child in the faith" (1 Tim. 1:2). Timothy's circumcision removes a barrier to preaching to the Jews and allows them to enter synagogues when visiting new towns.

Paul, Silas, and Timothy continue to visit churches and share the decision from the council, which came from the apostles and elders (Acts 16:4). Luke points out that the churches are strengthened, and more people are converted. Making disciples does not stop at converting individuals; it is ongoing. There are some peculiar details about ministry being prevented by the Holy Spirit. It is unclear how Paul, Silas, and Timothy perceive that the Spirit is deterring them from going to Bithynia (v.7) or the reason for it. Whether Paul experiences the vision while awake or asleep is unclear, but the message is. The missionaries are convinced to travel to Macedonia (16:10) and not stay in Troas for long.

The Gospel's westward spread starts at Philippi, a significant city and Roman colony. As there is no synagogue in Philippi, or at least not one that Paul wants to visit (v. 13), the missionaries head to the riverside to find a spot to pray on the Sabbath. At this location, they encounter a wealthy businesswoman named Lydia who deals in purple clothing and is a "worshipper of God" (v. 14). Purple cloth was highly valued in ancient times and was costly and time-consuming to manufacture. The apostle talked to Lydia and the other women, and God opened her heart. God is in control of salvation but uses people to achieve it. Lydia's conversion was a significant moment for the spread of the Gospel in the Roman Empire. It also provided a place for the missionaries to stay as they continued their work.

In Philippi, there is a slave girl who earns money for her owners by telling fortunes. She is not only troubled by an evil spirit but is also a nuisance by following the missionaries around for several days. The girl recognized Paul and his colleagues as messengers of God preaching about salvation. However, she was not speaking alone; a spirit was speaking through her. Although evil spirits may not always be accurate, they do recognize when a stronger power has arrived. After reaching a breaking point, Paul casts the demon out in the name of Jesus (Acts 16:18). Although the Philippians may have perceived it as a magical spell, Paul's use of Jesus' name is a proclamation of Jesus' power and triumph over evil.

Only Paul and Silas were apprehended by the owners (v. 19). The fact that the slave girl's owners identified Paul and Silas as Jews (v. 20) indicates that while Philippi may have a small Jewish population, the city has some familiarity with Judaism. The accusation against Paul and his associates is that they are jeopardizing the Roman way of life, which is seen as a top priority. This charge is sufficient to convince both the masses and the officials, resulting in Paul and Silas being brutally beaten with rods (vv. 22-23) and put into stocks (v. 24) by the magistrate. However, this mistreatment is against the law in the Roman legal system, as the magistrate will soon realize.