How did Paul know where to go when he was traveling around sharing Jesus? Did he just pick places and go? Did he get direction from the Holy Spirit? Did Jesus tell him where to go? They only thing we know is where Paul got a vision where a guy says, “Come over here and help us!” and he immediately goes to Macedonia. But Macedonia is a huge region, not a particular city so then, why does Paul go to Philippi? Because Philippi is the leading city of Macedonia...things are happening in that city and that is why Paul chooses it. Paul plans ahead, sets goals, and moves toward those goals. He doesn’t wait around on God to give him direction. He chooses a place and goes, however, when he is on the way and the Spirit has different plans, he listens and is obedient.

In the beginning of chapter 16, Paul is going to answer a question from the church at Corinth about them having to take up a collection of money for the church in Jerusalem. There was a famine going on over all the Roman ruled areas, some places being worse than others. It was very severe in Jerusalem and the once rich and blessed church that started it all in Acts 2, finds itself struggling with people starving. They can’t grow food in the drought, Rome is struggling to provide, supply and demand is making everything more expensive, their money is drying up, and not even the might, power packed Holy Ghost filled, tongue talking apostles can’t provide for the people! They are having to walk through it and it is very difficult. God uses different means to supply for them, including this collection form the Gentile churches that Paul is collecting. Surely the church at Corinth would understand and give away some of their riches...right?

In the beginning of chapter 16, Paul is going to answer a question from the church at Corinth about them having to take up a collection of money for the church in Jerusalem. There was a famine going on over all the Roman ruled areas, some places being worse than others. It was very severe in Jerusalem and the once rich and blessed church that started it all in Acts 2, finds itself struggling with people starving. They can’t grow food in the drought, Rome is struggling to provide, supply and demand is making everything more expensive, their money is drying up, and not even the might, power packed Holy Ghost filled, tongue talking apostles can’t provide for the people! They are having to walk through it and it is very difficult. God uses different means to supply for them, including this collection form the Gentile churches that Paul is collecting. Surely the church at Corinth would understand and give away some of their riches...right?