While Paul was delivering the message to the church that circumcision wasn’t necessary, he circumcises poor Timothy, who became all things to all people for the sake of the gospel. Paul didn’t want there to be a stumbling block in the church.

We see a little of how Paul received guidance. He has general directions from the council to go to all the churches and deliver their decision.

Paul is stopped by “the Spirit of Jesus” when he seeks to go to one area. It’s a phrase I don’t think we see elsewhere. This is the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit is how we fellowship with the Father and with Jesus. So, I read this as Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, telling Paul, “No,” when he was wanting to go there.

Then Paul has a vision of someone asking for help. Paul concludes that they should go help. One final mention of guidance is when they arrive in Philippi.

They go down to the river thinking there would be a place for prayer. There wasn’t a specific guidance, except that the Spirit is always working. He had the thought that there could be a place for prayer down by the river. The Lord had arranged a meeting there. Paul didn’t need guidance to share the gospel. He had an audience and he spoke. The Lord had arranged the whole thing, including preparing Lydia’s heart to receive the message.

Some say Lydia must have been a widow because she invites Paul and his companions to stay at her house. I find that ridiculous. I lived for fourteen years in a hospitality culture. You always invite people. People are always welcome. No guests are ever not welcome.

More interestingly, her whole household is baptized. If she was married, her husband became a Christian because of her first coming to faith.