(a) In the lead-up to this imprisonment, Paul deals with a slave girl ‘who had a spirit’. It is not immediately obvious that this was an evil spirit. Why might we suppose that this was indeed an evil spirit and that Paul was right to make it leave the girl?

(b) Paul’s (and his companions’) visit to Philippi was in direct response to a vision from God (verses 6-10). But it led them into big trouble with the authorities, and to flogging and imprisonment. In what ways might we find that being obedient to God gets us into trouble with other people?

(c) In verse 16 the jailer asks Paul and Silas, “What must I do to be saved?” What exactly was on his mind? Are any of your friends are asking that kind of question? If not, why not? What kinds of questions are they asking (about God and the Christian faith), if any?