Congregation Bible Study — Week of June 29-July 5, 2026

Lesson 98: Christians reach many nations

Can you see on a map of your Bible the places Paul visited on his travels?

Comment 1:
Seeing Paul’s travels on a map helps us to appreciate the enormous effort he and other brothers made to bring the good news to faraway places. They toured cities in Asia Minor, Europe and other parts of the Roman Empire, often facing dangers and difficulties.

Comment 2:
On the map we can follow places like Antioquia, Cyprus, Listra, Iconium, Philippi, Thessaloniki, Athens, Corinus and Ephesus. That helps us to understand that preaching was not limited to Jerusalem. Gradually, the good news came to many nations, as Jesus had commanded.

Comment 3:
Biblical maps also allow us to better imagine Paul’s sacrifices. Some trips were long and dangerous, by sea or on difficult roads. Still, Paul did not seek comfort; he was willing to go wherever it took to help people to know Jehovah.

Comment 4:
Looking at the map, we see Paul not only visiting big cities. He also went to smaller towns and returned to places where he had already preached to strengthen the new disciples. This shows that making disciples is not only about preaching, but also caring for those who accept the truth.

Comment 5:
The fact that the good news reached so many regions confirms that Jehovah was blessing the work. Paul, Barnabas, Silas, Timothy and Luke worked together, but it was Jehovah who made it possible for many people from different backgrounds to hear the message of the Kingdom.

Additional comments on lesson 98: What do we learn in this lesson about Jehovah?

Comment 1:
We learn that Jehovah wants the good news to reach people of all kinds. Paul and Barnabas preached to rich and poor, young and old, Jews and non-Jews. Jehovah is not partial; he wants everyone to have the opportunity to know him and receive life.

Comment 2:
Jehovah can make his work move forward even when there is strong opposition. Paul was stoned on Lystra and given up, but he survived and continued to preach. This shows that enemies of the truth can cause problems, but they cannot stop the purpose of Jehovah.

Comment 3:
We also learn that Jehovah deserves all worship. When the people of Listra wanted to treat Paul and Barnabas as gods, they rejected him right away. They recognized that they were mere men and directed attention to Jehovah, the only one who deserves honor and worship.

Comment 4:
Jehovah blesses those who labor together. Paul did not make his journeys alone; he had Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, Luke and many other brothers. This reminds us that Jehovah uses the whole congregation to carry out preaching and strengthen those who serve faithfully.

Comment 5:
This lesson shows that Jehovah can touch the hearts of people of any position. Sergio Paulo was governor, but he accepted the truth when he saw the power of Jehovah. That teaches us not to think that someone is too important, too busy or too different to hear the message.

What practical lessons do we learn to apply today in our lives?

Comment 1:
We can imitate the enthusiasm of Paul and Barnabas by taking advantage of opportunities to preach in different places and different people. They didn’t expect the perfect circumstances; they talked about the good news in markets, roads, houses and synagogues. We too can look for opportunities to give evidence.

Comment 2:
We learn to maintain humility when we get good results. Paul and Barnabas did not accept the admiration of the people on Listra. Likewise, when someone appreciates our help or progresses spiritually, we remember that all the merit belongs to Jehovah.

Comment 3:
Paul’s example teaches us not to give up when we face rejection. He was attacked, driven from cities and persecuted, but he went ahead. When someone does not want to listen or mock our faith, we can remember that Jehovah values our constancy.

Comment 4:
We also learn the importance of strengthening others. Paul did not merely initiate studies or form congregations; he returned to encourage the brothers and help them stand firm. We can do something similar by visiting, calling or encouraging those who are going through testing.

Comment 5:
Paul worked making tents while serving Jehovah. That teaches us to be balanced and accountable to our obligations, without letting work or personal affairs take the main place. We can organize our lives so that the Kingdom remains the first.

Lesson 99: A jailer learns the truth

Why did they throw Paul and Silas out in jail?

Comment 1:
Paul and Silas were imprisoned because they expelled from a young woman the demon who allowed him to guess the future. Her masters were angry because they lost the way we make money with her. So they used false accusations to put people and magistrates against them.

Comment 2:
They were not put in prison because they had committed a crime, but because preaching affected the economic interests of the young woman’s masters. This shows that, sometimes, the opposition does not arise for religious reasons, but because some people put the money above what is right.

Comment 3:
The magistrates acted with haste. They sent Paul and Silas beating and locked them up without investigating fairly. Even so, they did not fill with resentment or cease to trust in Jehovah. Their attitude demonstrates a very strong faith in the face of obvious injustice.

Comment 4:
The jailer put them in the deepest part of the prison and secured his feet in the trap because he had received strict orders. Humanly it seemed like a dead end. But Jehovah turned that dark place into an opportunity for many people to hear the truth.

Comment 5:
This account confirms the words of Jesus: persecution can serve to bear witness. Although Paul and Silas were unjustly arrested, their conduct and words had a profound effect on the jailer and his entire family.

How did the jailer learn the truth?

Comment 1:
The jailer began to learn the truth by observing Paul and Silas. Despite being beaten and locked up, they sang to praise Jehovah. That peace and faith had to impress him a lot, especially because the other prisoners were also listening to them.

Comment 2:
After the earthquake, the jailer thought the prisoners had escaped and was about to take his own life. But Paul yelled at him that everyone was still there. That act of goodness showed him that Christians were different and prepared their hearts to listen to the message.

Comment 3:
The jailer asked, “What do I have to do to save me?” Paul and Silas did not give him a superficial answer. They explained to him that he should believe in Jesus and then taught him the word of Jehovah. Thus, he and his entire house were able to make a decision based on knowledge.

Comment 4:
The jailer not only heard the message, but acted right away. He washed Paul and Silas’ wounds, showed hospitality and was baptized along with those in his house. This shows that true faith produces visible changes in the way others are treated.

Comment 5:
This man knew the truth in unexpected circumstances. A night’s work that seemed normal became an occasion to learn about Jehovah and Jesus. That reminds us that we never know when a person can be prepared to hear the good news.

Additional comments on lesson 99: What do we learn in this lesson about Jehovah?

Comment 1:
We learn that Jehovah can give joy even in very difficult circumstances. Paul and Silas were wounded and imprisoned, but they continued to sing praises. Jehovah does not always immediately eliminate problems, but can give his servants the strength and peace to endure them.

Comment 2:
Jehovah can turn the opposition into an opportunity to preach. The prison seemed like a place of defeat, but it ended up being the scene where the jailer and his family received education. Jehovah knows how to open up opportunities even where we only see obstacles.

Comment 3:
We also learn that Jehovah is interested in every sincere person. The jailer was responsible for guarding a prison, but Jehovah saw that he had a heart willing to learn. This teaches us that we must not prejudge anyone for their work, their past or their circumstances.

Comment 4:
Jehovah values that we treat others with compassion. Paul may have been glad that the jailer suffered for locking them up, but he protected him and prevented him from harming himself. That act reflected the love and mercy which Jehovah expects of his servants.

Comment 5:
This lesson helps us to trust that Jehovah is watching over his servants. The earthquake was not a coincidence; it allowed Paul and Silas to give a powerful testimony. Jehovah can use unforeseen situations to make his name known and to help those who seek the truth.

What practical lessons do we learn to apply today in our lives?

Comment 1:
We can learn to maintain a positive attitude during the tests. Paul and Silas did not both fore to stop or surrender, but prayed and sang praises. When we go through problems, prayer, Bible reading and meetings can help us preserve peace.

Comment 2:
This lesson teaches us to treat us with kindness even those who treat us badly. Paul and Silas did not seek revenge against the jailer; rather, they cared for him when he thought the prisoners had escaped. Goodness can touch someone’s heart in an unexpected way.

Comment 3:
The jailer’s example reminds us that faith must lead us to act. After hearing the truth, he made changes and baptized himself. When we learn something in the Bible, we must ask ourselves: What do I need to adjust in my life to put this into practice?

Comment 4:
We can take advantage of difficult situations as opportunities to testify. Maybe an illness, a work problem or an injustice will put us in touch with people who wouldn’t normally listen. If we maintain good behavior, others can notice our faith and ask questions.

Comment 5:
We also learn to teach with patience and clarity. Paul and Silas did not merely tell the jailer to believe; they explained the word of Jehovah to him. We want to help people understand the Bible step by step, so that their faith has a solid foundation.