a 10 day tour of Greece, Patmos, churches of Revelation, and Rome illustrating the growth of the early Church Friday 21 st – Sunday 30 th October 2016 The Spreading Flame

Mike Fuller is a New Wine speaker, international Bible teacher; retired Baptist Minister and teacher of Religious Studies; Tutor in Theology at Trinity Church, Cheltenham; and author of “The Entire Story of the Bible in 50 Minutes”, “A Fool’s Guide to Following Jesus”, and “A Fool’s Guide to the Land of the Book”.

Direct flight from London Gatwick to Thessaloniki, continuing by air- conditioned coach to Kavala – the ancient port of Neapolis Acts Friday 21 st October

Evening free to explore the harbour area Acts Friday 21 st October

We start the day with a short illustrated talk explaining the growth of the early Christian Church … Saturday 22 nd October Acts 1-28

… and then continue to ancient Philippi, approaching the city walking on part of the ancient Roman Via Egnetia – just as Paul would have done … Acts Saturday 22 nd October

… we see the Agora, where Paul freed the girl affected by an evil spirit… Acts Saturday 22 nd October

… the site traditionally associated with Paul and Silas’s imprisonment … Acts Saturday 22 nd October

… and the riverside location of Lydia’s conversion and baptism – where we will worship together. Acts Saturday 22 nd October

In the afternoon, we take a direct flight to Athens, and our new hotel. After dinner, the evening is free. Acts Saturday 22 nd October

We see the ancient city of Athens, including the Acropolis and its museum … Acts Sunday 23 rd October

… and the Areopagus, where Paul addressed the philosophers of Athens. The latter afternoon is free. Acts Sunday 23 rd October

In the evening, there will be an (optional) time for worship together, with a short illustrated talk on philosophy in the ancient world, and its connections with Christian faith. John 1 Sunday 23 rd October

Acts 18 1 Monday 24 th October We leave our hotel in Athens to travel to Corinth …

Acts 18 3 … where we see the streets where Paul worked as a tentmaker … Monday 24 th October

Acts 18 3 … evidence of the ancient synagogue … Monday 24 th October

Acts 18 3 … the “Bema”, where Paul was charged with lawless behaviour … … and the Acrocorinth, a temple used for ritual prostitution. Monday 24 th October

Acts 18 3 Romans Timothy 4 20 Among the ruins is an inscription possibly relating to Erastus, one of Paul’s assistants. Monday 24 th October

Acts 18 8 We see the ancient port of Cenchrae (from which Paul sailed to Ephesus)... Monday 24 th October

… and then take a ferry from the Athens port of Piraeus to the island of Patmos. Arriving in the early hours, we go straight to our hotel. Arriving in the early hours, we go straight to our hotel. Monday 24 th October

Revelation 1 9 Tuesday 25 th October In the late morning, we start to explore the island of Patmos...

… seeing the cave associated with John’s Revelation... Revelation 1-3 Tuesday 25 th October

Revelation 1-3 … and the monastery of St John. Tuesday 25 th October

Wednesday 26 th October Leaving Patmos, we travel by private ferry to the port of Kusadasi …

… continuing to walk through ancient Ephesus … Acts 19 Wednesday 26 th October

… seeing the library of Celsus … (a little after the New Testament era – but well worth a look!) Acts 19 Wednesday 26 th October

… housing from the time of Augustus … Acts 19 Wednesday 26 th October

… the amphitheatre which was the setting for the riot about the making of shrines to Artemis … Acts Wednesday 26 th October

… and a communal toilet which might – just possibly – have been used by St Paul! see Philippians 3 8 (in the original Greek) Wednesday 26 th October

Overlooking Ephesus, we visit what may have been the final home of Mary, mother of Jesus … John Wednesday 26 th October

… and continue to our new hotel in Pammukale … Wednesday 26 th October

Thursday 27 th October Today, we visit three more of the churches which the Risen Jesus speaks to in Revelation: Revelation 1-3

Laodicaea – where we will see the remains of the aqueduct which might be behind the “luke-warm” image … Revelation Thursday 27 th October

Philadelphia – where Jesus speaks of pillars in the Temple of God (perhaps related to the area’s frequent earthquakes) (perhaps related to the area’s frequent earthquakes) Revelation Thursday 27 th October

Sardis – one of the greatest cities of the ancient world Revelation Thursday 27 th October

We then continue to our new hotel in Izmir, ancient Smyrna. Thursday 27 th October

Friday 28 th October We start the day viewing the excavations at Smyrna. This church – about which the Risen Jesus made no negative comment – was facing persecution. One of the earliest martyrs, Polycarp, was bishop of Smyrna. Revelation

After free time for lunch by the water-front in Izmir, we fly (via Istanbul) to Rome, where we will be taken to our new hotel. Friday 28 th October

Saturday 29 th October In the morning, we visit St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican city … Romans Acts

Saturday 29 th October … and the Vatican Museum … Romans Acts

Saturday 29 th October … including the Sistine Chapel. Romans Acts

In the afternoon, our introduction to ancient Rome starts with the Colosseum: built using wealth taken from the Temple after the conquest of Jerusalem; and possibly used as a place of execution for some persecuted Christians; Romans Acts Saturday 29 th October

We see the Titus Arch, which celebrates the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE … Romans Acts Saturday 29 th October

We walk through the ancient Forum … Romans Acts

… and see the Mamertine prison, where both Paul, and also Peter, were imprisoned … Romans Acts Saturday 29 th October

Sunday 30 th October In the morning, we visit the Basilica of the Holy Cross – which claims to hold a fragment of the True Cross, nails from the cross, thorns from the Crown of Thorns – and St Thomas’s finger. Romans Acts

We then see the Basilica which is believed to mark the burial place of St Paul … Romans Acts Sunday 30 th October

… and see part of the Roman catacombs, on the edge of the city … Romans Acts Here, we will share together in worship to mark the end of our tour. Sunday 30 th October

We travel to the airport, for our flight home to London Gatwick Sunday 30 th October

£1880  includes half board, air-conditioned coach, en-suite rooms with WiFi, gratuities, licensed guides, all entrance fees  does not include travel to and from Gatwick, any fuel surcharge, lunches, evening meal on Piraeus – Patmos ferry, insurance  more info available from Thanks to for the use of images.