St Paul 2nd Missionary Trip Acts 15:36-18:22 Time: A.D. 51-54

Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing”.” Acts 15:36.

Companions & Start Point: St Barnabas took John (St Mark) and went to Cyprus. St Paul took Silas as his companion during this trip. Antioch was always the start & end point of St Paul trips

Lystra

At Lystra: 1- Meeting Timothy Acts 16:1-3. He circumcised him (a Jew mother & Greek father) 2- They visited Churches & delivered the decrees of Jerusalem Council “churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily” Acts 16:5. 3- They (Paul, Silas and Timothy) went through Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the HS to preach the word in Asia so they came to Mysia, and tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So they came down to Troas.

Troas

At Troas: A vision appeared to Paul in the night; a man of Macedonia 17 stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us” Acts 16:10. This was the heavenly declaration to preach to the Greeks (Europe).

At Philippi : At Philippi (a city in Macedonia) many believed in Christ Lydia who was a seller of purple and all her household believed. Lydia invited the apostles to stay in her house. Then a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination (a future teller) met the apostles and followed them. St Paul did cast out the demon from her. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities

At Philippi : The judges commanded them to be beaten with rods and threw them into prison. The jailer put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them” Acts 16:25. Through God’s miraculous ways the jail’s doors were opened and the keeper of the prison believed and his entire household. Judges released St Paul and Silas as they (apostles) are Romans. St Paul and Silas encouraged believers and departed by land to Amphipolis then to Apollonia from which to Thessalonica (Luke stayed back in Philippi).

At Thessalonica : Acts 17:1-9, they preached Christ in the Synagogues and many (of the Greeks ) believed. Jews got angry. Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea (Port in Athens).

At Berea: Acts 17:10-15, the people there received the word with all readiness, but the Jews from Thessalonica came to Berea and stirred up the crowds. Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea to Athens but Silas and Timothy stayed and were to catch up with him.

At Athens : At Athens which was a center of arts and philosophy. While Paul was waiting for Timothy and Silas “his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols” Acts 17:16. Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers then he encountered a group of Epicurean18 and Stoic19 philosophers preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. They took him and brought him to the Areopagus2

At Athens : Some believed and others mocked St Paul 17:34 At Areopagus20 told them about the “unknown God” Acts 17:22-30. “Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you” Some believed and others mocked St Paul 17:34 Afterwards St Paul left to Corinth

At Corinth : Acts 18:1-17, St Paul stayed in Corinth for 1.5 years (A.D. 52-54). Met with Aquila and Priscilla who were Jewish tentmakers (the same as St Paul) Paul was preaching to the Jews in their Synagogues in spite of the all the opposition “9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city”. ” Acts 18:9-10. During the stay of Paul in Corinth he wrote his first two epistles, the first and second epistles to the Thessalonians A.D. 52, 53..

The return trip Acts 18:18-22 Paul sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow. He came to Ephesus, didn’t stay for long saying “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing”. Sailed from Ephesus to land at Caesarea, and then gone to Jerusalem. Then back up to Antioch again.

St Paul Third Missionary Trip: Acts 18:23-21:16 Period: 54-58 A.D Paul and Luke

Antioch (Syria) always start (and finish) of Saint Paul’s journey

Ephesus Capital of Asia

Apollos Jew born at Alexandria “…Taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John…” Aquila and Priscilla explained to him Christ salvation and baptism by the HS Came to Ephesus

Missionary successful in Corinth but created a division in the Corinthian church Division-Evangelism of Paul and Peter on one side and that of Apollos. THE REASON…… St Paul wrote his 1st Epistle to the Corinthians when he went to Ephesus.

Antioch (Syria) always start (and finish) of Saint Paul’s journey

Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” 1Corinthians 1:10-13, Corinthians 3:1-9

Saint Paul & Apollos Paul remained his confidence in Apollos and asked him to revisit Corinth in that Epistle Talked about Apollos in his epistle to Titus

Paul 3 yrs Arrived shortly after Apollos Baptized disciples w/ the HS (who probably knew only of Apollos prior teachings) and taught them of Christ’s salvation, they spoke w/ tongues and prophesied. Handkerchiefs and aprons of Paul healed and removed evil spirits. Jewish travelers, who casted out evil spirits by calling the name of Jesus Christ whom Paul preaches. The evil spirit ridiculed them and overpowered them Believers confessed, those who practiced magic burned their expensive books in the sight of all.

Demestrius A silversmith , built shrines to Artemis (goddess Diana). Led a riot in t City w/ similar craftsmen over losing trade and Arthenis temple being despised b/ of Paul’s teachings. Seized Paul’s travel companions. Rebellion was over after the city clerk dismissed the assembly

Macedonia 2nd Epistle to the Corinthians (defends himself-teachings-love for ppl of Corinth-his background story) 2nd Epistle to the Corinthians

Antioch (Syria) always start (and finish) of Saint Paul’s journey

Corinth Achea- 3 months Epistle to the Galatians Epistle to the Romans 3 months in region of Achea Galatians: (Mosaic Law and Gentile Christians) Romans:(Salvation thru JC- Corinth- adultry as rituals to please idols)

Was going to sail w/ disciples to Syria but Jews plotted against him so travelled by land w/ disciples.

Antioch (Syria) always start (and finish) of Saint Paul’s journey

Troas Eutychus fell asleep and fell from the 3rd level during Paul’s message taken up dead. Paul said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.”  After Paul departed they brought the young man in alive.

Avoided Ephesus lest it is to late to attend the Pentecost in Jerusalem.

Caesarea Stayed days at Phillip’s house (one of the 7 deacons who ministered to the poor in Jerusalem), and his 4 virgin daughters who prophecized Agabus (prophet) came down from Judea prophesied the tribulation Paul will go thru in Jerusalem. Prior and during disciples told Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Paul told them he’d be ready to die in Jerusalem for the name of Jesus Christ. Sent poor relief by Greeks who were believers