Saturday 7th – Tuesday 17th September 2019 The Spreading Flame an 11 day tour of Greece, Patmos, the churches of Revelation, and Rome illustrating the growth of the early Church

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

Saturday 7th September The Spreading Flame Direct flight from London Gatwick to Thessaloniki, continuing by air-conditioned coach to Kavala – the ancient port of Neapolis Acts 16 11

Evening free to explore the harbour area Saturday 7th September The Spreading Flame Evening free to explore the harbour area Acts 16 11

Sunday 8th September The Spreading Flame We start the day with a short illustrated talk explaining the growth of the early Christian Church … Acts 1-28

Sunday 8th September The Spreading Flame … 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 16 12

Sunday 8th September The Spreading Flame … we see the Agora, where Paul freed the girl affected by an evil spirit… Acts 16 16-21

Sunday 8th September The Spreading Flame … the site traditionally associated with Paul and Silas’s imprisonment … Acts 16 22-34

Sunday 8th September The Spreading Flame … and the riverside location of Lydia’s conversion and baptism – where we will worship together. Acts 16 11-15

Sunday 8th September The Spreading Flame In the afternoon, we take a direct flight to Athens, and our new hotel. After dinner, the evening is free. Acts 17 15

Monday 9th September The Spreading Flame We see the ancient city of Athens, including the Acropolis and its museum … Acts 17 16-18

Monday 9th September The Spreading Flame … and the Areopagus, where Paul addressed the philosophers of Athens. The latter afternoon is free. Acts 17 22-34

Monday 9th September The Spreading Flame 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

We leave our hotel in Athens to travel to Corinth … Tuesday 10th September The Spreading Flame We leave our hotel in Athens to travel to Corinth … Acts 18 1

… where we see the streets where Paul worked as a tentmaker … Tuesday 10th September The Spreading Flame … where we see the streets where Paul worked as a tentmaker … Acts 18 3

… evidence of the ancient synagogue … Tuesday 10th September The Spreading Flame … evidence of the ancient synagogue … Acts 18 3

Tuesday 10th September The Spreading Flame … the “Bema”, where Paul was charged with lawless behaviour … … and the Acrocorinth, a temple once used for ritual prostitution. Acts 18 3

Tuesday 10th September The Spreading Flame Among the ruins is an inscription possibly relating to Erastus, one of Paul’s assistants. Acts 18 3 Romans 16 23 2 Timothy 4 20

Tuesday 10th September The Spreading Flame We see the ancient port of Cenchrae (from which Paul sailed to Ephesus) ... Acts 18 8

Tuesday 10th September The Spreading Flame … where – recalling Phoebe – we will reflect on the role of women in the Early Church … Acts 18 8

Arriving in the early hours, we go straight to our hotel. Tuesday 10th September The Spreading Flame … 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. * Note: the evening meal on the ferry is not included *

Wednesday 11th September The Spreading Flame In the morning – after a late breakfast - we start to explore the island of Patmos ... Revelation 19

… seeing the cave associated with John’s Revelation ... Wednesday 11th September The Spreading Flame … seeing the cave associated with John’s Revelation ... Revelation 1-3

… and the monastery of St John. Wednesday 11th September The Spreading Flame … and the monastery of St John. Revelation 1-3

Leaving Patmos, we travel by private ferry to the port of Kusadasi … Thursday 12th September The Spreading Flame Leaving Patmos, we travel by private ferry to the port of Kusadasi …

Thursday 12th September The Spreading Flame … continuing to walk through ancient Ephesus (one of the “Seven Churches”)… Acts 19

Thursday 12th September … seeing the library of Celsus … Acts 19 Spreading Flame … seeing the library of Celsus … (a little after the New Testament era – but well worth a look!) Acts 19

… housing from the time of Augustus … Thursday 12th September The Spreading Flame … housing from the time of Augustus … Acts 19

Thursday 12th September The Spreading Flame … the amphitheatre which was the setting for the riot about the making of shrines to Artemis … Acts 19 23-41

Thursday 12th September The Spreading Flame … and a communal toilet which might – just possibly – have been used by St Paul! see Philippians 3 8 (in the original Greek)

Thursday 12th September The Spreading Flame Overlooking Ephesus, we visit what may have been the final home of Mary, mother of Jesus … John 19 26

Thursday 12th September The Spreading Flame … and in the evening, continue by coach to our new hotel in Pammukale …

Friday 13th September The Spreading Flame Today, we visit three more of the churches which the Risen Jesus speaks to in Revelation: Revelation 1-3

Friday 13th September The Spreading Flame Leaving our hotel, we pause to view the World Heritage site of Pammukale – famed for its extraordinary snow-white limestone.

Friday 13th September The Spreading Flame In Laodicaea, we see the remains of the aqueduct which might be behind the “luke- warm” image … Revelation 3 14-22

(perhaps related to the area’s frequent earthquakes). Friday 13th September The Spreading Flame … and then continue to Philadelphia – regarding whom Jesus speaks of “pillars” in the Temple of God (perhaps related to the area’s frequent earthquakes). Revelation 3 7-13

We see Sardis – one of the greatest cities of the ancient world. Friday 13th September The Spreading Flame We see Sardis – one of the greatest cities of the ancient world. Revelation 3 1-6

We then continue to our new hotel in Izmir, ancient Smyrna. Friday 13th September The Spreading Flame We then continue to our new hotel in Izmir, ancient Smyrna.

We start the day viewing the excavations at Smyrna. Saturday 14th September The Spreading Flame 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 2 8-11

Saturday 14th September The Spreading Flame After free time for lunch by the water-front in Izmir, we fly to Rome, where we will be taken to our new hotel. The latter part of the day is free.

We are introduced to Rome by walking through the ancient Forum … Sunday 15th September The Spreading Flame We are introduced to Rome by walking through the ancient Forum … Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31

Sunday 15th September The Spreading Flame … seeing the Mamertine prison, where both Paul, and also Peter, were imprisoned … Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31

Sunday 15th September … and the Colosseum: Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31 Spreading Flame … and 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 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31

Sunday 15th September The Spreading Flame We see the Titus Arch, which celebrates the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE … Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31

Sunday 15th September The Spreading Flame … and the Capuchin Crypt – an intriguing reminder of human mortality! Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31

Sunday 15th September The Spreading Flame Our day concludes with worship together – hopefully, sharing with an English-speaking congregation in Rome. Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31

Monday 16th September The Spreading Flame In the morning, we visit St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican city … Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31

Saturday 29th October … the Vatican Museum … Romans 1 8-15 Spreading Flame Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31 … the Vatican Museum …

Monday 16th September … and the Sistine Chapel. Romans 1 8-15 Spreading Flame Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31 … and the Sistine Chapel.

In the afternoon, we visit the Basilica of the Holy Cross Monday 16th September The Spreading Flame In the afternoon, 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 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31

Monday 16th September The Spreading Flame We then see the Basilica which is believed to mark the burial place of St Paul … Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31

… and see part of the Roman catacombs, on the edge of the city … Monday 16th September The Spreading Flame … and see part of the Roman catacombs, on the edge of the city … Here, we will share together in worship to mark the end of our tour. Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31

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

£2150 The Spreading Flame includes half board, air-conditioned coach, internal flights, ferries, 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 www.thelandofthebook.com Thanks to www.bibleplaces.com for the use of images.