1. 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

2. 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”.

3. Direct flight from London Gatwick to Thessaloniki, continuing by air- conditioned coach to Kavala – the ancient port of Neapolis Acts 16 11 Friday 21 st October

4. Evening free to explore the harbour area Acts 16 11 Friday 21 st October

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

6. … 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 Saturday 22 nd October

7. … we see the Agora, where Paul freed the girl affected by an evil spirit… Acts 16 16-21 Saturday 22 nd October

8. … the site traditionally associated with Paul and Silas’s imprisonment … Acts 16 22-34 Saturday 22 nd October

9. … and the riverside location of Lydia’s conversion and baptism – where we will worship together. Acts 16 11-15 Saturday 22 nd October

10. In the afternoon, we take a direct flight to Athens, and our new hotel. After dinner, the evening is free. Acts 17 15 Saturday 22 nd October

11. We see the ancient city of Athens, including the Acropolis and its museum … Acts 17 16-18 Sunday 23 rd October

12. … and the Areopagus, where Paul addressed the philosophers of Athens. The latter afternoon is free. Acts 17 22-34 Sunday 23 rd October

13. 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

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

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

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

17. 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

18. Acts 18 3 Romans 16 23 2 Timothy 4 20 Among the ruins is an inscription possibly relating to Erastus, one of Paul’s assistants. Monday 24 th October

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

20. … 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

28. … the amphitheatre which was the setting for the riot about the making of shrines to Artemis … Acts 19 23-41 Wednesday 26 th October

29. … 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

30. Overlooking Ephesus, we visit what may have been the final home of Mary, mother of Jesus … John 19 26 Wednesday 26 th October

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

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

33. Laodicaea – where we will see the remains of the aqueduct which might be behind the “luke-warm” image … Revelation 3 14-22 Thursday 27 th October

34. 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 3 7-13 Thursday 27 th October

35. Sardis – one of the greatest cities of the ancient world Revelation 3 1-6 Thursday 27 th October

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

37. 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 2 8-11

38. 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

39. Saturday 29 th October In the morning, we visit St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican city … Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31

40. Saturday 29 th October … and the Vatican Museum … Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31

41. Saturday 29 th October … including the Sistine Chapel. Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31

42. 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 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31 Saturday 29 th October

43. We see the Titus Arch, which celebrates the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE … Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31 Saturday 29 th October

44. We walk through the ancient Forum … Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31

45. … and see the Mamertine prison, where both Paul, and also Peter, were imprisoned … Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31 Saturday 29 th October

46. 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 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31

47. We then see the Basilica which is believed to mark the burial place of St Paul … Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31 Sunday 30 th October

48. … and see part of the Roman catacombs, on the edge of the city … Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31 Here, we will share together in worship to mark the end of our tour. Sunday 30 th October

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

50. £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 www.mikefuller.org.uk www.mikefuller.org.uk Thanks to www.bibleplaces.com for the use of images.