Paul’s Second Missionary Journey

Acts 15-18

Second Missionary Journey

• Antioch

• Derbe and Lystra

• Troas

• Philippi

• Thessalonica

• Beroea

• Athens

• Corinth

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AntiochSplit with Barnabas

“The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and set out... He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.”

(Acts 15:39-41)

Taurus Mountains

Cilician Gates

Strategic passage through Taurus range

Derbe

and

Lystra

Paul and Barnabas Joined by Timothy

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Derbe and Lystra

“Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.”

(Acts 16:3)

Through Asia Minor to Troas

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Through Asia Minor to Troas

“They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia…They attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; so… they went down to Troas.” (Acts 16:6-8)

Excavations at Ancient TroyGateway between East and West

TroasThe “Macedonian Call”

“During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’”

(Acts 16:9)

Macedonia“We immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia... We set sail from Troas and ... the following day we came to Neapolis.” (Acts 16:10-11)

First of the “We-passages” in Acts(Acts16:10-17; 20:5-21:18; 27:1-28:16)(Acts16:10-17; 20:5-21:18; 27:1-28:16)

Does this indicate:•Participation of author?•Use of a first-person source?•Vivid style often used in sea voyage accounts?

Philippi

Paul’s First Church in EuropeCYPRUS

Harbor of Neapolis

Philippi“… a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony.”

(Acts 16:12)

PhilippiForum and Christian Basilica

Philippi

•Conversion of Lydia.

•Exorcism of slave-girl.

•Conversion of jailer.

Philippi

Paul’s Prison?

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God... Suddenly there was an earthquake… and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened.”

(Acts 16:25-26)

Egnatian WayMajor Route between Rome and Eastern Provinces

Thessalonica

Recipient of Paul’s Earliest

LetterCYPRUS

ThessalonicaArch of Galerius

Capital of Macedonia

(305-Galerius made it

capital of Eastern Empire)

Thessalonica

• Preached 3 weeks in synagogue.

• Forced out by Jewish opposition.

• Soon sent earliest preserved letter.

Beroea

• Well received in synagogue.

• Forced out by opposition.

• Abandons Egnatian Way.

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Athens

Center of Classical

Greek Culture

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AthensThe Acropolis

AthensAerial View of Acropolis

AthensParthenon

“Paul… was deeply

distressed to see that the city was full

of idols.”

(Acts 17:16)

Athens Acropolis from the Agora

“So he argued in the syn-agogue with the Jews and the devout persons…”

(Acts 17:17)

AthensRoman Agora

“…also in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.”

(Acts 17:17)

Athens Colonnade in Stoa of Attalos

“Also some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers debated with him…”

(Acts 17:18)

Athens Colonnade in Stoa of Attalos

“Some said, ‘What does this babbler want to say?’ Others said, ‘He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign divinities.’”

(Acts 17:18)

AthensAreopagus

“So they took him and brought him to the Areopagus.”

(Acts 17:19)

AthensAreopagus Sermon

“I found… an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’”

(Acts 17:23)

Corinth• Strategically

located

• Transportation center

• Commercial/ industrial city

• 18-month stay dominates Second Journey

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CorinthStrategic Transportation and Commercial Center

Diolkos

Ships and cargo were

hauled across the isthmus

over this stone-paved

sledway.

CorinthModern Canal

• Begun by Nero in 67 with Jewish POW labor.

• Completed by French in 1881-93.

Corinth: Road from Port, Forum, and Acrocorinth

“I came to Corinth in weakness and in fear and in much trembling.”

(1 Cor. 2:3)

CorinthTemple of Apollo

Cosmopolitan

Syncretistic

Notoriously immoral

CorinthVotive Offerings to Asklepios

Many cultures and religions mingled.

Corinth• Worked as tentmaker with Aquila and

Priscilla.

• Preached in synagogue until forced out.

• Stayed 18 months.

• Wrote 1 Thessalonians.

• Appeared before proconsul Gallio (51-52).

CorinthErastus Inscription

“Erastus” funded this pavement in exchange for office of Commissioner of Public Works.

Paul, writing from Corinth says, “Erastus, the city treasurer, greets you” (Rom. 16:23; cf. Acts 19:22; 2 Tim. 4:20).

Is this the same Erastus?

CorinthGallio’s Bema

“But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal (bema).” (Acts 18:12)

Return to Antioch

• Left Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus.

• Promised to return.

• Greeted Jerusalem Church.

• After some time in Antioch, started out again.

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