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Compiled by Zherine Araza | 2010For CLVE Presentation

ST.PAUL’STHIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY

Group 3-St. Jude

Galatia and Phrygia

from Antioch Ephesus

MacedoniaTroasAssos

Mitylene CaesareaCoos, Rhodes and Patara

Jerusalem

THE JOURNEY

Paul travels from Antioch to the Asia Minor regions of Galatia and Phrygia in order to strengthen the faith of the Christians there. Acts 18:23

He eventually arrives at Ephesus and stays in the city for a little more than three years(Acts 19:1-20.

Paul distinguishes between the baptism of John and baptism in

the name of the JesusJohn indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance: Paul points out that John’s baptism was one of repentance, not necessarily faith unto salvation.

The twelve Ephesian disciples believe on Jesus, are baptized, and receive

the Holy Spirit with His gifts.

“When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord

Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit

came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

Now the men were about twelve in all.”

 Now the men were about twelve in all reminds us that not the entire church in

Ephesus had this incomplete understanding and embrace of Jesus’ person and work, but

only a small group.

Take note that the people in the city of Ephesus were very superstitious. They believed in

magic and witchcraft. They worshipped idols and false gods. Paul came into this city with

the message of the true and living God.

Paul’s continuing ministry in the city of Ephesus

He went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months:

“Paul had an extended time of preaching in the synagogue, but eventually, the influence of those Jews rejecting the message drove him out.  Then he resumed his teaching in the hall of a Gentile teacher named Tyrannus (reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus).”

Paul’s continuing ministry in the city of Ephesus

a. He went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months: Paul had an extended time of preaching in the synagogue, but eventually, the influence of those Jews rejecting the message drove him out.  Then he resumed his teaching in the hall of a Gentile teacher named Tyrannus (reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus).

b. And this continued for two years: Paul carried this on for two years, and his effective teaching equipped believers, who got the word of God out to all who dwelt in Asia.

Unusual miracles in Ephesus.“Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of

Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases

left them and the evil spirits went out of them.”Unusual for God to use handkerchiefs or aprons in such a way. The pieces of material were presumably those which Paul used in his tent making or leather-working - the sweat-rags for tying around his head and the aprons for tying around his waist

How did the handkerchiefs or aprons work? !

In the same way that the shadow of Peter (Acts 5:15) or the hem of Jesus’ garment (Matthew 14:36) might heal: the item the item became a point of contact by which a became a point of contact by which a person released faith in Jesus as healerperson released faith in Jesus as healer.God worked these miracles  by the hands of Paul.

The superstitious practice of magic and sorcery was prevalent in Ephesus. So, it should not surprise us that

some took a quite superstitious view of the miracles done through Paul.

A rebuke to the seven sons of Sceva, the hopeful Jewish exorcists.

a. Some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists: At that time, there were Jewish exorcists who practiced their “trade” with a lot of superstition and ceremony.  Here, a group of itinerant Jewish exorcists try to imitate Paul’s “formula” for success.

b. We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches: The Jewish exorcists failed because they had no personal relationship with Jesus.  They only know Jesus is the God of Paul, not their own God.

Many in Ephesus renounce objects associated with the demonic.

a. This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all: The incident with the sons of Sceva impressed the people with the reality of the demonic realm.  It made them fear the Lord and the demonic (both in healthy ways) and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

“Ephesus was a stronghold of Satan.  Here many evil things both superstitious and satanic

were practiced.  Books containing formula for sorcery and other

ungodly and forbidden arts were plentiful in that city.”

b. Many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds: Apparently, before the sons of Sceva incident, many believers did not know they were involved in demonic acts.  They saw their actions in a far more innocent light, until they knew the reality of the demonic.

c. Many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all: The sons of Sceva incident also prompted Christians to renounce any remaining connection to the demonic.  They renounced the demonic by confessing and by burning their magic books, disregarding whatever value they might have.

The end result was obviously worth it all: 

The Word of the Lord grew mightily and

prevailed.

Paul purposed in the Spirit

Guided by the Holy Spirit, Paul determined his itinerary.  He would travel through Macedonia and Achaia, then to Jerusalem, then to Rome.

Luke doesn’t mention it here, but we know that one reason why Paul wanted to go through Macedonia and Achaia, then to Jerusalem was to collect and deliver a fund he had been collecting from other churches to help out the church in Jerusalem

 The riot in Ephesus.Paul’s companions leave him alone in Ephesus.

“When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit,

he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia,

to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see

Rome.” So he sent into Macedonia two of those

who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for

a time.”

So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus:Paul sent Timothy and Erastus on ahead to Macedonia, while he stayed in Ephesus (Asia) for a time.

Notice the job of Timothy and Erastus.  They ministered to Paul; they were truly assistants to the apostle, helping Paul to maximize his ministry.

Demetrius, a maker of idols, opposes Paul because his

business has suffered.“This trade of ours is in

danger of falling into disrepute, but also the

temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and

her magnificence destroyed”

This tremendous temple to Diana (also known as Artemis) in Ephesus was regarded as one of

the seven wonders of the ancient world.  It was supported by 127 pillars, each 60 feet high,

and was adorned with great sculptures.  It was completely

lost to history until 1869, when it was discovered again, and its

main altar was unearthed in 1965.

This Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with

hands:

The opposition of Demetrius and the other idol makers is a great

compliment to the effectiveness of Paul’s work in the region.  Paul was not on a “let’s close down the temple

of Diana” campaign, he was just doing the Lord’s work.  As people came to

Jesus, they naturally stopped worshipping Diana and buying shrines

associated with the temple.

The Riot Builds Momentum

The whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one

accord.For about two hours this large crowd was

shouting (“Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”).

Finally one of the leaders of the city was able to calm the crowd down and the

uproar ceased. At this time Paul decided it was

best to leave the city.

In Macedonia….

“Speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, where he stayed three months”

Because the Jews made a plot against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.

He was accompanied by

• Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, • Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica,

• Gaius from Derbe, • Timothy , and • Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 

These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. But we sailed from Philippi after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.”

Eutychus: Raised From the Dead at TroasPaul spoke to the people and, because

he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.

Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on.

Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate.

After talking until daylight, he left. 12The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

Paul’s company went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where they were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot.

The next day they set sail from there and arrived off Kios. The day after that they crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus.

Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.

Farewell to the Ephesian Leaders

“I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. “

“I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again.”

“Be on your guard!”“In everything I did, I showed you that by this

kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' “

On to Jerusalem

Sailed straight to Cos and the next day went to Rhodes and from there to Patara

They found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail. 3After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria.

They landed at Tyre. Finding the disciples there, they stayed with them seven days.Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 

They continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais. Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist.

Agabus came down from Judea. "The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.

Upon hearing that, the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.Then Paul answered,

"Why are you weeping and breaking my heart?

I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem

for the name of the Lord Jesus.“

The reply from the people was:“The Lord's will be done.”

They went afterwards to the home of Mnason, where they were to stay.

In Jerusalem…They went to James where all the elders were present.Reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 

"You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live

according to our customs. What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, so do what we tell

you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everybody will know there is no truth in

these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law.

Some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, shouting,

"Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches all men

everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks

into the temple area and defiled this holy place."

Paul ArrestedThe whole city was aroused and everyone was trying to kill him.

The commander came up and arrested Paul and ordered him to be bound with two chains and that Paul be taken into the barracks.

Paul Spoke to the people in Aramaic

Paul told the crowd his whole story until his conversion.

The commander ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks after the crowd went wild again. Paul was to be flogged and questioned in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this.

The commander learns that Paul is a Roman Citizen

Compiled by Zherine Araza | 2010For CLVE Presentation

Paul before the SanhedrinPaul defends himself before the Sanhedrin (the high council) in a very clever way.“Brothers, I am a Pharisee, as were all my ancestors! And I am on trial because

my hope is in the resurrection of the dead!”

This divided the council, so a great clamor arose. Finally, the commander ordered his soldiers to take Paul away and bring him back to the fortress.

That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said,

“Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have told the people about me here in Jerusalem, you must

preach the Good News in Rome.“

Paul slowly understands that his imprisonment is the way to get to Rome.

Paul was to be sent, under escort, to Caesaria, where the governor Felix would make a final judgment. 

Paul was imprisoned for two years under the reign of Felix. He was kept in custody but he was given freedom.

The Reign of Porcius FestusPaul has to defend himself in front of Festus, Felix’s successor, but Paul resorts to his right, as a Roman citizen, to be judged directly by the Emperor in Rome.Compiled by Zherine Araza | 2010

For CLVE Presentation

With that, Paul finally had the chance to go to Rome!

King Agrippa comes to Caesaria

Festus asks for Agripa’s help to examine Paul’s case since he sending him to the emperor without real charge doesn't seem reasonable.

“This man hasn't done anything worthy of death

or imprisonment.' And Agrippa said to Festus, 'He could be set free if he hadn't appealed to

Caesar!”

St. Paul's third missionary journey started at Antioch and ended in the prison of Caesaria, where Paul after two years of imprisonment will finally begin his fourth

missionary journey (in chains) from Caesaria to Rome.