St. Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

Reading Portion

Acts 18:22 — 21:17

Lesson Content

1. Antioch: After sojouring here for a while, St. Paul started his third journey in A.D. 54. He took Timothy and Titus with him (Acts 18:22,23).

2. Galatia, Phrygia: He went over these countries strengthening the disciples. Though we do not know the details of what happened there, we see from I Corinthians 16:1-3, that he had arranged for a collection every week, for the poor believers. He came to Ephesus from there. (Acts 18:23; 19:1).

3. Ephesus: Here they baptized certain disciples who had received John’s baptism unto repentance through Apollos. Those who were baptized received the Holy Spirit. Paul went to the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months and later also taught the Word of the Lord in the school of one Tyrannus for two years (Acts 19:1-10). Many special miracles took place. Handkerchiefs and aprons were brought from St. Paul’s body and put upon the sick and the diseases departed from them (Acts 19:11-20). Finally, Demetrius, a silversmith who made shrines for Diana, caused an uproar and the town clerk intervened and appealed to the people (Acts 19:23-41). Then Paul set out for Macedonia (Acts 20:1).

4. Macedonia: Paul gave much exhortation to the disciples in those parts and came to Greece (Acts 20:2).

5. Greece: Paul ministered here for three months.

Later when he wanted to go through Syria, he came to know of the evil that was planned by the Jews and so went to Macedonia by land and came to Philippi (Acts 20:2,3,6). There accompanied him into Asia, Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Timothy, Tychicus and Trophimus: these went before to Troas and waited for him (Acts 20:4,5).

6. Philippi: Paul and Luke abode here and observed the feast of the unleavened bread. Then they sailed from Philippi and reached Troas in five days (Acts 20:6).

7. Troas: They joined the disciples who had arrived before them. They abode there for seven days (Acts 20:6). On the first day of the week when the disciples came together to break bread and Paul preached unto them, a young man named Eutychu s being in a deep sleep, fell down from the third loft and died. Paul prayed and raised him to life (Acts 20:7-12).

8. Assos and Mitylene: Paul went on foot to Assos and the others by ship. All met together there and set sail and came to Mitylene. They sailed from there and came to Trogyllium (Acts 20:13-15).

9. Trogyllium: A harbour opposite the island of Samos. They tarried here and the following day, came to Miletus (Acts 20:15).

10. Miletus: From here Paul sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church (Acts 20:17). He counselled them, told them how to feed the flock and warned of grievous wolves who would enter in (Acts 20:18-35). All wept and sent him on his way, sorrowing because of his words that they would see his face no more (Acts 20: 37,38). Setting out from here they sailed by the islands of Coos and Rhodes, and reached Patara (Acts 21:1).

11. Patara: Here they boarded a ship sailing to Phoenicia and dicovering Cyprus, left it and sailed into Syria and landed at Tyre (Acts 21:2,3).

12. Tyre: Their ship tarried there to unload her burden. During those days, they had the opportunity to abide with the disciples there for seven days. They told him not to go to Jerusalem considering the evil that was to come. They came with wives and children upto the shore and sent them on their way (Acts 21:3-6).

13. Ptolemais: After the voyage, they alighted at Ptolemais and abode with the brethren there for one day (Acts 21:7). They set out again and arrived at Caesarea.

14. Caesarea: They tarried at the house of Philip, the evangelist (Acts 21:8). There a prophet, Agabus, bound his own hands and feet with Paul’s girdle and prophesied about the persecution that Paul would have to undergo at the hands of the Jews at Jerusalem (Acts 21:10,11). Luke and others besought Paul not to go to Jerusalem, but he did not pay heed to them (Acts 21:12-14).

15. Jerusalem: They reached Jerusalem with Mnason, an old disciple with whom they were to lodge. There the brethren received them gladly (Acts 21:15-17).

Moral

A person who sets out to serve the Lord must be willing to face any situation for the sake of the Lord. Sometimes, even in places to which he is guided by the Spirit, there may be persecution but he must be willing to suffer joyfully and do the will of God in all circumstances.