paul’s third missionary journey

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

Acts 18:23-21:16

A.D. 52-57

Paul – 4th Century Catacomb Mural Ephesus Theater

• Discussion Questions for Acts 18 – 21:16−Where did Paul spend most of his time

during the third missionary journey and how long did he stay there?

−What were some of the significant events that took place during Paul’s time in the city where he stayed in the most?

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey – Acts 18-21

Third Missionary Journey Map – A.D. 52-56

• Route to Ephesus (Acts 18:23)−Antioch−Galatia−Phrygia

• Apollos (18:24-28)−Apollos, an eloquent speaker, came to

Ephesus−Mighty in scripture and teaching

• Instructed in the way of the Lord• Fervent in spirit.• Speaking and teaching accurately things

concerning Jesus• Only acquainted with the baptism of John.• Speaking out boldly in the synagogue.


• Paul’s Third missionary journey (Acts 18:23-21:25)−Priscilla and Aquila teach Apollos

• They explained the way of God more accurately−Went across to Achaia, Corinth (see Acts

19:1)• He helped greatly those who had believed

through grace (see 1 Cor. 1:12; 3:4-6, 22; 4:6; 16:12)

• Powerfully refuted the Jews in public• Demonstrating by the scriptures that Jesus is the

Christ


• Paul’s Three Year Mission Effort in Ephesus (19:1-19:41)−Years in Ephesus – A.D. 52-55

• Wrote 1 Corinthians, A.D. 54 (1 Cor. 16:19) & 2 Corinthians, A.D. 55

−Disciples at Ephesus who knew the baptism of John (19:1-7)• Twelve disciples had not received the Holy Spirit when

they believed, not knowing there was a Holy Spirit• Only baptized into the baptism of John• They were baptized in the name of Jesus

−Paul laid his hands on them and the Holy Spirit came upon them.• Spoke in tongues and prophesied


• Paul’s Three Year Mission Effort in Ephesus (19:1-19:41)−Preached in the synagogue first (19:8-9)

• Spoke boldly for three months• Reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of

God• Some did not obey and spoke evil of the Way,

Christians were known as "the Way“ −After opposition arose in the Synagogue, the

disciples moved to the school of Tyrannus (19:10)• Two years at the school• All in Asia heard the word of the Lord, Jews and

Greeks


• Paul’s Three Year Mission Effort in Ephesus (19:1-19:41)−Mission work and miracles in Ephesus Many

miracles and evil spirits cast out (19:11-20)• Extraordinary miracle and even handkerchiefs and

aprons used−Seven sons of Sceva (19:13-17)

• Seven Jewish, chief priest, attempt to cast out an evil spirit in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches

• Evil spirit answer he knows Jesus and Paul but not them and the evil spirit attacks them

• People hear about the incident and name of Jesus was magnified

−Many in Ephesians respond to the gospel (19:18-20)• Those who believed were confessing and disclosing

their practices• Burned their books of magic worth 50,000 pieces of

silver• The word of the Lord was growing strong and many

were believing


• Paul’s Three Year Mission Effort in Ephesus (19:1-19:41)−Writes 1 Corinthians while in Ephesus – A.D.

56−Paul prepares to leave Ephesus and go to

Macedonia and on (19:21-22)• Wants to go to Macedonia and Achaia first• Then to Jerusalem• On to Rome• Sends Timothy and Erastus ahead to Macedonia while

he stayed a little longer in Ephesus


• Paul’s Three Year Mission Effort in Ephesus (19:1-19:41)−Riot over the Goddess Artimis & Christian

teaching (19:23-41)• Demetrius, a silversmith, cause a riot (19:23-34)• Made silver shrines Artemis for his business• Got the trade guild together telling them that

Christianity was threatening their business• Ephesus and all Asia, Paul turned away many people

from worship of idols, telling people they are not gods at all.

−Temple of the great goddess Artimis be regarded as worthless (19:27)

• Trade in danger• She was one of the most worshipped deities• One of the seven wonders of the world• Afraid she would lose her status


• Paul’s Three Year Mission Effort in Ephesus (19:1-19:41)−Demetrius & silversmith traders stir up some

Ephesians (19:28-34)• Drag Gaius and Aristarchus, two who traveled with Paul,

into the theater• Paul wanted to go talk to the people but the disciples

would not let him• Asiarchs who were friends also urged him not to go out

to the people• Most of the people in the riot did not know the reason

for all the turmoil• Would not let Alexander, a Jew, address them whom

many thought was the reason for the riot - just shouted Great is Artemis


• Paul’s Three Year Mission Effort in Ephesus (19:1-19:41)−Townclerk calms the crowd and dismisses it

(19:35-41)• Reassures them of the greatness of the city being the

place where Artemis fell down from heaven• They should be calm as the men the brought forward

are neither robbers of temples or blasphemers of our goddess

• If Demetrius and the craftsmen have a complaint they should bring before the courts in the proper way

• They are in danger of being accused of having a riot• Dismisses the assembly


• Two important event to remember in Acts 19:−Many people become Christians in Ephesus−Makers of idols cause a riot because of the fear

of losing business due to Christianity


• Paul travels Ephesus to Troas(20:1-5).−Paul calls the disciples together &

encourages them−Goes through Macedonia (one assumes he

was encouraging the churches, i.e. Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea.)• Wrote 2 Corinthians – A.D. 56

−Greece (Achaia) – probably Corinth (see 1 Cor. 16:5)• Spent three months there• Plot of the Jews sent him on his way• Wrote the Letter to the Romans at this time –

A.D. 57−Went back through Macedonia

• Some of those traveling with him went ahead to Troas - Sopater of Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, Gaius of Derbe, Timothy and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia

• Luke says waiting for “us” at Troas so Luke was traveling with Paul


• Paul and Luke at Troas (Acts 20:6-12)−Stayed seven days−They meet on the first day of the week in

Troas to break bread• Spoke to them till midnight in an upper room• Eutychus sitting in a window falls asleep and fall

out and is killed• Paul raises him from the dead.• Went on with till day break• Broke bread and ate

−They went away comforted that Eutychus was alive


• Paul, Luke & others travel towards Jerusalem (20:13-21:16)−Travel to Miletus (20:13-16)

• Others sailed from Assos while Paul went by land and was picked up at Mitylene

• Sailed next to Chios, Samos, and landed at Miletus−Paul had decided to by-pass Ephesus but stops at

Miletus• Did not want to spend a lot of time in Asia• He wanted to get to Jerusalem by the day of Pentecost


• Paul, Luke & others travel towards Jerusalem (20:13-21:16)−Paul’s visit with the Ephesian elders at Miletus

(20:17-38)−Paul reminds the elders of how he ministered to

them (20:17-21)• Serving the Lord with all humility and tears• Suffering trials which came from the Jews• Teaching them publically and from house to house• Teaching both Jews and Greeks• Taught repentance toward God• Taught faith in our Lord Jesus Christ



(20:17-38)−Paul looking toward the future (20:22-25)

• On his way to Jerusalem• Holy Spirit testifies that bonds and afflictions await him• Does not consider his life all that important for himself• It is only important for finish the ministry which he

received from God, to preach the gospel of the grace of God



(20:17-38)−Paul's farewell and word of encouragement to the

elders of Ephesus (20:26-36)• He had declared to them the whole purpose of God• Told to guard the flock, the church, of which the Holy

Spirit had made them overseers which Jesus purchased with his own blood

• Savage wolves will come to destroy the church, men will arise from among you speaking perverse things to draw away disciples away from them so they should be alert

• Commend them in God and His word of grace• Word is able to build them up and give them the

inheritance• He did not do things for money but he worked hard• In the same way they should remember the weak• Remember the words of Jesus, "It is more blessed to

give than to receive"



(20:17-38)−Paul says farewell (20:36-38)

• Knelt down with them and prays with them• They weep and say good-bye• Grieved especially over the him saying he would see

their faces no more


• Two important events to remember in Acts 20:−Paul preaches in Troas and raise Eutychus

from the dead.−Paul meets with the Ephesian elders to

encourage them.


• Paul and Luke travel to Jerusalem (21:1-16)−The route Miletus, Cos, Rhodes, Patara

(found a ship going to Phonecia, and landed at Tyre in Syria (21:1-2)

−Short stay in Tyre (21:3-6)• Found the disciples and stayed seven days• Disciples were telling Paul through the Spirit not

to go to Jerusalem• Departed, church escorted them out of the city

and they knelt and prayed on the beach and said goodbye

• Departed by ship−Day stop in Ptolemais and greeted the

brethren (21:7)−Stop in Caesarea (21:8-16)


• Paul and Luke travel to Jerusalem (21:1-16)−Stop in Caesarea (21:8-16)

• Stayed for some days with Philip, the evangelist• Philip was one of the seven chosen in Acts 6 to

help the Hellenistic Jews• Philip had seven virgin daughters who were

prophetess• Agabus the prophet arrives from Judea and warns

Paul through the Holy Spirit that the Jews at Jerusalem will bind him and hand him over to the Gentiles

• His traveling companions and the local Christians ask him not to go to Jerusalem

• Paul note he not only ready to be bound but to die if necessary in Jerusalem

• People say, "The Lord's will be done."• Lodged with a disciple named Mnason as they

traveled on


Travel to Ephesus

Ephesus: Theater

Paul “fought with beasts at Ephesus” (1 Cor. 15:32)

City of Ephesus• City of Ephesus

−Historical development• Greek colony originally• Called an emporion – “way in” for

trade inland from the harbor there• The first temple of Artimis destroyed

356 B.C., night Alexander the Great was born

• Alexander Great contributed a great deal to building the new temple – 334 B.C.

• Romans would control this area – 133 B.C.

• By N.T. time the harbor had be silted up and no usable


−Political and economic background• Foremost city in Asia Minor• Approximately 250,000 in population

• Large trading center – three main roads brought trade

• Free city• Panionian games

CITY OF EPHESUS

Column lined road that led to the harbor (now 6 miles away)


−Religiously• Center of the emperor cult• Temple of Artemis (Diana)• Patron Goddess of the city• One of the seven wonders of the world

• Larger than Pantheon (largest Greek building)

• About 360 feet long• The silversmiths made figures of Artemis and felt threatened by the new teaching about Christ.

Artemis (Roman – Diana)Artemis was also called Cynthia, from

her birth place, Mount Cynthus in Delos. She was Apollo's twin sister, daughter of Zeus and Leto. She was one of the three maiden goddesses of Olympus: the pure maiden Vesta, gray-eyed Athena who cares but for war and the arts of the craftsmen, and Artemis, lover of woods and the wild chase over the mountain.

She was the Lady of Wild Things, Huntsman-in-chief to the gods, an odd office for a woman. As a huntress her favorite animal was the stag, because its swiftness gave the best opportunity for her method of capture, which was by her silver bow and arrows and speed of foot.

Marble Street to Temple

Artemis (Roman – Diana) Temple of Artemis

– Two kilometers outside Ephesus– Largest marble temple ever built– Controlled financial affairs– Bank for wealthy– Invulnerability of attacks part of

sacredness– Place of refuge and a school– Loaned money, collected taxes,

owned land– Thirty ancient sites located but

Ephesus central– Destroyed in A.D. 260 when Goths

sacked Ephesus

Temple of Artemis

“Ornament of the whole Province of Asia”

Statue of Artemis – Nature Goddess

Artimis cult was associated a

meteoric stone, the “image which

fell down from Jupiter.”

Nature goddess associated with carnal fertility rituals, orgiastic rites and religious prostitution

Ruins: Temple of Artemis

City of Ephesus−New Testament background

• Paul visited on 2nd missionary journey

−Left Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus

−They taught Apollos• Third missionary journey, Paul stayed over two years

−Gospel spread throughout Asia Minor (Acts 19:10)

−Paul had a close relationship with Christian leaders their (20:17-38)

• Timothy left in Ephesus by Paul (2 Tim.)

• Ephesus mentioned in Rev. 2

Ephesus: Harbor Street

Ephesus: Agora (Market)

Ephesus: Agora

Ephesus: Odeon

Ephesus: Terraced House

Ephesus: Temple of Domitian

Ephesus: Brothel

Ephesus: Public Toilets

Ephesus: Celsus Library

Ephesus: Gymnasium

Ephesus: Temple of Hadrian

Ephesus: Memius Monument

Back to Notes

paul’s third missionary journey

Documents

missionary journey acts

ephesus acts

missionary journey map

pauls time

christ pauls

missionary journeyacts

jerusalem council pauls

year mission effort