Third Missionary Journey
Possible Date: 58 A. D.
#Apostle Paul
#Missionary Journey
PAUL’S THIRD MISSIONARY TRIP
(Continued)
FROM CORINTH TO JERUSALEM (58 A.D.)
A. BY WAY OF MACEDONIA...
- Paul’s plan to sail straight to Syria was spoiled by a plot against him - Acts 20:3
- Paul decides to go through Macedonia, joined by seven companions - Acts 20:4
- Sopater of Berea - Romans 16:21
- Aristarchus (Acts 19:29; 27:2; Corinthians 4:10; Philemon 24) and Secundus of Thessalonica
- Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy - cf. Acts 16:1
- Tychicus (Ep 6:21; Corinthians 4:7; 2 Timothy 4:12; Timothy 3:12) and Trophimus (Acts 21:29; 2 Timothy 4:20) of Asia
- These seven go on to wait for Paul at Troas, while Luke evidently joins Paul at Philippi and sails with him to Troas - Acts 20:5-6 (note the use of “we”...)
B. BY WAY OF TROAS AND MILETUS...
- Paul and his companions assemble with the disciples at Troas - Acts 20:6-12
- After waiting seven days - Acts 20:6
- On the first day of the week - Acts 20:7; cf. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2
- For the purpose of breaking bread - Acts 20:7; cf. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:23-33
- Paul speaks until midnight - Acts 20:7
- Eutychus falls from the third story, and is presumed dead; Paul reassures them otherwise - Acts 20:8-10
- Paul breaks bread, talks until dawn, and then departs - Acts 20:11-12
- Paul goes to Miletus, where he meets with the Ephesian elders - Acts 20:13-38
- On the way to Miletus...
- Paul walks to Assos, and the others take the ship - Acts 20:13
- Paul joins them at Assos, and sails to Mitylene - Acts 20:14
- They sail past Chios, on to Samos, Trogyllium, and finally Miletus - Acts 20:15
- Paul’s plan is to bypass Ephesus to reach Jerusalem in time for Pentecost - Acts 20:16
- At Miletus Paul talks to the Ephesian elders...
- Reviewing his work with them - Acts 20:17-27
- Warning them of dangers within and without - Acts 20:28-31
- Commending them to God and His Word, reminding them of his own example - Acts 20:32-35
- Parting with prayer and great sorrow - Acts 20:36-38
1.
C. BY WAY OF TYRE, PTOLEMAIS, AND CAESAREA...
- Sailing to Cos, Rhodes, Patara, catching a ship on the way to Phoenicia - Acts 21:1-2
- Passing by Cyprus, sailing to Syria, landing at Tyre - Acts 21:3-6
- Staying with disciples for seven days
- Paul warned not to go to Jerusalem
- Parting with prayer on the shore, sailing on to Ptolemais
- Staying at Ptolemais one day with the brethren - Acts 21:7
- Arriving at Caesarea, where they stayed “many days” - Acts 21:8-15
- Staying at the house of Philip the evangelist - Acts 21:8-9; cf. Acts 6:5; 8:5-13,26-40
- Agabus prophesies of Paul’s impending imprisonment - Acts 21:10-11
- Over their objections, Paul is determined to go to Jerusalem - Acts 21:12-14
- They leave Caesarea, along with some of the disciples including Mnason, with whom they would stay in Jerusalem - Acts 21:15-16
- They arrive in Jerusalem, warmly received by the brethren - Acts 21:17
1. CONCLUSION
- Paul’s arrival in Jerusalem must have been with mixed emotions...
- He was accompanying the contribution for needy Christians in Jerusalem - Romans 15:25-27
- He had intentions of going to Rome, and then Spain - Romans 15:28; cf. Acts 19:21
- He knew that chains awaited him in Jerusalem - Acts 20:22,23; 21:11-14
- Yet Paul could consider his third missionary journey a success...
- Strengthening churches in Galatia, Phrygia, Asia, Macedonia, Syria
- Three years in Ephesus, from where all of Asia heard the Word
- Encouraging the churches in Macedonia, with likely excursions into Illyricum
- Dealing with the problems at Corinth, with evident success
- Writing letters, including Galatians, 1st and 2nd Corinthians, Romans
- Motivating Gentile Christians to assist their needy Jewish brethren in Jerusalem
- A study of Paul’s life reveals more than just the life of one man, it reveals much about the life of the early church; we learn of...
- Its worship, its dedication to evangelism, edification, and benevolence
- The love and hospitality of the early disciples which made such things possible
May the example of Paul and the disciples in the early church inspire us in our service to the Lord today!
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