Lesson 6 (Pages 212 – 285)
Accurate dates:
1. Conversion of Paul - 36 AD
2. Death of Agrippa I (Acts 12:23) - 44 AD
3. Paul's visit to Jerusalem Council - 50AD (3rd trip)
4. Procurator Felix replaced by Festus - 60-61 AD
5. Paul's arrival in Rome - 61-62 AD
Both Goodwin and Bruce try to paint a picture and work within these five accurate dates.
Acts 15:38 Paul did not want to take Mark on second trip. He took Silas and traveled through Syria and Cilicia strengthening the churches. These churches were started on previous trip.
37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Paul took Silas because Jerusalem had sent him as a personal representative validating the Jerusalem council letter. Barnabas left for Cyprus with Mark, divorcing himself from Asian churches for ever more.
Acts 16:1 - Been 2-2 1/2 years since last in Derbe. Then to Lystra where Timothy lived. On first journey Paul chose a bad route to go to Pisidian Antioch.
Brothers of Lystra and Iconium spoke well of Timothy. Paul wanted to take Timothy with him. Paul had him circumcised because of the Jews, because they knew his father was a Greek. Paul did what was expedient. He refused to circumcise Titus because he was all Greek, but Timothy was half Jew. The Jews would not have let him preach in the synagogue if he wasn't circumcised. Salvation wasn't the issue here, as dealt with at Jerusalem council.
As they traveled they delivered the Jerusalem council letter for the churches to observe (and to protect them). The churches were being strengthened and increased in numbers daily.
It appeared that Jerusalem decision carried more weight than Antioch at this time. By 100-150 AD (after John dies), six churches have become mother churches. They appoint overseers to rule over surrounding churches.
Bishop Polycarp, Clement of Rome, etc. believed the mother church issue was needed by use of their scriptures (Acts 16:4) - the six churches are: Jerusalem, Syrian Antioch, Carthage, Alexandria, Rome & Ephesus.
Elder is Bishop in Greek.
Acts 16:6 (51 AD) Paul is restrained from speaking word of God in the province of Asia.
Acts 16:7 - He comes to Mysia and tried to go into Bithynia. The spirit of Jesus did not permit them. They passed by Mysia and come down to Troas (a city on Adrian sea). Troas was a short distance from ancient city of Troy (city of the Trojans). Who's strategy are they following?
During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia saying "come on over". Not a dream - a vision. Acts 16:10 - When he had seen the vision, they sought to go to Macedonia.
From Troas "we" ran a course to Samothrace (1/2 way point) an island harbor, and on the next day to Neapolis. Luke was probably from Syrian Antioch. Not known if he had been with them all along the journey, or joined them in Troas.
Then they go to Philippi (Acts 16:12) - a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony. The first church we hear Paul started was at Pisidian Antioch - a Roman colony and military post. The first church Paul starts in Europe on 2nd missionary journey is at Philippi - a Roman colony.
Bruce says there were no synagogues in Philippi. The Bible doesn't say. It takes 10 heads of families for a quorum to start a synagogue.
Acts 16:13 - On Sabbath they went outside the city gate to a riverside supposing that there would be a place of prayer. Acts 16:14 - Lydia from Thyatira, a seller of purple, was saved. She urged them to stay at her house.
Acts 16:16 - Once while going to the place of prayer (must have been a routine place to meet the disciples), a slave girl having a spirit of divination, who brings her masters much money by fortune telling - meets them. Bruce says this girl had been raised up in tapping into the Apollos spirit of foretelling.
Acts 16:16-40 [Read story together]
16 And it happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune telling. 17 Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, "These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation." 18 And she continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" And it came out at that very moment.
19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the authorities, 20 and when they had brought them to the chief magistrates, they said, "These men are throwing our city into confusion, being Jews, 21 and are proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans. " 22 And the crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them, and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods.
At no time did Paul or Silas claim their Roman citizenship.
23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; 24 and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison, and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26 and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains were unfastened. 27 And when the jailer had been roused out of sleep and had seen the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
Common way of honor for Roman soldiers. Death was the price for letting prisoners escape.
28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here!" 29 And he called for lights and rushed in and, trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household." 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. 33 And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. 34 And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.
35 Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their policemen, saying, "Release those men." 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The chief magistrates have sent to release you. Now therefore, come out and go in peace." 37 But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us in public without trial, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they sending us away secretly? No indeed! But let them come themselves and bring us out." 38 And the policemen reported these words to the chief magistrates. And they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans, 39 and they came and appealed to them, and when they had brought them out, they kept begging them to leave the city. 40 And they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they saw the brethren, they encouraged them and departed. (NASB)
Not much known about Phillipian church. But from tone of the Philippians letter, Paul loved this church.
People to associate with cities based on this trip:
Epaphroditus - Philippi (Phil. 2:25)
Aristarchus - Thessalonica (Acts 20:4 & 27:2)
Luke - Philippi
Timothy - Thessalonica}
DURING PAUL’S STAY AT ATHENS (cover at end of section)
Silas - Berea
A. On 1st missionary journey,
1. Paul was with Barnabas.
2. They were working together in plurality, yet they start out as B/P and after being sent out from Antioch it switches to P/B.
3. Paul is the one stoned at Lystra.
B. Paul and his 2nd missionary expedition.
1. There might have been several reasons why P/B split over John Mark.
2. Their concepts on how to spread the gospel might have been different.
3. Paul, Silas, Luke and Titus probably left from Syrian Antioch for 2nd journey.
4. Titus might have been Luke's brother.
C. When we get to Philippi, we see a radical shift in the way Paul approaches ministry.
1. Persecution arises in Philippi over exorcism. He has to leave.
2. He has to either leave the church there teacherless, or do what it appears he did - leaves Luke.
3. Paul probably took his company of men from Antioch and added Timothy along the way to help disciple converts.
4. Titus might have been left at Troas. We know that a church was there later when a man falls out of a window when Paul stops to preach a long message.
D. Paul traveled by Via Egnatia (great Roman military road) through the heart of Macedonia. All major cities were on that road. He goes to Thessalonica after Philippi. (Acts 17:1)
E. At Thessalonica, Paul has an emerging church.
1. He reasoned on 3 Sabbaths on the fact that Jesus was the Christ.
2. Some Jews, a large number of God-fearers and not a few prominent women believed.
3. But many Jews and leading citizens in city (probably husbands of prominent women), believed Paul was probably just after their money.
4. Jason is a god-fearer or possibly a Jew (Bruce). Jason is Greek for Joshua.
5. The Jews rounded up some base fellows, formed a mob and went to Jason's house. There they raised havoc and dragged them out failing to find Paul.
F. Their charge:
1. These men who have turned the world upside down...Are proclaiming another King. (treason - insubordination).
2. This was the charge brought by the Jews to the judges.
3. The magistrate would have to determine if this was true. They could not decide - and an open trial would have caused a full-scale riot. Therefore they forced Jason and company to post bail/bonds.
4. If Paul and Silas messed up, then Jason would have to face punishment. The Jews were mad at him for housing Paul and company and aiding instability in the city.
5. Another passage of Paul's encounters in Thessalonica is in 1 Thess. 2 & 4. Paul sets up shop there (tent making), and makes his own income so that he is not a burden to anyone. They endured suffering - risking their own lives for the church.
6. He must decide whether to leave them without care. Having to leave hastily after the riot stirred up by the Jews, Paul was anxious for the welfare the stability of the recent converts.
7. He departed with the intention of returning as soon as possible. But other events frustrated this purpose, and therefore caused him to send Timothy to them in his place.
8. It may be that the charges brought against him there, and the bond Jason had to put up, may have impeded him from returning.
9. Paul then goes escorted by the Thess. Brethren, to Berea - which is off the beaten path.
G. The apostolic company of Paul, Silas, and Timothy head for Berea (Acts 17:10). They went to the Jewish synagogue - as was Paul's custom. But the Bereans were more noble minded. Where’s Luke? Philippi
Acts 17:10-12 10 And the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea; and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so. 12 Many of them therefore believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men. (NASB)
H. This place, Berea, seems to be left in the care of Silas with Timothy as a helper.
1. Through Macedonia and Achaia, we see men or yoke men, fellow servants, fellow-workers who assisted Paul in establishing the church.
2. People like Aquilla & Pricilla in Corinth that he sent to Ephesus, or Epaphroditus from Philippi, or Aristarchus from Thessalonica.
3. He could not always go to these places himself, so he would send representatives.
I. Paul is escorted to Athens by Berean brethren
1. Silas and Timothy stay at Berea. This happened after the Jews from Thess. Arrived and stirred up the crowd against them there.
2. Paul might have been in Berea some 6-8 weeks waiting for situation to clear up in Thess., which didn't happen.
3. Paul is left in Athens, however, brethren that took him brought back word for Silas and Timothy to come to him there.
J. Possible reasons for Paul's trip to Athens:
1. Paul went there to sort things out. Successes and setbacks of recent ministry trips.
2. Paul has a group of people after him. The brethren were the only ones who knew where he was. He kind of dropped out of sight.
3. Athens was emerging as the center for where philosophic thought developed. What better place for the gospel to invade.
K. Paul makes every attempt to get back to Thess., but satan stopped them ( 1 Thess. 2:17).
1. Paul waits for Silas and Timothy. Paul was greatly distressed by and upset over idols.
2. He reasoned in synagogue and in Marketplace.
3. In Greek city life, the marketplace was called the Agora - a place of broad venue.
4. Merchandise and the latest news was exchanged there at the foot of the Acropolis.
5. Philosophers met to teach their students there.
6. He does not make any headway there. A group of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers debate him, calling him a babbler (spermologos - a retailer of scraps of second-hand learning).
7. Remember that Athens considered itself the philosophic center of the world.
8. After Alexander the Great, Athens ceased to be the origin of philosophic thought to the gatherer of philosophic thought.
9. Any that had a new philosophy must be heard and judged in Athens. Athens is the same size as Jerusalem.
L. Paul seems to be espousing a foreign god, so they brought him to the court of the Areopagus, which met on a hill named Areopagus, next to the Acropolis and next to Mars hill.
1. Athens is the most heathenistic place on earth.
2. Even temples to the unknown god.
3. Every culture has its religion represented.
4. Mars Hill next to it was a mock theater that served several hundred people. It was used to judge people.
5. It does not appear that Paul was on trial.
M. The men were interested in new thoughts and philosophies and were wondering if they should accept him in their company.
1. Paul stood up in their midst and applauded their religiousness, and began to explain to them what they worshipped in ignorance.
2. Paul spoke to them in philosophic language and commonly used formulas for expounding truth (the Bible).
Acts 17: [Read together] 24 "The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all life and breath and all things; 26 and He made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His offspring.'
3. When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, a few men believed, most had a problem with this thinking.
4. He did not win many converts. A Greek woman and probably a slave.
32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, "We shall hear you again concerning this." 33 So Paul went out of their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
N. While Paul was in Athens, Timothy had been left behind in Berea. But when did Timothy get to Thess.?
1 Thess. 1 Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone; 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith,
1. Timothy and Silas caught up with him in Athens, but Paul could not get Thess. out of his mind.
2. So he sent Timothy to them. It took about a month for messages to go to Berea and for Timothy and Silas to go to Athens.
3. They were probably only with him a couple of days in Athens, when Paul sends Timothy to Thess..
4. There is no indication that Silas stayed with Paul in Athens either. Silas might have gone back to Philippi or Berea.
5. We find that Timothy and Silas try to catch up with Paul again in Athens, but don't find him there. He has gone to Corinth, and they find him there.
1 Thess. 3:6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you,
O. -Timothy has just come to Paul from them the second time.
II Thess.1 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. Controversy exists over if II Thess. was written first. Paulus Corpus was not put together by date but by length of books, from larger books to smaller books.
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