"The believers who had fled from Jerusalem during the persecution after Stephen's death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the Good News, but only to Jews. However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to Gentiles about the Lord Jesus. The power of the Lord was upon them, and large numbers of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord." (Acts,11: 19-21)
In Acts 9, Luke records the period between Paul’s conversion and his first missionary journey. Paul himself speaks of this period inActs 22 and 26, as well as Galatians 1:13-17.
Traditionally, Paul is said to have made three missionary journeys, plus a fourth journey to Rome.
- The first two journeys start and end in Syrian Antioch. The third journey starts in Antioch and ends in Jerusalem. Starting from Jerusalem, the fourth journey ends in Rome.
- St. Paul's First Missionary Journey
(around the year 46-48 A.D.) (Acts 13 -14)(Acts 13:4 to 15:35) - http://eoc.dolf.org.hk/livingev/stpaul.htm
- As we can see, it was in Antioch that the Evangelization to the Gentiles (non Jewish people) began on a large scale and it was done by lay people.
Paul and Barnabas had been actively working in this Church for a year, when, one day, while, together with the leaders of the Church, "were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off." (Acts,13:2-3)- FIRST STOP. The island of Cyprus. Evangelization strategy used by the two apostles was: first address the local Jewish community. Overseas Jewish communities were scattered all over the Roman Empire. And afterwards Evangelize the Gentiles.
- Evangelizing the Gentiles is a well educated, high ranking Roman official, the proconsul Sergius Paulus.
"He was a man of considerable insight and understanding. He invited Barnabas and Saul to visit him, for he wanted to hear the word of God."(Acts,13:7)
He accepted the word of God and believed in the Lord. Many other Gentiles were converted as well. - A young boy, by the name of John (or John Mark), joined this missionary journey.
"John was with them as their helper." (Acts,13:5) The missionary journey started off very well. But, before we go to the second stop,
it is worth mentioning here, the sudden decision of the young boy John Mark to leave the missionary journey and return to Jerusalem. Why he left? No reason is given. Acts 13:13, simply states: "John left them to return to Jerusalem." - SECOND STOP. Antioch of Pisidia. Barnabas and Paul, as their custom, first announce the Gospel to the Jewish
Community, and then to the Gentiles. They receive a very good response. But soon the Jewish leaders incite the people against them, who have to leave,
"They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." (Acts,13: 50-52) - THIRD STOP. Iconium In Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went together to the synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Gentiles believed. The apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. The Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders. But the people of the city were divided in their opinion about them. Some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.
A mob of Gentiles and Jews, along with their leaders, decided to attack and stone them. When the apostles learned of it, they fled for their lives. They went to the region of Lycaonia, to the cities of Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding area, and they preached the Good News there." (Acts,14: 1,3-7) - FOURTH STOP. Lystra Lystra something extraordinary happened. The crowds were so astonished at the apostles' power to perform miracles, that they started adoring them as gods.
The missionaries, who had just been kicked out of cities as evil men, are now adored as gods!
"A man with crippled feet from birth, was listening as Paul preached, and Paul noticed him and realized he had faith to be healed. So Paul called to him in a loud voice, 'Stand up!' And the man jumped to his feet and started walking.
When the listening crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, 'These men are gods in human bodies!'" (Acts,14: 8-11)
The crowds started offering sacrifices to them. The apostles strongly refused this, and took this opportunity to announce the Gospel.
"Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings like yourselves! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them." (Acts, 14: 15)
Immediately after this incident, persecution comes again.
"Now some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and turned the crowds into a murderous mob. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, apparently dead. But as the believers stood around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. (Acts, 14: 19-20) - FIFTH STOP. Derbe After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned again to visit the communities they had left in each city, where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that they must enter into the Kingdom of God through many tribulations. Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church and prayed for them with fasting, turning them over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had come to trust."(Acts, 14:21-23)
- BARNABAS AND PAUL RETURN TO THEIR SENDING CHURCH OF ANTIOCH.
Finally, they returned by ship to Antioch of Syria, where their journey had begun and where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. Upon arriving in Antioch, they called the church together and reported about their trip, telling all that God had done and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, too. And they stayed there with the believers in Antioch for a long time." (Acts, 14: 26-28) - St Paul's Second Missionary Journey
(around the year 49-52 A.D.) (Acts, 15: 36-40,16,17,18:1-22) - The second missionary journey of St Paul and his missionary team, starts again from Antioch.
- "After some time Paul said to Barnabas, 'Let's return to each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are getting along.'
Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not shared in their work. Their disagreement over this was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. Paul chose Silas, and the believers sent them off, entrusting them to the Lord's grace. So they traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia to strengthen the churches there." (Acts,15: 36-40) - "Paul chose Silas, and the believers sent them off, entrusting them to the Lord's grace. So they traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia to strengthen the churches there."(Acts,15:40-41)
The first part of Paul's second missionary journey was spent in revisiting the Churches founded during the first journey. Paul's Evangelization plan was to establish a strong local Christian Community in each place he went, and then later revisit these communities or keep in contact with them through letters.
Paul and his missionary team revisited Derbe and Lystra.
"In Lystra they met Timothy, a young disciple whose mother was a Jewish believer, but whose father was a Greek. Timothy was well thought of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium, so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey."(Acts,16:1-3)- Timothy had not been circumcised at birth as all Jewish children are (on the eighth day after birth). Timothy knew very well that he could be baptized without having to be circumcised. This doctrine had strongly been preached by Paul whenever he went. But now, it was not a matter of doctrine. It was a matter of respect for human feelings and cultural customs. The Jewish community would feel much more at ease to have Timothy circumcised. Paul agreed.
"In deference to the Jews of the area, Paul arranged for Timothy to be circumcised before they left, for everyone knew that his father was a Greek" (Acts,16:3)
This attitude of compromise on non essential elements of the faith, make the Evangelization work more fruitful.
."So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew daily in numbers."(Acts,16:5) - "Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had told them not to go into the province of Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not let them go. So instead, they went on through Mysia to the city of Troas."(Acts,16:6-8)
Here at Troas the most important decision is made: the beginning of the Evangelization of Europe. Macedonia, Greece, Athens, were important cultural
European centres.
"That night Paul had a vision. He saw a man from Macedonia in northern Greece, pleading with him, 'Come over here and help us.' So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, for we could only conclude that God was calling us to preach the Good News there." (Acts,16:9-10)
This is how Luke, the author of the Acts of the Apostles, relates this event. Note how Luke is using here the "we" instead of "they": "we decided", "we could only conclude", "God was calling us". Luke was a member of the team, and he reports passionately the events that took place during the journey. Throughout the Acts, there are a number of these "we sections". In this way, Luke emphasizes the fact that the whole team felt the clear indication of the Holy Spirit, and the whole team decided to begin the Evangelization of Europe. Perhaps they were not fully aware of the important impact that their decision would have on the history of Europe.
Luke describes the conversion of one of Jews, Lydia.
"One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. 'If you agree that I am faithful to the Lord,' she said, 'come and stay at my home.' And she urged us until we did."
(Acts,16:14-15)
"One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. 'If you agree that I am faithful to the Lord,' she said, 'come and stay at my home.' And she urged us until we did."
(Acts,16:14-15)
- The test of persecution is always close. The leaders of the city, started accusing the missionaries:
- SECOND EUROPEAN STOP. Thessalonica.
"Now Paul and Silas traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was Paul's custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he interpreted the Scriptures to the people."(Acts,17:1-2)
Many believed. One of them must have been Jason, who welcomed the missionary team into his house.
Soon the same pattern of events repeats itself. The leaders of the city form a mob and start accusing the missionaries :- "They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd. Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. 'Paul and Silas have turned the rest of the world upside down, and now they are here disturbing our city,' they shouted. 'And Jason has let them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, Jesus'."
(Acts,17:5-7) - THIRD EUROPEAN STOP. Berea
- "That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the synagogue. And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to check up on Paul and Silas, to see if they were really teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did some of the prominent Greek women and many men."(Acts,17:10-12)
Soon some people stir up trouble again against Paul and Silas. At this point the local believers are very concerned about the safety of the missionary team.
"The believers acted at once, sending Paul on to the coast, while Silas and Timothy remained behind. Those escorting Paul went with him to Athens." (Acts,17:14-15) - FOURTH EUROPEAN STOP. Athens
- We have already analyzed in detail both the content and the presentation of Paul's Evangelization in Athens.
(see RUNDOWN AND ANALYSIS OF THE FIRST EVANGELIZATION RALLY IN JERUSALEM (Acts,2), AND THE FIRST RALLY IN ATHENS (Acts,17)
We can add here one more remark. Paul has a clear Evangelization plan. He aims at forming strong Christian communities in each major city of the Roman Empire.
Athens was the cultural centre of Europe. Rome was the centre of power. Paul aims at both cities.
As we have seen, if we judge the Evangelization in Athens only by the number of converts, it was a failure. But if we see it in a broader view, as the beginning of dialogue with Greek culture, then Paul's experience at Athens was very important.
But Paul did not stay any longer in Athens. Luke states very simply:
"Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth."(Acts,18:1)
Paul sees in Corinth good prospects for Evangelization. He decides to remain there longer.
"Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God."
(Acts,18:11)
In Corinth the model of the "house-church" spread rapidly. The first house offered as a Church, was the house of Aquila and Priscilla.
"There Paul became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had been expelled from Italy as a result of Claudius Caesar's order to deport all Jews from Rome. Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was." (Acts,18:2-3) AD49? or AD41? (see https://bible.org/article/origins-church-rome)
Aquila and Priscilla's house is not only the "Church", it is also Paul's working place. Why does Paul want to earn his own living?
Paul knows that full time Evangelizers have the right to be supported by the community of believers, but this is how he puts it:
"We were never lazy when we were with you. We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so that we would not be a burden to any of you. It wasn't that we didn't have the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow."(2 Thessalonians, 3:7-9)
Another "house-church" was that of "Titius Justus a Gentile who worshiped God and lived next door to the synagogue."(Acts,18:7)
Paul preached often at the synagogue. Many believed.
"Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, and all his household believed in the Lord. Many others in Corinth also became believers and were baptized."(Acts,18:8)
As usual, the reaction of the leaders was prompt.
"When Gallio became governor of Achaia, some Jews rose in concerted action against Paul and brought him before the governor for judgment. They accused Paul of 'persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to the law'."
(Acts,18:12-13)
The Roman governor though, refused to judge what he considered to be a mere religious dispute.
In Corinth, Paul had a special vision of the Lord, who gave great strength to all the members of the missionary team.
"One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, 'Don't be afraid! Speak out! Don't be silent! For I am with you, and no one will harm you because many people here in this city belong to me.'"(Acts,18:9-10)
When Paul says good by to the brothers and sisters in Corinth, he leaves behind a strong and well organized community.
He will keep in contact with them through letters and communication with some of its leaders, who constantly will keep him informed about the situation of the Church.
"Paul sailed for the coast of Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him. When they arrived at the port of Ephesus, Paul left the others behind. But while he was there, he went to the synagogue to debate with the Jews. They asked him to stay longer, but he declined. So he left, saying, 'I will come back later, God willing'. Then he set sail from Ephesus. The next stop was at the port of Caesarea. From there he went up and visited the church at Jerusalem and then went back to Antioch."
(Acts, 18:18-22)
After the usual reporting to the sending Church, Paul and his team are ready for the third missionary journey- 3rd missionary journey (Acts 18:23 to 21:17).
- Journey to Rome (Acts 27:1 to 28:16).
- PAUL'S REPORT TO THE CHURCH OF JERUSALEM.
The third missionary journey begun at Antioch, ends at Jerusalem, which was not the sending Church. But Paul gives a detailed account of his journey.
"The next day Paul went in with us to meet with James, and all the elders of the Jerusalem church were present. After greetings were exchanged, Paul gave a detailed account of the things God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry."(Acts,21:18-19) - It was the year 58 A.D (acts 24:26-27). Less than thirty years has passed since Jesus had been accused and condemned in Jerusalem. Luke's description of the location and the circumstances is very similar to that of Jesus' trial.
The same "crowds followed behind shouting, 'Kill him, kill him!'(Acts,21:36)- Paul defends himself before the Sanhedrin (the high council) in a very clever way.
"Paul realized that some members of the high council were Sadducees and some were Pharisees, so he shouted, '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--the Pharisees against the Sadducees-- for the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, but the Pharisees believe in all of these. So a great clamor arose. Some of the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees jumped up to argue that Paul was all right. 'We see nothing wrong with him,' they shouted. 'Perhaps a spirit or an angel spoke to him.' The shouting grew louder and louder, and the men were tugging at Paul from both sides, pulling him this way and that. Finally, the commander, fearing they would tear him apart, ordered his soldiers to take him away from them 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'."(Acts,23:6-11)
Paul slowly understands that his imprisonment is the way to get to Rome.
The following events will prove he was right!
The Roman commander feels that the presence of Paul in Jerusalem can be a cause
of new riots and assassination attempts. He then orders Paul to be sent, under escort, to Caesaria, where the governor Felix (whose wife Drusilla was Jewish) would make a final judgement.
In Caesaria, Felix listens to the accusers of Paul and to Paul' defense. Luke notes:
"Felix, who was quite familiar with the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, 'I will decide the case later'. He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs."(Acts,24:22-23)
The governor Felix, as many other Roman officials, used bribery to enrich themselves. "Felix hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him. Two years went by in this way, and because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish leaders, he left Paul in prison. Then Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus (58 to 62 AD).
(Acts,24:26-27)
A new trial is organized, and Paul has to defend himself in front of Festus.
At the end of this trial, Paul resorts to his right, as a Roman citizen, to be judged directly by the Emperor in Rome.
"Paul said, 'I appeal to Caesar!' Festus conferred with his advisers and then replied, 'Very well! You have appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar you shall go!'"
(Acts,25:11-12)
Finally Paul has the chance of going to Rome, in chains!
Before Festus can arrange how to send Paul to Rome, King Agrippa (ruled 48-100, a puppet king made by the Romans) comes to Caesaria to pay his respects to the new governor Festus. (Acts,25:13)
"'The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!' they shouted. 'They are teaching the people to do things that are against Roman customs'."(Acts,16:20-21)
"A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison." (Acts,16:22-23)
They are miraculously saved by the Lord, and they have the chance of Evangelizing the jailer of the prison and his household
"Then Paul and Silas shared the word of the Lord with the jailer and all who lived in his household. That same hour the jailer washed their wounds, and he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. Then he brought them into his house and set a meal before them. He and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God." (Acts, 16:32-34)
The next morning, after being released from prison, Paul and Silas returned to the home of Lydia, where they met with the believers and encouraged them once more before leaving town."(Acts,16:40)
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