PAULINE YEAR TALK # 2

The Missionary Journeys of St. Paul

Adult Education, St. Joseph’s, January 21, 2009

Charles P. Poole, Jr.

1. Introduction

2. First Missionary Journey Continued. [13:13-52].

3. First Missionary Journey Concluded [Chap. 14:1 - 15:3].

4. Council of Jerusalem [15:4-35].

5; Second Missionary Journey Commences [16:36-17:15]

6. Athens and the Areopagus [17:18-34]

7. Second Missionary Journey Concludes [18:1 - 23]

8. Third Missionary Journey Commences [18:23-19:22]

9. Third Missionary Journey Continues [19:23-20:38]

10. Trials and Arrests [21:1 - 26:32]

11. Journey to and Lodging in Rome [27:1 - 28:31]

1. INTRODUCTION

While the Christians were worshiping the Lord at Antioch in Syria the Holy Spirit said, “Set aside for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” The two then went to Salamis on Cyprus where they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues. The Roman (i.e. Gentile) proconsul there wished to have the word of the Lord preached to him, and when Elymas the magician tried to prevent this, “Saul, also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him, and said: ‘You son of the devil, . . . will you not stop twisting the straight paths of the Lord,” and the proconsul came to believe. This verse, Acts 13:9, which reads, “Saul, also known as Paul” seems to be a turning point in the narrative. It occurs where Paul silences the opposition to the Gentile mission by the invective “You son of the devil.” We noted at the end of the previous session that this is the point where leadership of the mission to the Gentiles passed from Barnabas to Saul, who would henceforth be known by his Gentile name Paul, rather than by his Jewish name Saul. At this transition point we ended the first session of this Pauline series of discussions, and here is where we begin the second session. Barnabas and Paul continue working together, but with their roles reversed.

Prior to the transition in leadership Paul and Barnabas had been in Syrian Antioch which is relatively closer to Galilee. Afterwards they went to Pisidian Antioch which is much further from Galilee, centrally located in the regions of Asia Minor (present day Turkey) where Paul would subsequently evangelize. Paul’s first missionary journey was to Cyprus and the regions of Asia Minor closest to Palestine, the second and third journeys went much further to Mesopotamia and Greece, and the final trip to Rome was by far the longest. He never realized his ambition to preach in Spain.

2. FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY CONTINUED[13:13-52].

To resume the narrative, Paul and Barnabas departed Cyprus by ship from Paphos. sailed to Perga in Pamphylia; and then traveled a hundred miles north overland to Antioch in Pisidia. On the sabbath they attended the synagogue. After reading the law and the prophets the official asked if anyone would like to speak, so Paul stood up and gave a speech. He recounted some of the history of Israel, and explained how Jesus the redeemer came, was put to death, and then rose from the dead, and now his followers are proclaiming the forgiveness of sins through Him. They were invited back to speak again on these topics the next Sabbath, and many converts to Judaism among them followed Paul and Barnabas. “On the following Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.” The Jews were filled with jealousy, and assaulted Paul and Barnabas, who boldly retorted: : It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.” The Gentiles rejoiced, but the Jews stirred up a persecution, so Paul and Barnabas were forced to depart.

3. FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY CONCLUDED [14:1 - 15:3].

Paul and Barnabas traveled about 170 miles to proclaim the Lord Jesus in Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. At Iconium many Jews and Greeks came to believe, but many opposed them and forced them to leave. At Lystra Paul healed a man who was lame from birth, whereupon the people considered Paul and Barnabas to be gods and prepared to offer sacrifice to them. Some enemies from Antioch and Iconium arrived and won over the crowds, so they stoned Paul and left him for dead. Several disciples found Paul, and he got up and went to Derbe with Barnabas the next day. They again proclaimed the Good News and made many disciples. Then they retraced their steps through Lystra, Iconium, Pisidia and Pampnylia appointing presbyters at each church on the way. When they arrived back at Antioch in Syria they reported how God “had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.” However some of the brothers who had come from Judea to Antioch were insisting that unless you are circumcised “you cannot be saved.” There arose some dissension between the two groups, and Paul, Barnabas and some others were sent to Jerusalem to consult with the apostles concerning the issue. As they traveled south through Phoenecia (present day Lebanon) and Samaria they brought great joy to the brothers on the way by telling of the conversion of the Gentiles.

4. COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM [15:4-35].

When they arrived in Jerusalem they were welcomed by the apostles and the presbyters, “and they reported what God had done with them.” Some of the Pharisees who had become believers insisted, “It is necessary to circumcise them and direct them to observe the Mosaic law.” The apostles and presbyters held a meeting to decide the matter. After much debate Peter arose and said, “You are well aware that God made his choice that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the Gospel and believe.” He granted them the Holy Spirit, and “made no distinction between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts. Why, then, are you putting God to the test by placing on the shoulders of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear. . . We believe that we are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus the same as they.” The entire assembly fell silent and listened to Paul and Barnabas describing the wonders that God had worked through them among the Gentiles. James, after quoting the prophet Amos, asserted, “We ought to stop troubling the Gentiles who turn to God, but tell them by letter to avoid pollution from (meat sacrificed to) idols, unlawful marriage, the meat of strangled animals, and blood.” The apostles, presbyters, and the whole church were in agreement with what James said, so they chose two prophets, namely Judas, also called Barsabbas, and Silas to accompany Paul and Barnabas on the mission to deliver the message to the Christians in Antioch. When they arrived there they called together the assembly and read the letter to them, and all were delighted with the message. Paul and Barnabas remained there for some time, “teaching and proclaiming with many others the word of the Lord.”

5. SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY COMMENCES [16:36-17:15]

“After some time, Paul said to Barnabas, “Come, let us make a return visit to see how the brothers are getting on in all the churches where we proclaimed the word of the Lord.” Barnabas wished to take John Mark along, but Paul objected because he had deserted them at Pamphilia, and had stopped working with them. “So sharp was their disagreement that they separated.” Earlier in Acts [13:13] it said simply that “John left them and returned to Jerusalem.” without using or implying the word “deserted.” After this altercation Barnabas sailed to Cyprus with Mark, and Paul went to Syria and Cilicia with Silas to strengthen the churches there. The subsequent narrative follows the footsteps of Paul and Silas, withoutt telling us anything about the mission of Barbabas and Mark. Perhaps the breakup was inevitable since Barnabas was originally in charge, then Paul came later and assumed command. Of course Paul had been chosen by the Lord to lead the mission to the Gentiles, and he was the more gifted of the two.

Many believe that John Mark is Mark the Evangelist, the author of the second gospel. Apparently he and Paul had a later reconciliation, and in the conclusion to his letter to the Colossians [4:10] Paul mentions “Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner (probably in Rome) sends you greetings, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas.” We also read in the conclusion to the first letter of Peter [5:13] “The chosen one at Babylon sends you greeting, as does Mark.” Papias and other Fathers of the Church mention Mark as Peter’s interpreter.

When Paul reached Derbe and Lystra he met Timothy whose mother was Jewish and whose father was Greek (i.e. a Gentile). Paul chose Timothy to accompany him on his journey. Paul had him circumcised “on account of the Jews of that region“ who “all knew that his father was a Greek.” As they traveled Paul and his companions told all the believers about “the decisions reached by the presbyters in Jerusalem,” and “Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number.”

We now begin the first of the so-called ”we-sections” of Acts [16:10-17]: in which Luke writes as a companion of Paul, saying for example “We set sail from Troas . . . to Philippi, a leading city in that district of Macedonia, and a Roman colony.” The other we-sections are 20:5-15, 21:1-18, and 27:1-28. These we-sections, which constitute 6.5% of the text, could have been written by Luke as an eye-witness along the journey, or by Luke quoting reports that he heard from eye-witness companions.

During the night in Troas Paul had a vision in which a Macedonian man implored him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Luke then writes, “We sought passage to Macedonia (in Greece) at once, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the Good news to them.”

In Philippi a slave girl possessed by an oracular spirit followed Paul shouting, “These people are slaves of the Most High, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.” Paul was annoyed and said to the spirit: “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her” and it did so. Her owners could now no longer profit from her fortune-telling so they dragged Paul and Silas before the magistrates who had them beaten with rods and put into prison. That night while Paul was praying an earthquake shook the jail and opened all the doors. When the jailer awakened and saw all the prison doors wide open he took out his sword to kill himself, so Paul shouted to him “Do not harm yourself, we are all here.” The jailer was converted with the words “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved,” so he and all his family believed and were baptized. He ministered to Paul and Silas, and bathed their wounds. The next day the magistrates sent word to release the prisoners secretly, but Paul objected to a secret release since, being Roman citizens, had been beaten and imprisoned unjustly. The magistrates became disturbed, placated them, then asked them to depart, which they did. They then went to Thessalonica and to Beroea, where they proclaimed the Lord Jesus in the synagogues, made converts, and aroused strong opposition.

6. ATHENS AND THE AREOPAGUS [17:18-34]

Paul then went to Athens, and while he was waiting for Silas and Timothy to join him he became very disturbed at the sight of so many idols. He debated with the Jews in their synagogue and with the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers in the public square.

Epicurus believed that the greatest good is to seek modest

pleasures in order to attain a state of tranquility through knowledge

of the workings of the world. Pleasure is considered the sole intrinsic

good, with the absence of pain the greatest pleasure. Stoics believed

that it is virtuous to maintain a will that is in accord with nature. The

best indication of an individual's philosophy (i.e. way of life) is not

what a person says but how he behaves, with virtue being sufficient

for happiness, and a sage being immune to misfortune.

Paul was preaching to the philosophers about Jesus and the Resurrection. Those listening said to him “You bring some strange notions to our ears” and “May we learn what this new teaching is that you speak of.”They led him to the Areopagus, the academic meeting place of Athens, and perhaps the cultural center of Graeco-Roman ancient world. Paul stood up and gave a famous speech.

You Athenians. I see that in every respect you are very religious. For as

I walked around looking carefully at your shrines I even discovered one

inscribed “To an Unknown God.” What therefore you unknowingly worship,

I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and all that is in it,

the Lord of heaven and earth does not dwell in sanctuaries made of human

hands, nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything. Rather

it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything. He made from

one the entire human race to dwell on the entire surface of the earth, he fixed

the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions, so that people might

seek God or grope for him and find him, though indeed he is not far from any

of us. For in him we live and move and have our being, as even your poets

have said.’for we too are his offspring.’ Since therefore we are the offspring

of God we ought not think that the divinity is like an image fashioned from

gold, silver or stone by human art and imagination. God has overlooked the

times of ignorance, but now he demands that all people everywhere repent

because he has established a day on which he will judge the world with justice

through a man he has appointed, and he has provided confirmation for all by

raising him from the dead. [17:22-34]

Some scoffed at what he said about the resurrection from the dead, and others wished too hear more at some other time, but some did join him and believed.

This speech is much different in flavor from Paul’s speeches to Jewish audiences which appeal primarily to the (Old Testament) scriptures. He here appeals more from natural theology, providing evidence from nature for the God who created it, and centering ideas on Greek traditions.

7. SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY CONCLUDES [18:1 - 23]

Next Paul went to Corinth, and stayed at the home of Aquila, a fellow tent maker, and his wife Priscilla. Paul and Aquila worked together for a while. Paul taught in the synagogue every Sabbath. When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia he devoted full time to proclaiming the Messiah to the Jews. When they opposed and reviled him he said: “Your blood be on your heads! I am clear of responsibility. From now on I go to the Gentiles.” So he changed his abode. One night he had a vision and the Lord said to him, “Do not be afraid. Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you. No one will attack and harm you, for I have many people in this city.” Paul was encouraged so he remained there a year and half teaching the word of God among the Corinthians. Paul’s retort about blood to his opponents seems to be very harsh, but soon thereafter he received encouragement directly from the Lord. It is not clear from the context whether the commission to “Go on speaking” refers to a Jewish or to Gentile audience, or to both.

Paul’s opponents brought charges against him to the proconsul Gallio in Achaia the region where Corinth is located, but Gallio would have nothing to do with Jewish disputes. Paul then went to Conchreae where he had his hair cut. Apparently he had taken a Nazirite vow not to drink wine or have his hair cut, and it was the end of the term of his vow. Recall that Samson was a perpetual Nazirite from birth, and he lost his strength when his hair was cut. Paul stopped off at Ephesus where he left Priscilla and Aquila. The Jews in the synagogue at Ephesus had asked Paul to remain there, but he declined, promising to return some time later. He then returned to Syrian Antioch by way of the seaport of Caeserea in Palestine. It is curious that he did not stop off at nearby Jerusalem which lies only about 30 miles from Caesarea, while Antioch is 240 miles to the north. After he reached Antioch Paul remained there for “some time.”

8. THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY COMMENCES [18:23-19:22]

Some time later Paul retraced his earlier footsteps through Galatia and Phrygia (i. e., Tarsus, Derbe, Lystra, Iconium) “bringing strength to all the disciples” there. Meanwhile

an eloquently speaking Jewish authority on the scriptures named Apollos arrived in Ephesus. He had been instructed in the Way and proclaimed accurately about Jesus. although he knew only the baptism of John. Priscilla and Aquila took Apollos aside and instructed him more thoroughly in the Way. (The early Christian community sometimes referred to itself and to its set of beliefs as “the Way”). Apollos was a great asset to the Christian community at Ephesus [19:24-28].

It is curious that in Acts the next episode follows the one in the previous paragraph. While Apollos was in Corinth Paul came to Ephesus where he found about 20 disciples who had never heard of the Holy Spirit because they had been baptized by the baptism of John. Paul accordingly baptized them in the name of the Lord Jesus, and then he laid hands on them so the Holy Spirit came upon them and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. Paul entered the synagogue and for three months debated persuasively about the kingdom of God. When some obstinate disbelievers disparaged the Way then Paul withdrew with his disciples and for two years held daily discussions elsewhere “with the result that all of the inhabitants of the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord, Jews and Greeks alike.” There were many miraculous healings when face cloths that touched Paul’s skin were applied to the sick or possessed. Some itinerant exorcists tried to invoke the name of the Lord to expel evil spirits, but they were exposed, and many who practiced magic renounced it publically by burning their books.

9. THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY CONTINUES [19:23-20:38]

Luke describes an incident in Ephesus involving a group of silversmiths who made their living selling shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. The silversmiths became enraged when Paul and the Christians. called into question the value of their wares and the credibility of the godess herself, and in retaliation they fomented a major disturbance against Paul and his followers. The matter was dismissed by the civil authorities [19:23-40].

Paul sent Timothy and Erastus ahead to Macedonia, and then he himself arrived in Macedonia and Greece. This account includes a we-section of the narrative [20:5 - 15],

with seven co-workers Sopater, Aristarchus. Secundus. Gaius. Timothy, Tychicus, and Trophimus mentioned by name. “On the first day of the week when we gathered to break bread” Paul spoke on and on until midnight, and Eutychus fell asleep while sitting next to a third story window, and then fell out of the window, landing dead below. “Paul went down, threw himself on the boy and said as he embraced him, “Don’t be alarmed, there is life in him.” Then he returned upstairs, broke the bread and ate; after a long conversation that lasted until daybreak, he departed.” Paul’s companions were relieved when they found the boy alive.

Paul then went to Miletus, sailing past Ephesus in his haste. He then summoned the presbyters of the church in Ephesus, and addressed them with a long farewell speech filled with anxiety [20:17 - 27]. He reviewed some of the events of his life, then said, “The Holy Spirit has been warning me that imprisonment and hardships await me. Yet I consider my life of no importance to me, if only I can finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus to preach the gospel of God’s grace. . . . None of you . . . will ever see me again . . . After my departure savage wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock . . . So, be vigilant.” Paul ended by urging all to keep in mind the words of the Lord: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Everyone is urged to read this actual speech in Acts.

10. TRIALS AND ARRESTS [21:1 - 26:32]

Paul then went to Jerusalem, and another we-section began [21:1-18]. A controversy arose concerning whether converts must obey the Mosaic laws, and Paul was arrested. He then gave a speech in his defense in which he recounted various events of his life, beliefs, and mission. He ended by appealing to his Roman citizenship. This scenario was repeated several times during successive weeks when Paul was repeatedly questioned by Jewish, civil, and imperial authorities, and we will refrain from repeating the details of these various interchanges. He appeared before Jerusalem Jews [22:1-21], a cohort commander [22:22-29], the Sanhedrin [22:30 - 23:10], Governor Felix [24:1 - 26], Governor Portius Festus [25:1 - 13], and King Agrippa [25:13 - 26:32], and reported similar things to them.

11. JOURNEY TO AND LODGING IN ROME [27:1 - 28:31]

During his interrogation by Governor Festus, Paul announced, “I appeal to Caesar,” and Festus, after conferring with his council, replied “To Caesar you will go.” [25:11,13]. Later Agrippa said to Festus: “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” [26:32]. Paul himself seemed contented with the idea of appealing to Caesar.

Before the departure for Rome Paul and some other prisoners were assigned to the custody of a centurion named Julius. The third and final we-section begins here: “A Macedonian (Christian) named Aristarchus was with us on the journey.”[27:2]. When we stopped on the way at Sidon “Julius was kind enough to allow Paul to visit his friends.”

They sailed to Myra in Lycia, and then stopped at Fair Havens on Crete. The weather became hazardous, and Paul warned them about going to sea, but the centurion ignored Paul and paid more attention to what the pilot and the owner said. Paul’s judgment was correct, and when sinking seemed imminent Paul predicted that all “276 of us on the ship” would survive. Everyone did survive shipwreck at the island of Malta where the natives showed “extraordinary hospitality.” The natives considered Paul to be a god when he was bitten by a viper and suffered no harm. The father of Publius, the ruler of the island, was sick and Paul cured him. The rest of those who were ill on the island then were brought to Paul, and all were cured. They remained on Malta for three months and then set sail for Rome “on a ship that had wintered on the island of Malta.”

They spent three days at Syracuse in Sicily on the way. In Rome “Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him. Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews” and explained to them why he was there.” They came to his lodgings in great numbers” and he bore witness to them on the kingdom of God, “trying to convince them about Jesus from the law of Moses and the prophets.” Some were convinced and others were not. Paul ended the discussion with a common theme of his, “This salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” Acts ends by mentioning that Paul remained there for two full years receiving all who came “and without hindrance he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” [28:30 - 31].

One wonders whether or not Luke was an occasional or perhaps a frequent visitor to his house arrest lodgings. The final we-section began with the departure for Rome and ended while the ship was going aground at Malta [27:1-28]. Of course Paul was in the habit of telling his life’s story to many people, and he no doubt revealed a great deal to his many sympathetic visitors during those last two years. Luke could have learned a great deal from them. Acts tells us nothing about his final trial and martyrdom. There is also no indication of Peter ever meeting Paul in Rome, but Tradition tells us that both of them were martyred in Rome.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I would like to thank Doris Christley for her critical reading of this work, and her thoughtful comments and recommendations concerning it.