Second missionary Journey

15 So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

He cared about the gospel to get the gospel out where it had not been heard before and to encourage the churches that were established too.

(Transition): Paul with new travelling companions will hit the road to take the gospel out to establish more churches, to suffer more persecutions and begin writing letters we hold in the New Testament today.

The next journey begins

There is so much scripture to cover with the 2nd missionary trip that we will only survey it and make a few points along the way.

The journey begins in Antioch of Syria where there is a contentious dispute (Act15:37-39)

Acts 15:37–39 NASB95

37 Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also. 38 But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.

Contention brought division, but God still used it for the good. Now, two mission teams, new missionaries.

Now there was a reconciliation that happens and John Mark becomes useful to Paul later in the ministry (2Tim4:11)

Barnabas, Mark got to Cyprus where Barnabas was from

Paul and Silas head out to encourage churches in Syria and Cilicia (Act15:41)

This was Paul’s home turf (Act22:3) where Paul had already spent time preaching (Gal1:21)

This can be the time when the Galatian letter was delivered (Act15:23)

You can see just from this the mission work

Started at home

Was willing to bring and encourage others to join in the work

Even if there is contention, division, do not let it stop the work of the Lord.

Onto Asia Minor

Derbe and Lystra (Act14:6-20)

Paul healed lame man, was previously stoned

It is here that he desires Timothy to join the team (Act16:1-3)

Acts 16:1–3 NASB95

1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, 2 and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted this man to go with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

It was here that the degrees from the Jerusalem counsel were delivered (Act16:4-5)

Then on to Phrygia and Galatia, touching in at Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, then head toward Ephesus (Act16:7)

Maybe we better read these verses to keep things in context (Act16:4-7)

Acts 16:4–7 NASB95

4 Now while they were passing through the cities, they were delivering the decrees which had been decided upon by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem, for them to observe. 5 So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily. 6 They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; 7 and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;

God opens and closes doors, and the door was closed to Asia (v.6); now the door is closed when heading toward Bithynia and they go onto Troas (Act16:8-10) where there was the Macedonian vision, the Lord’s open door.

Acts 16:8–10 NASB95

8 and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

It is here that the gospel writer Luke inserts himself into the mission team.

Then onto Samothrace, Neapolis and the continent of Europe (Act16:11)

Macedonia and Achaia

This part of the journey will cover 52-53AD, Act16:12-18:17

Philippi

Conversion of Lydia. . . (Act16:12-15)

Demon possessed girl healed (Act16:16-18)

Imprisonment of Paul and Silas (Act16:19-24)

Conversion of Philippian jailer and family (Act16:25-34)

Acts 16:25–34 NASB95

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 When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, 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 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will 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.

Onto Thessalonica (Act17:1-10)

Starts in the synagogue as was his pattern (Act17:2-4)

Trouble starts again with people who do not want the message (Act17:5-10)

Paul worked hard there, taking no support (1The2:9, 2The3:6-10); He loved the faithfulness of the church there (1The1:1-8); He was dedicated to the ministry, to the work (1The2:1-10)

Then onto Berea (Act17:11-12)

Acts 17:11–12 NASB95

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 Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.

They received the word with eagerness.

They examined the scriptures

And many came to believe

More trouble came, and Paul is sent away (Act17:13-14) - Silas and Timothy stay there

Paul in Athens, sends for Silas and Timothy (Act17:15); debates with Jews and Greeks (Act17:16-17) and is invited to speak at the Areopagus (Act17:18-21)

Paul proclaims who the unknown god is (Act17:22-34)

Acts 17:22–34 NASB95

22 So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. 23 “For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 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 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26 and He made from one man 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 would 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 children.’ 29 “Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. 30 “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” 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.

Onto Corinth with new team members (Act18:1-4)

Aquila and Priscilla, fellow tentmakers.

He reasons with the Jews every Sabbath (Act18:5) and receives report from Macedonia (2Cor1:19)

It is believed that this is where Paul penned first Thessalonians (52 AD)

Paul rejected in synagogue and moves next door and preaches there (Act18:5-7) and has much Success (Act18:8)

Paul has another vision, and is encouraged by the Lord (Act18:9-11)

Acts 18:9–11 NASB95

9 And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; 10 for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.” 11 And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

It is believed that now (52-53 AD) that Paul penned second Thessalonians

Paul will appear before Gallio the proconsul of Achaia (Act18:12-17) yet remains in Corinth a long time (Act18:18)

The Return Trip

We are not about (54AD) going from Corinth to Ephesus (Act18:18-20) with Aquila and Priscilla; He will leave them there when he continues the return trip.

Paul wants to press on and get to Jerusalem for the feast and then from Jerusalem to Antioch (Act18:21-23)

Acts 18:21–23 NASB95

21 but taking leave of them and saying, “I will return to you again if God wills,” he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and went down to Antioch. 23 And having spent some time there, he left and passed successively through the Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

Conclusion/Invitation

We have seen Paul’s next step was

To encourage

churches already established

To establish

To establish new churches to make new converts

To establish new friendships, relationships

To engage

In the communities in work, in worship

Even in persecution preaching the gospel.

To example

His example of persevering through the tribulations, being willing to work hard for the kingdom