Life of an Apostle: 3rd missionary trip

Life of an Apostle Series  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  55:44
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Mission Control “This is Paul, I’m ready to go again.”

Paul has returned to Antioch after this trip, just as he had his first missionary trip.
Between trip one and trip two a two year interval passed, but a trip to Jerusalem did happen for Jerusalem counsel
Paul did spend sometime, but not long in Antioch between mission two and three and that is where we start today.
Acts 18:19–23 NASB95
19 They came to Ephesus, and he left them there. Now he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he did not consent, 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.
In the second trip he left Ephesus with intention of going to Jerusalem for feast, but said would return if God wills.
(Transition) - this leads us now to today. Paul is in Achaia and is ready to go again.

The regions of Asia Minor

Acts 18:23–26 NASB95
23 And having spent some time there, he left and passed successively through the Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. 24 Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; 26 and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
We are surveying several chapters, so I will give some scriptures and reference a lot odf scriptures, so be sure to get a bulletin.
The Regions of Asia Minor (54-57AD)
Traveled through Galatia, Phrygia (Act18:23_ where he had previsously been on first journey and second (Act14:6-20, 16:6)
He came to Ephesus and met Priscilla and Aquila. He also converted some of John the Baptists disciples
Acts 19:1–7 NASB95
1 It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. 2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. 7 There were in all about twelve men.
In Ephesus for about 3 years, teaching in Synagogue (Act19:8) until kicked out, then school of Tyrannus, making many converts (Act19:9-20)
A quick visit for the 2nd time to Corinth (2Cor12:14) and will return there again later in this journey (Act20:1-3)
It is believed that while in Ephesus Paul wrote the a letter to Corinth, the lost letter, but alluded to (1Cor5:9); It was here that Paul penned letter to Galatians (Gal1:2)
Planning to leave Ephesus (Act19:21-22) sending Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia w/Timothy (1Cor4:17, 16:10-11); and he stayed and penned 1st Corinthians (AD57) 1Cor16:5-8); While yet in Ephesus sends Titus to go check on Corinth (2Cor12:17-18)
Paul forged a great relationship with Aquila and Priscilla there and they started a house church (1Cor16:19).
Paul in the three years did much preaching, teaching and manual labor (Act20:20-21:27)
From Ephesus to Troas, after persecutions in Ephesus he finds an open door for the gospel in Troas (2Cor2:12) but then moves on toward Macedonia (2Cor2:13) to find Titus.

To the regions of Macedonia and Greece

Macedonia - Titus comes with news from Corinth (2Cor7:5ff)
He journeys to Illyricum (Rom15:19); Timothy joins Him and 2nd Corinthians was penned (2Cor1:1) (AD 57)
Onto Achaia in Greece, including 3rd visit to Corinth (2Cor12:1 ) where he penned letter to Romans (AD58) (Rom16:23; 1Cor1:14)
Paul had many companions on his journeys and did not do it alone, Timothy, Silas, Titus, Peobe, Lucius, Jason, Sosipather, Paul’s countrymen, Gaius, Erastus, and Quartus (Rom16:1-2, 21-23)
Paul plans to leave Corinth, go to Jerusalem and to go to Rome before going onto Spain (Rom1:8-12, 15:22-29)

From Corinth to Jerusalem

Acts 20:3–7 NASB95
3 And there he spent three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 And he was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. 5 But these had gone on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas. 6 We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas within five days; and there we stayed seven days. 7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.
From Corinth, via Macedonia on way to Syria with more friends, a plot comes against Him (Act20:3-4)
Friends, Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Timothy, Tychicus, Trophimus stay there and Paul and Luke press on to Philippi and Troas (Act20:5-6)
Paul stays in Troas to spend a Lord’s day there intending to leave the next day (Act20:6-12)
Paul goes to Miletus and calls for the Ephesian elders (Act20:13-38)
Then more stops along the way (Act21:1-14
Acts 21:1–14 NASB95
1 When we had parted from them and had set sail, we ran a straight course to Cos and the next day to Rhodes and from there to Patara; 2 and having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 When we came in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left, we kept sailing to Syria and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload its cargo. 4 After looking up the disciples, we stayed there seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem. 5 When our days there were ended, we left and started on our journey, while they all, with wives and children, escorted us until we were out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach and praying, we said farewell to one another. 6 Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home again. 7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and after greeting the brethren, we stayed with them for a day. 8 On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him. 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses. 10 As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” 12 When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!”
I want to pause and stop on the prophesy and purpose.
Prophesy, Do not go to Jerusalem
Purpose: save yourself, Paul’s purpose was to be there for Pentecost
Persistence: There was no stopping Paul, he was willing and was going even at what could be great cost to himself.
Finally Paul arrives to a warm welcome in Jerusalem (Act21:17)- thus ending the 3rd missionary trip.

Conclusion/Take away

Journeys like have ups/down, Paul, had many victories, tribulations, persecutions, but stayed faithful to the word.
Paul was a planter and an encourager but also through reading on his trips we can see
The type of worship, place of worship, heart of worship of early church
Evangelism efforts, edification, benevolence, love, and hospitality all things we can, should be doing as the church today.
(Insert Invitation slide here) Invitation to engage, invitation to be restored, invitation to come to Jesus
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