Paul Journey 2

Paul & Silas go

In Chapter 15, The jerusalem council decree that

Acts 15:24–29 NKJV

Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment— it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.

So Paul and Barnabas head to Antioch in Syria

Acts 15:30 NKJV

So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.

It was here that Silas decides to stay with Paul and Barnabas

A contention arises between Paul and Barnabas about where to go next

Acts 15:36–40 NKJV

Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God.

Arriving at Derbe and Lystra, Timothy joins the team

Acts 16:1–4 NKJV

Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek. And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.

In Galatia Paul wanted to preach in Asia but the Holy Spirit blocked them

Acts 16:7 NKJV

After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.

They head to Troas where Paul receives the Macedonia call

Acts 16:8–10 NKJV

So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Immediately The team crosses the Agean to Philippi - Luke joins the team

Acts 16:11–12 NKJV

Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days.

Lydia was converted there and the woman with a demon delivered but people upset

Acts 16:16 NKJV

Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling.

Acts 16:19 NKJV

But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.

They are beaten/jailed and put in stocks

Of course here is where the Philippian jailer is saved and his family

Acts 16:30 NKJV

And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

Paul demands justice because they are Roman citizens

Paul/Silas/Timothy/Luke head south - Thessalonica

Acts 17:4 NKJV

And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.

Many of the Jews believed - not believe caused problems for Paul so they escape to Berea (Silas)

Ministry is going well but problems ahead

Acts 17:12–14 NKJV

Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds. Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there.

Paul taken to Athens for a break

But he could not rest

Acts 17:16 NKJV

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.

Here is where we find the sermon on Mars Hill - the unknown God

Acts 17:22–23 NKJV

Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you:

Luke and Silas an Timothy meet Paul

head to Corinth -

Acts 18:9–11 NKJV

Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

IT is here the Paul meets Aquila and Priscilla

Acts 18:18 NKJV

So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow.

Paul sends Timothy back to Thessalonica to check on the church

When Timothy returns he writes the first letter to the Thessalonians