Atos 17

Atos 17

Chart from Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission THE EXPANDING WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT-EMPOWERED CHURCH Considering the fact that Acts 13 is such a strategic chapter in regard to world evangelism, take a moment and study Irving Jensen's chart at top of the page (click it to enlarge it which is what I have to do at age 72!). Notice the bold vertical line (|) at the end of Acts 12 and beginning of Acts 13 which Jensen estimates to be about year 47 (it could be a short time prior). Note the horizontal description of "Church" - Church Established in the first 13 years from Acts 1 through Acts 7, then the Church Scattered between Acts 8 through Acts 12, which occurred over a period of about 14 years (and remember all dates and times are at best approximations because Luke gives only a few events that allow us to give specific dates, such as the death of Herod in A D 44 in Acts 12:23) and lastly, beginning in Acts 13 (and until the end of this age), the Church Extended, this extension being the primarily the fruit of Paul's Three Missionary Journeys which"upset the world!" (Acts 17:6) Now, you have a good grasp of the chronological context of Acts 13. And as they say in the restaurant when your delicious meal is served "Enjoy!" The three missionary journeys are summarized below (this note will be repeated in subsequent chapters). Click links for the maps of each journey. Paul's First Missionary Journey Acts 13:4-14:28 Paul's Second Missionary Journey Acts 15:36-18:22 Paul's Third Missionary Journey Acts 18:23-21:26 Maps in table above are from the Holman Bible Atlas (Hardcover/Paperback version) copyrighted © 1998 B&H Publishing Group, used by permission, all rights reserved. This is one of the best resources for Bible maps as the maps also include helpful short descriptions of the events portrayed on the maps. Please do not download for use on another website. Thank you. Here is a map with all three journeys on one map. THE ITINERARY OF PAUL'S THREE MISSIONARY JOURNEYS FIRST SECOND THIRD Phrygia/Galatia Acts 16:6 Phrygia/Galatia Acts 18:23-28 Charles Swindoll points out that "When we study the journeys of Paul in the book of Acts, we’re not just reading the travel log of a man; we’re observing the redemptive plan of God unfolding as He promised. Through the ministry of Saul of Tarsus, God’s mission to reclaim His creation from the death grip of evil would move to its next stage. The plan of this mission was outlined in the Lord’s promise at His ascension, where He said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses... In Jerusalem [Stage 1: Acts 2–7], and in all Judea and Samaria [Stage 2: Acts 8–12], and even to the remotest part of the earth [Stage 3: Acts 13–‍28].” (Acts 1:8+) John Hannah's Outline for Second Missionary Journey The second missionary journey of Paul (Acts 15:36-18:22) The preparation for the ministry (Acts 15:36-16:5) The conflict between Barnabas and Paul (Acts 15:36-40) The confirmation of the churches (Acts 15:41-16:5) The ministry in Macedonia (Acts 16:6-17:15) The call from Macedonia (Acts 16:6-10) Arrival at Samothrace and Neapolis (Acts 16:11) Ministry at Philippi (Acts 16:12-40) The conversion of Lydia (Acts 16:12-15) The demon possessed slave girl (Acts 16:16-18) The imprisonment of Paul and Silas (Acts 16:19-25) The release of Paul and Silas (Acts 16:26-27) The conversion of the jailor (Acts 16:28-34) The departure from the city (Acts 16:35-40) The ministry in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9) The message (Acts 17:1-3) The response of belief (Acts 17:4) The response of unbelief (Acts 17:5-9) The ministry in Berea (Acts 17:10-15) The ministry (Acts 17:11-12) The departure (Acts 17:13-15) The ministry in Achaia (Acts 17:16-18:17) The ministry in Athens (Acts 17:16-34) His message in Athens (Acts 17:16-30) The response in Athens (Acts 17:31-34) The ministry in Corinth (Acts 18:1-17) Arrival in Corinth (Acts 18:1-4) His ministry to the Corinthians (Acts 18:5-11) The trial before Gallio (Acts 18:12-17) The ministry on the return to Antioch (Acts 18:18-22) In Cenchrea (Acts 18:18) In Ephesus (Acts 18:19-21) In Antioch (Acts 18:22) Hannah's Bible Outlines - Recommended Resource Acts 17:1 Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: Thessalonica - Acts 20:4; 27:2; Philippians 4:16; 1Thessalonians 1:1; 2Thessalonians 1:1; 2Timothy 4:10) where - Acts 14:1; 15:21; 16:13 Acts 17 - William Ramsay - St Paul the Traveller Acts 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Acts 17:1-3, 10-11 Men Who Turned the World Upside Down, Part 1- John MacArthur Click to enlarge - from the Holman Bible Atlas (digital book; Hardcover) copyright © 1998 B&H Publishing Group, used by permission, all rights reserved. This is one of the best resources for Bible maps. Please do not reproduce this map on any other webpage. ADVENTURE BEGINS IN THESSALONICA They - Who is they? For one thing, it appears Luke is now not with them (we changed to they) and also Timothy is not mentioned again until Acts 17:14, so he may have remained in Philippi. Clearly, however the believers at Thessalonica must have known him or about him (cf 1Thes 3:2-6). Traveled through (1353)(diodeuo from dia = through + hodeuo = to travel from hodos = way) means literally to make one's way through, to go through or to travel through a place. To take the road through. In the only other NT use in Lk 8:1+ diodeuo (imperfect tense describes Jesus doing this over and over, and thus emphasizes Jesus was on a mission to get out His message. Now Paul is imitating Jesus (cf 1 Cor 11:1) seeking to get out the Gospel of Jesus. Paul and Silas undoubtedly took the Roman "superhighway" of the day, the Via Egnatia stretching from the Aegean coast of northern Macedonia to the western coast (in modern Albania) along the Adriatic Sea. Amphipolis and Apollonia - Traveling SW from Philippi along the Egnatian Way Amphipolis was about 30 miles from Philippi, and Apollonia another 30 miles beyond. Forty miles beyond Apollonia was Thessalonica. Why Paul hurried through these two large cities (if he did) we do not know (and Amphipolis was larger than Philippi!) but it is surmised he did so because they had no synagogue which is even implied because that is the first thing Luke mentions about Thessalonica). And of course we must surely believe he was sensitive to being led by the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:18+, cf Lk 4:1+). And think about the beating that Paul and Silas had suffered in Philippi, and yet here we learn they were able to traverse about 100 in three days (if on foot this is an extremely brisk pace and has led some to speculate they traveled on horses). G Campbell Morgan makes an astute observation regarding the passing of Amphipolis and Apollonia - One is growingly impressed in our study of the book, that we cannot tabulate rules or regulations as to spiritual conduct therefrom. Via Egnatia Charles Swindoll - In the second century BC, the Romans built a highway called the Via Egnatia from Dyrrachium on the Adriatic Sea to Byzantium (now called Constantinople) near the Black Sea, a distance of almost 700 miles. Nearly 20 feet wide and paved with hand-laid stone slabs, it carried Roman troops to battle, taxes to the capital city, and merchandise everywhere. And now it carried the Gospel into Greece. Paul followed the Via Egnatia a little more than 35 miles from Philippi to Amphipolis, where the seat of Roman government administered its affairs in Macedonia. From there, he continued another 30 miles to Apollonia, and then to Thessalonica 33 miles away. Each leg of his journey required a long day’s walk but put him in a major city by nightfall. I offer this detail to make a point. Not long after his ordeal (Ed: In Philippi)—a public beating with rods and a night in jail—Paul walked nearly 100 miles in three days! Emerson wrote, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” Sir Edward Appleton, the Scottish physicist and Nobel Prize winner, said, “I rate enthusiasm even above professional skill.” Paul’s enthusiasm carried him beyond his own physical limitations to accomplish what God had set before him. I don’t mean the enthusiasm of a cheerleader; I mean a throbbing, compelling, positive drive that can’t be silenced until it is satisfied. (Swindoll's Living Insights New Testament Commentary – Acts) Jack Arnold - Paul passed by Amphipolis and Apollonia which were important cities. Why? Paul had a definite strategy in his evangelism. He evangelized key cities which had a Jewish synagogue. The Greek literally says, “Where there was the synagogue of the Jews.” Apparently, Amphipolis and Apollonia had no Jewish synagogues. Paul always stuck with his game plan in evangelism; it was never a hit or miss situation. Apparently, Paul and his missionaries were not running frantically through the streets of Amphipolis and Apollonia trying to lead men to Christ since they only had a few hours in these cities. The text seems to imply that they did no evangelism in either city. Apparently, the Holy Spirit had directed them not to evangelize these cities. Why? Because it was the plan of God that the Thessalonians who were won to Christ by Paul would witness to those in Amphipolis and Apollonia. "For the word of the Lord (GOSPEL) has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything." (1 Th 1:8+) (Ed: God knew these cities would be reached by the converts Paul reached in Thessalonica!) (Acts 17: 1-15 Ideal Evangelism) Following the famous Via Egnatia (Map of the Via Egnatia, Picture of the preserved pavement), Paul and Silas went 100 miles from Philippi to Thessalonica. They came to Thessalonica (See notes and pictures) - The city of Thessalonica, located on the Via Egnatia, was 267 miles from the Adriatic coast, about halfway along the Via Egnatia. It had become a “free city” in 42 B.C. and with its warm springs (Thermae) and public buildings around a market place (Agora), linked to a stoa, it was one of the most heavily populated cites of the area. This city was the capital of the province of Macedonia and had a population of some 200,000 (but see Robertson below). It was a major seaport city and an important commercial center, rivaled only by Corinth in this area of the world. Thessalonica was located on several important trade routes, and it boasted an excellent harbor. The city was predominantly Greek, even though it was controlled by Rome. Thessalonica was a “free city,” which meant that it had an elected citizens’ assembly, it could mint its own coins, and it had no Roman garrison within its walls. Modern Thessaloniki is still a significant city in Greece. A T