Tag: missionary

  • Three Years in Ephesus with Tears

    Three Years in Ephesus with Tears

    Paul has just sent for the Ephesian Elders and is about to address them as at the conclusion of his third missionary journey as the Apostle departs for Jerusalem.

    For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. – Acts 20:26 LSB

    Serving the Lord with humility and tears

    Acts of the Apostles Missions trips of Paul, Barnabas, Silas and several others
    ACTS on Mission – ἀπόστολος – *apostolos – a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders..
    + in a broader sense applied to other eminent Christian teachers
    The *apostles' tearful departure from Ephesus -
    
    Let us recall so many close relationships of those brothers and sisters of the church at Ephesus and especially their elders who have travelled to see Paul once more. 
    
    Remember also the several men and women sent out to the Church who now travel with the Apostle Paul as these apostles will now set sail back toward Antioch and Jerusalem.

    Acts of the Apostles 20:

    18 And when they had come to him, he said to them,

    “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews;

    how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable,

    solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks

    about repentance toward God

    and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

    Paul’s farewell message to the Ephesians at Miletus – Acts of the apostles 20:18b-21- LSB

    Ephesus, of course, was a key Roman port on the Aegean and entry into Asia (Asia Minor or Turkiye).

    Jews from European capitals like Rome resided in nearly every port connected to the far-reaching Mediterranean ruled by Roman commerce and Legions under the command of the Caesars.

    Three centuries earlier Asia Minor had been Alexander’s Macedonian route east to the Babylonian and Persian cities the Jews knew all too well.

    Greeks of Asia Minor

    Empire of Alexander the Great 336-323 BC
    This map shows the vast empire conquered by Alexander the Great in red highlight. The extent of the empire is an approximation of 320 BC.
    In winter 334–333 B.C. Alexander [the Great had] conquered western Asia Minor, subduing the hill tribes of Lycia and Pisidia, and in spring 333 B.C. he advanced along the coastal road to Perga.. [eventually defeating King Darius of Persia].
    - Source https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexander-the-Great

    solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks

    Without reiteration of the great cultural divisions previously addressed (by the Council of Jerusalem) we affirm that the Gospel remains the same for all men and women, namely:

    • about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

    The Apostle Paul continues in his testimony to the Ephesian Elders:

    And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that chains and afflictions await me.

    Paul does NOT say to the Ephesian Elders that he has met them in Miletus, a place away from their home church, to avoid previous problems.

    The Apostle affirms that just as he had been called on his first mission to them, so too Paul is now called toward Jerusalem to endure more suffering in the Name of Jesus Christ.

    And in the Apostle’s usual humble manner he assures them.

    But I do not make my life of any account nor dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.

    Acts of the Apostles 20:24 LSB

    The Apostle Paul now proceeds with his most personal exhortation of these beloved Ephesian leaders by speaking his greatest concerns for the Ephesians once he has departed.

    Remember our Three Years together

    Let us briefly hear as obedient subjects of the Authorized Kings James Version of the Acts of the Apostles:

    Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

    For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

    ACTS 20:28-29 AKJV – Paul’s passing of the baton of leadership to the Ephesian elders

    Indeed, the HOLY GHOST has made YOU, the LOCAL BISHOPS of your flock..


    .. to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. [LSB]

    “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock..

    ACTS 20:28a LSB

    And where will the Church first encounter these ‘savage wolves,’ which the LSB calls these predatory preachers of false gospels?

    .. and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

    ACTS 20:30 LSB

    The APOSTLE PAUL taught in Ephesus for three years.

    “Therefore be watchful, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.

    Acts 20:31 LSB – Paul to the Ephesian elders

    I commend you to God

    Paul’s benediction and blessing are most gracious. The Apostle begins by commendation (note the full meaning linked & outlined here).

    • to place down (from one’s self or for one’s self) with any one
      • to deposit
      • to intrust, commit to one’s charge

    The Apostle then sets forth his own example of these past three years:

    [AKJV] 33 I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. 34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

    “In everything I showed you that by laboring in this manner you must help the weak

    and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said,

    ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

    Acts of the Apostles 20:35 Legacy Standard Bible – Paul’s parting words to the Ephesian elders at Miletus
    And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. - Acts 20:36 LSB the scene of Paul's departure - map from Miletus to Tyre
    The Ephesian elders gathered at Miletus with Paul and the missionaries of his third journey must have pictured the apostles' departure at hand.
    

    Miletus - ruins of the Roman agora where Paul likely would have met the Ephesian elders as the Apostle returned to Jerusalem

    And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

    Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more.

    Acts of the Apostles 20:37-38a – New King James Version

    And they accompanied him to the ship.


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  • Acts 15:39 Barnabas Sails off to Cypress

    Acts 15:39 Barnabas Sails off to Cypress

    Second Missionary Journey[s] – Departures:

    Acts of the Apostles 15:39

    Acts 15:39-40 Barnabas and Mark depart for Cypress while Paul will journey with Silas to Derby
    2 missionary journeys

    39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 

    Paul is stranded in Antioch [see map]

    NEW PLAN:

    • DO NOT PASS GO
    • Go BACK to Jerusalem
    • Bring Silas along to Antioch
    • GO BY LAND
      • From Antioch North through Syria
      • Preach the Gospel to NEW Towns in CILICIA
      • Continue from Derby to the Churches started on the First Missionary Journey

    Acts 15:40 (some weeks later)

    • ~AD 49 or AD 50

    40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 

    41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

    [See the Land route from Antioch to Derbe on the Google Earth Map of the Departures of the Second Missionary Journey]

    Acts 15:39 Barnabas sails for Cypress. Google Earth Map shows where Paul wanted to go (Derby)
    Map of departures of Barnabas and Paul

    16:15 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς πορευθέντες εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἅπαντα κηρύξατε τὸ εὐαγγέλιον πάσῃ τῇ κτίσει

    And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

    Mark 16:15 – command of the Lord Jesus Christ after His Resurrection!

    Talk of JESUS .com

    Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel


    NEXT, God-willing, ACTS 16 – the Second Missionary Journey of the Apostles to the Gentiles – Paul & Silas.

    To be continued…

  • Preaching Good News then a Parting of Paths to the Gentiles

    Preaching Good News then a Parting of Paths to the Gentiles

    First Missionary Journey

    SUCCESS! So after their first missionary journey and years together witnessing the Gospel you wouldn’t expect a parting of paths of these apostles Barnabas and Paul, right?

    map of Mediterranean coastline - Jerusalem, Antioch Syria Cypress & Antioch Pisidia on Paul's first missionary journey

    The Church at Antioch received exciting good news that their First Missionary Journey was successful. Then hey sent a delegation to Jerusalem to clarify some gentile issues in a Council meeting with the Apostles and Church. Barnabas and Paul return to Antioch with a clarification of doctrine and some brothers from the Jerusalem Church.

    The Council at Jerusalem sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers.. down to Antioch.

    Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren – Acts of the Apostles 15:20 – KJV

    Previously:
    
    Acts 14:27 [in Antioch]
    And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they remained no little time with the disciples. But some men came down from Judea [to the church at Antioch] ..
    
    And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. 
    
    When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.
    
    Excerpt from Acts of the Apostles 14:27 - 15:4

    A.D. 49 – Antioch Syria

    Acts 15:

    30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.

    Preaching the Gospel to all in Antioch

    32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. 33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.

    35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

    [Let’s not miss this: Paul and Barnabas had spent some time with the Church in Jerusalem. Now Judas [Barsabas] and Silas ‘exhorted the brethren’ [KJV] in Antioch. And then they return [v.33b]

    Planning a Second Missionary Journey

    Take a look at our  map [cover]: 
    Barnabas and Paul preached the Gospel as they had sailed to Cypress, travelled along the coast and then sailed to Pamphylia where they journeyed to inland cities before sailing back to Antioch. ~A.D. 47-49
    

    36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas,

    “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.”

    37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.

    38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.

    route of sailing from Paphos Cypress to Perga Pamphilia
    Do you recall the incident prior to their inland journey? (It too had caused a parting of paths and as mentioned previously became a time when Mark would write his Gospel.)
    
    Acts of the Apostles 13:13 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem
    

    Barnabas wants to have his young cousin who had served them in Cypress to go with them again. As a reminder, Barnabas had also mentored the younger Saul of Tarsus (Paul) in his early days. But Paul disagreed.

    This sharp disagreement between Christians, brothers who worked side by side proclaiming the Gospel — even suffering severe persecution for the sake of the Gospel of Christ Jesus — Paul and Barnabas would NOW agree to a parting of paths to the gentiles, making separate mission journeys with new travel companions to witness the Gospel in yet more cities and towns of the Roman-ruled world of MOSTLY gentiles.

    39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus..

    Acts of the Apostles 15:39 – Second Missionary Journey of Barnabas and Mark begins.

    AD 49/50 {Between v.39 & v.40} It will take Paul some weeks or perhaps months to reorganize the 2nd mission to the Gentiles as the apostles and friends plan their parting of paths for two missions to MORE new Christians.

    A parting of paths of Barnabas (who sails again to Cypress) & Paul who now plans a 2nd missionary journey to Derbe by land through Syria and Cilicia.
    Cilicia – journey through Syria to Pamphylia

    40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

    Acts of the Apostles 15:40-41 – Second Missionary Journey of Paul and Silas begins.

    4 apostles De-parting on 2 Paths with 1 Gospel

    NEXT: A map of their NEW Missionary Journeys & Parting of Paths to the Gentiles, God-willing.

    ACTS on MISSION To Be Continued…