Tag: Third Missionary Jouirney

  • 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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  • Apollos and Paul – Apostles crossing paths

    Apollos and Paul – Apostles crossing paths

    Apollos arrives in Ephesus

    21 But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus.

    [No mention here of Silas, Luke or Timothy also part of this 2nd mission. Email me or comment if you know where these apostles of the church might be as Paul begins his 3rd missionary journey. – Roger@TalkofJesus.com ]

    Notice where Ephesus fits into our A.D. 51-52 timeline as the noted Jewish teacher Saul of Tarsus [Paul] departs and Apollos, another notable Jewish apostle to the gentiles begins working alongside disciples of The Way of the Messiah Jesus.
    
    Priscilla and Aquila (also Jews) remain in Ephesus as Paul sails back to Jerusalem and Antioch, Syria [his home church].
    

    Paul’s Third Missionary Journey Begins

    23 After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

    As you can see on a map more familiar to Saul of Tarsus than 21st century christians who simply see modern Turkey, the Apostle Paul has once again set out to visit the churches of his Second Missionary Journey.

    Ephesus is miles ahead where Paul will journey through the mountains to the Aegean coast where Apollos has already arrived and preached.

    Luke continues his detailed account of Acts of the Apostles by way of introduction to Apollos.

    Who is this Messianic Jew Apollos?

    24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus.

    • He was an eloquent man,
    • competent in the Scriptures.
    • 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord.
      • (Not by Paul, but by other disciples of the risen Christ.)
    • And being fervent in spirit,
    • he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus..
    We'll leave it there for the moment. 
    Pretty good credentials for a new Preacher of Jesus to the Jews in Asia Minor (Ephesus).

    Apollos the Baptist

    Now, perhaps, some controversy might arise from calling apollos a ‘Baptist.’ This is no mere division of denomination of an early church in Asia Minor. No, the Baptist moniker in the year of our Lord 52 would have referred to the preaching of John the Baptist.

    MANY would have heard of the Baptist, perhaps even hearing him preach prior to Herod beheading him.


    A.D. 30 - Twenty some years earlier from Luke's Gospel (yet to be published ten years from now along with ACTS of the Apostles sometime between A.D. 60 and A.D. 62.)

    Gospel of Luke 9:

    Verses 18-21 Legacy Standard Bible

    And it happened that while He [JESUS] was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying,

    “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

    And they answered and said,

    “John the Baptist, and others say Elijah, but others, that one of the prophets of old has risen again.” And He said to them,

    “But who do you say that I am?”

    And Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”

    But He warned them and directed them not to tell this to anyone..


    • AND suppose that Apollos and other disciples had heard The Baptist preach and yet as must have been the case for many never heard the Christ of God preach in Person?
    • What might these disciples of JESUS recall some twenty years later?

    Luke 3:

    [John] .. came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins;

    Now unlike most 21st century christians, these 1st century Jews knew their SCRIPTURE!

    as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

    “THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,
    
    ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD,
    
    MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.
    
    ‘EVERY RAVINE WILL BE FILLED,
    
    AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL WILL BE BROUGHT LOW;
    
    THE CROOKED WILL BE STRAIGHT,
    
    AND THE ROUGH ROADS SMOOTH.

    AND ALL FLESH WILL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD.’”

    Luke 3:6 LSB quoting: Isa 40:5; Isa 49:6; Isa 52:10

    a response to Apollos OR The Baptist OR JESUS

    “But indeed the ax is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore, every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

    And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “Then what should we do?”

    Luke 3:9-10 LSB

    John answered, saying to them all,

    “As for me, I baptize you with water, but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the strap of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

    “His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn,

    but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

    So with many other exhortations he proclaimed the gospel to the people.


    Gospel of Luke 3:18 LSB of the preaching of John the Baptist

    Refining the Preaching of Apollos

    Acts 18 continued in Ephesus

    26 He began to speak 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.

    It is expected that mature believers must instruct new followers of JESUS Christ more accurately. 
    
    Even as Aquilla must have given exhortation to Apollos, the Apostle Paul on the way to Ephesus is most like doing the same as he revisits the new churches of previous missionary journeys (some to whom the Apostles has already written an Epistle).

    27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him.


    God-willing, ACTS of the apostles Paul, Apollos, Aquila and many others — To be continued

    Acts of the Apostles records actions of 1st century Christians sent into all the world focusing on the Twelve and 3 missionary journeys of Paul

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