Chapter 15 - Third Missionary Journey of S. Paul PDF

The Third Missionary Journey of St. Paul Lesson 15  Lesson Objectives To learn and understand about the details of the Third missionary journey of St. Paul  Paul meets Apollos in Ephesus Paul returned to Antioch after his second missionary...

The Third Missionary Journey of St. Paul Lesson 15  Lesson Objectives To learn and understand about the details of the Third missionary journey of St. Paul  Paul meets Apollos in Ephesus Paul returned to Antioch after his second missionary journey. He stayed there for some time. He desired to visit the churches he established. From Antioch he went through the region of Galatia and Phrygia strengthening all the believers, and reached the city of Ephesus. A Jew named Apollos had come to Ephesus and preached the good news. Apollos learned more about Jesus from Aquila. He then went to Corinth. When Paul reached Ephesus, he prayed for the believers and put his hands on them. They all received the Holy Spirit. Paul was in the synagogue for about three months. When some Jews turned against him, Paul went to the lecture hall at Tyrannus and preached there for two years. Here Paul wrote the First letter to the Corinthians.  Riot against Paul in Ephesus God was performing unusual miracles through Paul. Even handkerchiefs and aprons he had used helped to cure the sick and to drive evil spirits. Many magicians also repented and brought their books together and burnt them in public. In Ephesus there was a great temple of goddess Artemis. Silver models of the goddess were made and were sold at great profit. The leader of the silver smiths was Demetrius. Paul had preached that hand made gods are not gods at all. As a result the demand for the idols diminished and this ruined their business. So Demetrius and his friends caused a riot in the city. The town clerk was able to calm down the mob, telling that the believers have not robbed the temple nor said anything against their goddess. After the uproar died down Paul called together the believers and with words of assurance left for Macedonia. Here he wrote the Second Letter to Corinthians.  Paul raises Eutychus to life in Troas After visiting the churches in Philippi, Thessalonica and other places, Paul reached Corinth where he stayed for three months. Here he wrote letters to Galatians, Romans and 2 Thessalonians. He was getting ready to go to Syria. When he discovered that the Jews are plotting against him; he decided to go back through Macedonia. Paul reached Berea, Thessalonica, Philippi and reached Troas in Asia minor and they stayed there for a week. They were to return on a Monday. On the previous day , they gathered together for the Holy Communion. Paul talked to them until mid night as they were leaving next day. A young man named Eutychus got drowsy and fell down from the third story and died. Paul went down and threw himself and hugged him. The young man regained life and they took him home and were greatly comforted.  Elders of the church of Ephesus meets Paul in Miletus From Troas Paul went to Assos by land. From there he sailed to Miletus, not touching Ephesus to save time. The elders of the church at Ephesus went to Miletus and met Paul. He was sad and spoke to them emotionally that he would not get an occasion to see them again He warned them to keep watch on those preaching false doctrine. When he finished he knelt down and prayed. They were all crying as they hugged him and kissed him good-bye. He reached Tyre by sea. There Paul found some believers and stayed with them for a week. By the power of the spirit, they told Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Paul, however , continued his journey and reached Caesarea. Here a prophet, Agabus told Paul that in Jerusalem he will be arrested and handed over to the Gentiles. Paul said he was prepared not only for the arrest in Jerusalem but even to die there for Lord Jesus.  The preaching in Berea & Athens Paul was received warmly by the believers at Jerusalem. Paul visited James, brother of Jesus and chief of the believers in Jerusalem. Other elders also came there and Paul gave a complete report of every thing that God had done among the Gentles through him. Here the third Missionary journey of Paul ended.