Pauline Epistles
Read Chapter III and peruse through the Book of Acts of the Apostles – Paul, the Man, the Missionary, and the Martyr.
- 1. Read Acts 7:54-8:1. What was the role of Saul (Paul) in this story of the stoning of Stephen?
Paul’s role in Steven’s stoning was a keeper of the clothes for the people who raged against Steven. He also consented to the death.
- 2. According to Acts 9:1-30, who authorized Paul to persecute the Church?
He received letters of persecution from the chief priests and the Sanhedrin, in Acts 9; 1-2, to carry out persecutions looking to find any of the Way, in the Damascus synagogues.
- 3. Read Acts 23:16 and Acts 22:3 and explains what you learn from there.
In the second verse, Paul finds himself mobbed in Jerusalem, by the loyal Jewish fanatics of the Mosaic Law, and he asks the officer to allow him to speak to the raging mob. They accused him of going and preaching against their customs, law, and Temple. They also accused him of defiling the Temple by bringing the inner courts his gentile friends. In the first verse, in Acts 23: 16, Paul’s family relative is mentioned. The sisters’ son has overheard the plot to ambush Paul’s convoy and kill him. He, later on, reported it to the officers in charge of the barracks.
- 4. What places did Paul visit, and with whom? And what did he accomplish?
- The 1st Missionary journey (Acts 13:2-14:28)
In the first missionary journey, Paul set off from Antioch alongside Barnabas and John Mark. The Holy Spirit had inspired the Church’s leadership, and upon His leading, the Church at Antioch sent them out. They headed to Seleucia, then to the island of Cyprus. They arrived in Salamis, and taught in the synagogues. I went to Paphos, crossing over the whole island. Found a magician, a false prophet called Bar Jesus, preached to the Proconsul, Sergius Paulus, and judged the magician. They went to Perga in Pamphylia, John returned to Jerusalem, and they went on to Pisidian Antioch from Perga. They taught there in the Synagogue on Sabbath, many God-fearing Jews and proselytes, wanted to hear more. The next Sabbath in the same city, the Jews were envious of the assembled group and stirred up reviling accusations. Paul and Barnabas courageously declared their commission to the Gentiles henceforth. The Gentiles received them warmly, and the word spread around. But the Jews stirred up persecution against them, through the political leadership, and they were thrown out of the region. The same happened at Iconium; they fled to Lystra and Derbe’s cities upon learning of plots to stone them. A lame man was healed at Lystra, and the people sacrificed to them, thinking that they were the Greek and Roman gods in the flesh. The opposing Jews came to them from Antioch and Iconium; after persuading the crowds, they stoned Paul, and assuming him dead, went off. The disciples surrounded him, and he got up, went back into the city, and left for Derbe, the next day. They returned to Antioch, almost two years later since they set off, and a distance of around 1500 miles.
- The 2nd Missionary journey (Acts 15:36-18:22)
Paul chose to go back alongside Barnabas to visit the churches they ministered to in the first journey. But because of Barnabas’ insistence to carry along John Mark, they differed and went separate ways. Paul left with Silas and headed through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. He came to Derbe and Lystra and met Timothy. Upon hearing Timothy’s good testimony amongst the believers in Lystra and Iconium, he took him, and circumcised him, since his father was Greek. Heading through Phrygia and the Galatia region, they were forbidden to preach Asia’s word by the Holy Spirit. They came to Mysia, and the same happened when they tried to get into the region of Bithynia. So they went to Troas. From there, Paul received a vision of a man in Macedonia. They headed over through Samothrace, then Neapolis, then to Philippi. Lydia was converted in that city, and a slave girl possessed was delivered, upon her declarations about Paul for several days. This act resulted in their imprisonment, where at midnight, they were set loose from the jail chains alongside Silas by the angel of God. The jailer was converted, and the city’s leadership was fearful and pleaded with them to go away. They passed through Amphilopolis and Apollonia, and came to Thessalonica. Teaching some unpersuaded Jews in the synagogue stirred up trouble, but a large company of the leading women and devout Greeks believed. They attacked Jason’s house, and by night Paul and Silas were led away by the brethren to Berea. They were fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, and the trouble was stirred up again by Jews. Paul left for Athens, and left at Berea, Timothy and Silas. At Athens, he commanded the two to join him. Athens was poor soil for the gospel because of their selling out to idols, and he moved to Corinth. He found Aquila and Priscilla, and had them converted. Many in the city were converted. He continued for a total of eighteen months. At Gallio’s reign, Paul was brought before the seat of judgment. He went then to Ephesus, after cutting his hair at Cencherea, because of his vow. He landed at Caesarea and headed to Antioch. It is estimated that the journey took three years and covered about 3,500 miles.
- The 3rd Missionary Journey (Acts 18:23-21:17)
Leaving home church at Antioch, Paul revisited the churches of Galatia and Phrygia. Apollo’s work had laid the foundation for Paul’s ministry there in Ephesus. He baptized people from John’s baptism into the Holy Spirit. For two years, those in Asia heard the Good News. He did unusual miracles, people burnt their items of sorcery, and he witnessed the opposition of Demetrius. He departed from Ephesus to Macedonia, came to Greece, and stayed there for three months. He understood the plot against him, by the Jews, and he returned through Macedonia to sail to Syria. He preached at Troas, a midnight sermon, and raised the young man, Eutychus back to life after falling away. They went to Assos, then to Mitylene, Samos, Trogyllium, and Miletus. Here he gave a farewell address to the Church elders. He went then to Cos, Rhodes, Patara, and then Tyre. After seven days, he came to Ptolemais, he came to Caesarea, and there he was warned by the Prophet Agabus of the impending arrest. He then went to Jerusalem.