The 3 Missionary Journeys of Paul

David “Butch” Bodenheimer

Where Is Paul From?

 Born in Tarsus in Cilicia, modern day Turkey (Acts 21:39) The blue dot denotes Tarsus.

Paul’s Education

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Was a Pharisee (Acts 23:6)

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Schooled in Jerusalem (Acts 22:3)

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Self righteous Zealot (Acts 22:3)

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I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated [a]under Gamaliel, [b] strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.

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Persecutor of Christians (Acts 7:58, 8:3, and 26:9-11)

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Worked as a tent maker, every Jew had to have a trade by which he could live (Jesus a carpenter) (Acts 18:3)

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Where can you find the story of Paul’s conversion?

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Who was the author of the Acts of the Apostles?

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To whom did Luke dedicate the Acts of the Apostles? THEOPHILUS

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Whom did Paul call his “beloved Physician”?

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What is the shortest letter of Paul? LUKE (Titus, Philemon)

Paul’s Conversion 1 

Road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-19, over 134 miles “as the crow flies”)

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vv 1-2 seeking to arrest more Jews

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vv 3-9 Blinded by light from Heaven

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vv 10-19 Visited by Ananias, sight restored

Paul’s Conversion

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Paul’s account to the Jews of his conversion (Acts 22:1-16)

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Paul’s account to King Agrippa (Acts 26:12 20)

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Preaches in the Synagogues (Acts 9:20-22)

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Three years in Arabia (Gal. 1:11-17)

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Returns to Jerusalem (Acts 9:26-29)

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Flees to Tarsus (Acts 9:30)

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One year at Antioch (Acts 11:25) - first called Christians here – about which more another time.

miles in the 1st and 2nd Missionary Journeys!

Journey I

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46-48 AD

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Paul and Barnabas are commissioned by the church in Antioch, Syria as foreign missionaries (Acts 13:1-3).

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Early church always sent 2 missionaries. (Luke 10:1)

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Took a 3rd companion John Mark (Barnabas’ nephew)

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Traveled to 11 cities.

Points In The First Journey

1 Salamis Paphos Perga Antioch Iconium Lystra Derbe

 At Salamis they preach to the Jews (Acts 13:4-5)  At Paphos two things happened • Elymas/Bar-Jesus, a Jewish magician, who posed as a prophet and became blind when Paul denounced him.

• Sergius Paulus was converted (Acts 13:6-12) • Paul took the lead, Barnabas must decrease, Paul must increase (Jon 3:30)  At Perga a 3rd traveler left, John Mark (Acts 13:13) • • Remote, rugged, mountainous, robbers Difficult region even for Rome.

Points In The First Journey

2

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At Antioch : (Acts 13:14-50)

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1st recorded sermon of Paul

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Disciples made among the Jews Disciples made among the gentiles

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Paul and Barnabas persecuted and expelled

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from the city.

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Off to Iconium (Acts 13:51 – 14:6) More Jews and gentiles believed.

Plot brewing again and had to leave the city.

Points In The First Journey

3 • At Lystra : (Acts 14:8-20) • Heals a cripple • They refused to have the crowd worship them, thought they were gods (Zeus/Hermes).

• Paul stoned (his opponents thought) to death, • • At Derbe , won many converts Visited Founding Churches: Lystra, Iconium and Antioch • Reported about their trip

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Final stop at the Council at Jerusalem

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Sent others to the new founded Churches.

The Second Journey

Journey II 

49-52 AD

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Traveled 21 Cities

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In his 1st trip, he was trying out his wings.

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Now went to more distant places and to some of the cities he had already visited to see how they were doing.

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He had a falling out with Barnabas over John Mark and took Silas instead.

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Also met up with and took Timothy . However, Paul writes glowingly of Barnabas later and ultimately sends for John Mark to join him - the very act of Christian love.

Points In The 2nd Journey

1 Derbe and Lystra Thessalo -nica Berea Athens Corinth Ephesus

Points In The Second Journey 1

• Traveling with Silas, Paul • Went to Troas and Barnabas had a disagreement over taking • John Mark (Acts 15:-36-41) Derbe and Lystra (Acts (vv8-11), vision • Sailed to Philippi • Wealthy Lydia (seller of purple) converted by the 16:1-7) • Joined by Timothy, who was recommended by the river • Healed a girl possessed • Owners of the slave girl churches of Lystra and losing money stirred up crowd, Paul and Silas Iconium • Visited various places • Did NOT visit some places (v 7) • let the Holy Spirit lead them.

• imprisoned.

Jailer and others converted. Prayed and sang songs in jail, locks open they did not leave.

• Released.

Points In The Second Journey 3 • At Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9) • Preached in the Synagogue and made converts • Crowd stirred up again arrested some believers (Jason) Paul had to leave the town again •At Berea (Acts 17:10-14) • Preached again in the synagogue, many more believed.

• Jews again sent Paul away •At Athens (Acts 17:15-34) • Greek city full of idols • Philosophers brought him to a meeting • Preached the Gospel of Christ, explained who the unknown god really was.

• At Corinth (Acts 18:1-18) • Preached constantly, stayed with Aquila and Priscilla. (Jews from Rome) • Jews again became abusive • Switched to preaching to the Gentiles (v6) • More people believed • Paul had another vision not to be afraid for God was with him • Stayed there 1 ½ years

Points In The Second Journey

Paul’s Trials Outlined 2 Cor. 11:16-29

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At Ephesus (Acts 18:19-23)

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After preaching, they asked him to stay,

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he declined Would come back if God’s will

 Prison  Flogged in the faith  Without sleep  5 times 40 lashes  Without food  3 times beaten with  Without water rods  Cold  Stoned  Naked  3 times shipwrecked  Danger from rivers, bandits, Jews, gentiles, in the city, in the country, at sea, own brothers

The Third Journey

Points In The 2nd Journey

1 Ephesus Macedonia Troas Miletus Jerusalem

Points In The Third Journey

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At Ephesus

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(Acts 19:1-41) Found some disciples baptized by John

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Baptized them in the name of Jesus.

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They received the Holy Spirit

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Entered synagogue and preached 3 months.

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Stayed 2 more years

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Cured people of illnesses and evil spirits even through

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items he had touched Many confessed their evil deeds, magicians etc.

A riot occurred, Demetrius made silver idols, but business started to die when people converted to Christianity. He roused up the mobs.

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Paul come into conflict with the worshippers of the goddess Artemis.

• At Macedonia (Acts 20:1-5) • Stayed there 3 months.

• At Troas (Acts 20:6-12) • Raised Eutychus from the dead.

• Left the next day with out fanfare, “only the Lord knows your good deeds, need not boast.” • At Miletus (vv13-38) • Sent for Elders of Ephesus • When he left he encouraged them to keep the faith, they wept knowing they would see him no more.

• Trip to Jerusalem (Acts 21:1-17) • Went by ship ½ way, though the trip stopped at Tyre, found disciples and • • stayed 7 days Typical Paul!

Prophecy about Paul’s life’s end. Pleaded with him not to go. Paul was ready • anyway.

Gave a report of his travels

To End Of Life

Jerusalem To End Of Life 1

58 – 66 ad

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Paul arrested

 Angry mob again dragged him from the Temple and tried to kill him  Rescued by a Roman commander, crowd shouted ‘away with him!’ Sound familiar?

 Paul addresses the mob (Acts 22:1-21) his life story  Paul a prisoner familiar again? V 22-23  Paul’s defense (Acts 23:1-10) Sanhedrin, not the Roman court

Jerusalem To End Of Life

2  Paul arrested vv 27 (continued)  God came to him for encouragement v11  Conspiracy against Paul V12-22  Transferred to Caesarea v23-26  Trial before Felix (Roman Governor)  Put off for 2 years while in Prison  New governor Festus new trial  Went to King Agrippa, who almost believed  Set free to go to Caesar

Journey To Rome

1 • Sails to Rome (Acts 27:1-28:31) • Storm, shipwreck • Lands in Malta, heals official’s father.

• After 3 months arrives in Rome • While under Roman guard still preached to the Jewish leaders • House arrest for 2 years

Journey To Rome

2 • Paul’s release, second imprisonment and death • Wish to go to Spain (Rom. 15:24-28) • Returns to Ephesus • In Greece writes to Timothy (I Tim. 1:3) • Taken prisoner again by the Romans (2 Tim. 4:13) • Tradition is that Paul was beheaded.

Important places 

Antioch (in Syria

) Here disciples were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). Agabus prophesied famine (Acts 11:27-28). Great dissension arose at Antioch concerning circumcision (Acts 14:26-28; 15:1-9). In Antioch Paul began his second mission with Silas, Barnabas, and Judas Barnabas (Acts 15:22, 30, 35).

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Antioch (in Pisidia)

On their first mission, Paul and Barnabas taught the Jews that Christ came of the seed of David. Paul offered the gospel to Israel, then to the Gentiles. Paul and Barnabas were persecuted and expelled (Acts 13:14-50).

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Caesarea

Here, after an angel ministered to a centurion named Cornelius, Peter allowed him to be baptized (Acts 10). Here Paul made his defense before Agrippa (Acts 25-26; see also JS-H 1:24-25).

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Damascus

Jesus appeared to Saul (Acts 9:1-7). After Ananias restored Saul’s sight, Saul was baptized and began his ministry (Acts 9:10-27).

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Tarsus

Paul’s hometown; Paul was sent here by the Brethren to protect his life (Acts 9:29-30).

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Cyprus

After being persecuted, some Saints fled to this island (Acts 11:19). Paul traveled through Cyprus on his first missionary journey (Acts 13:4-5), as did Barnabas and Mark later (Acts 15:39).

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Paphos

Paul cursed a sorcerer here (Acts 13:6-11).

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Lystra

When Paul healed a cripple, he and Barnabas were hailed as gods. Paul was stoned and presumed dead but revived and continued preaching (Acts 14:6 21). Home of Timothy (Acts 16:1-3).

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Iconium

On their first mission, Paul and Barnabas preached here and were threatened with stoning (Acts 13:51-14:7).

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Miletus

While here on his third mission, Paul warned the elders of the Church that “grievous wolves” would enter the flock (Acts 20:29-31).

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Athens

Paul, while on his second mission to Athens, preached 21at Mars’ Hill (Areopagus) about the “unknown god

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Ephesus

Apollos preached here with power (Acts 18:24 28). Paul, on his third mission, taught in Ephesus for two years, converting many people (Acts 19:10, 18). Here he conferred the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands (Acts 19:1-7) and performed many miracles, including casting out evil spirits (Acts 19:8-21). Here worshipers of Diana raised a tumult against Paul 

Troas

While Paul was here on his second missionary journey, he saw a vision of a man in Macedonia asking for help (Acts 16:9-12). While here on his third mission, Paul raised Eutychus from the dead (Acts 20:6-12).

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Philippi

Paul, Silas, and Timothy converted a woman named Lydia, cast out an evil spirit, and were beaten (Acts 16:11-23). They received divine help to escape prison (Acts 16:23-26).