Transcript Document
Saturday 5th – Tuesday 15th September 2015 The Spreading Flame an 11 day tour of Greece, Patmos, churches of Revelation, and Rome illustrating the growth of the early Church Mike Fuller is a New Wine speaker, international Bible teacher; retired Baptist Minister and teacher of Religious Studies; Tutor in Theology at St Paul’s Theological Centre, Cheltenham; and author of “The Entire Story of the Bible in 50 Minutes”, “A Fool’s Guide to Following Jesus”, and “A Fool’s Guide to Finding Faith”. Saturday 5th September Direct flight from London Gatwick to Thessaloniki, continuing by airconditioned coach to Kavala – the ancient port of Neapolis Acts 16 11 Saturday 5th September Evening free to explore the harbour area Acts 16 11 Sunday 6th September We start the day with a short illustrated talk explaining the growth of the early Christian Church … Acts 1-28 Sunday 6th September … and then continue to Philippi, approaching the city walking on part of the ancient Roman Via Egnetia – just as Paul would have done … Acts 16 12 Sunday 6th September … we see the Agora, where Paul freed the girl affected by an evil spirit… Acts 16 16-21 Sunday 6th September … the site traditionally associated with Paul and Silas’s imprisonment … Acts 16 22-34 Sunday 6th September … and the riverside location of Lydia’s conversion and baptism – where we have our time of Sunday worship. Acts 16 11-15 Sunday 6th September In the afternoon, we take a direct flight to Athens, and our new hotel. After dinner, the evening is free. Acts 17 15 Monday 7th September We see the ancient city of Athens, including the Acropolis and its museum … Acts 17 16-18 Monday 7th September … and the Areopagus, where Paul addressed the philosophers of Athens. The latter afternoon is free. Acts 17 22-34 Monday 7th September In the evening, there will be an (optional) short illustrated talk on philosophy in the ancient world, and its connections with Christian faith. John 1 Tuesday 8th September We leave our hotel in Athens to travel to Corinth … Acts 18 1 Tuesday 8th September … where we see the streets where Paul worked as a tentmaker … Acts 18 3 Tuesday 8th September … evidence of the ancient synagogue … Acts 18 3 Tuesday 8th September … the “Bema”, where Paul was charged with lawless behaviour … … and the Acrocorinth, a temple used for ritual prostitution. Acts 18 3 Tuesday 8th September Among the ruins is an inscription possibly relating to Erastus, one of Paul’s assistants. Acts 18 3 Romans 16 23 2 Timothy 4 20 Tuesday 8th September We see the ancient port of Cenchrae (from which Paul sailed to Ephesus) ... Acts 18 8 Tuesday 8th September … and then take our own ferry from the Athens port of Piraeus to the island of Patmos. Arriving in the early hours, we go straight to our hotel. Wednesday 9th September In the late morning, we start to explore the island of Patmos ... Revelation 19 Wednesday 9th September … seeing the cave associated with John’s Revelation ... Revelation 1-3 Wednesday 9th September … and the monastery of St John. Revelation 1-3 Thursday 10th September Leaving Patmos, we travel by private ferry to the port of Kusadasi … Thursday 10th September … continuing to walk through ancient Ephesus … Acts 19 Thursday 10th September … seeing the library of Celsus … (a little after the New Testament era – but well worth a look!) Acts 19 Thursday 10th September … housing from the time of Augustus … Acts 19 Thursday 10th September … the amphitheatre which was the setting for the riot about the making of shrines to Artemis … Acts 19 23-41 Thursday 10th September … and a communal toilet which might – just possibly – have been used by St Paul! see Philippians 3 8 (in the original Greek) Thursday 10th September Overlooking Ephesus, we visit what may have been the final home of Mary, mother of Jesus … John 19 26 Thursday 10th September … and continue to our new hotel in Pammukale … Friday 11th September Today, we visit four more of the churches which the Risen Jesus speaks to in Revelation: Revelation 1-3 Friday 11th September Laodicaea – where we will see the remains of the aqueduct which might be behind the “luke-warm” image … Revelation 3 14-22 Friday 11th September Philadelphia – where Jesus speaks of pillars in the Temple of God (perhaps related to the area’s frequent earthquakes) Revelation 3 7-13 Friday 11th September Sardis – one of the greatest cities of the ancient world Revelation 3 1-6 Friday 11th September We then continue to our new hotel in Izmir, ancient Smyrna. Saturday 12th September We start the day viewing the excavations at Smyrna. This church – about which the Risen Jesus made no negative comment – was facing persecution. One of the earliest martyrs, Polycarp, was bishop of Smyrna. Revelation 2 8-11 Saturday 12th September After free time for lunch by the water-front in Izmir, we fly (via Istanbul) to Rome, where we will be taken to our new hotel. Sunday 13th September Our introduction to ancient Rome starts with the Forum … Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31 Sunday 13th September … we then see the Mamertine prison, where both Paul, and also Peter, were imprisoned … Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31 Sunday 13th September … and the Titus Arch, which celebrates the 8-15 Romans 1 destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE … 11-31 Acts 28 Sunday 13th September … and the Colosseum – built using wealth taken from the Temple after the conquest of Jerusalem; and possibly used as a place of execution for some persecuted Christians … Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31 Sunday 13th September In the afternoon, we visit the Capuchin Crypt – a 17th century reminder of human mortality! Following this, we will have our time of Sunday worship. Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31 Monday 14th September After lunch, we visit the Basilica of the Holy Cross – which claims to hold a fragment of the True Cross, nails from the cross, thorns from the Crown of Thorns – and St Thomas’s finger. Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31 Monday 14th September We then see the Basilica which is believed to mark the burial place of St Paul … Romans 1 8-15 Acts 28 11-31 Tuesday 15th September We travel to the airport, for our flight home to London Gatwick £1880 includes half board, air-conditioned coach, en-suite rooms with WiFi, gratuities, licensed guides, all entrance fees does not include travel to and from Gatwick, any fuel surcharge, lunches, insurance more info available from www.mikefuller.org.uk Thanks to www.bibleplaces.com for the use of images.