The Second. Thirty Three Years. That Changed the World

Transcription

1 The Second Thirty Three Years That Changed the World

2 Paul began this trip in about 50 AD. It is now late 51 or early 52 AD. Acts 15:36-16:8 Galatia Revisted Acts 16:9 17:15 Macedonian Mission Acts 17:16-18:18 Achaian Mission (Athens Corinth)

3 Paul in Athens A small church has been established. Acts 17:34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them. Silas and Timothy joined Paul in Athens after being left behind in Berea, although that is not mentioned directly in Acts.

4 Timothy sent to Thessalonica 1 Thessalonians 2:18 For we wanted to come to you--i, Paul, more than once-- and yet Satan hindered us. 19 For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy. 3:1 Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith. 3 so that no one would be disturbed by afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this. 4 For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know. 5 For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain. Silas also sent back to Macedonia (probably all three cities). We know this only from implication in Acts 18:5 But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia.

5 Acts 18:1-4 1 After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, 3 and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers. 4 And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. Paul began this trip in about 50 AD shortly after the edict of Claudius. It is now late 51 or early 52 AD.

6 Corinth Corinth, the largest city in Greece at this time, was the capital of the Roman province of Achaia and was a Roman colony. A prosperous city of commerce. Corinth was about 20 times as large as Athens at this time with a population of over 200,000. The city was infamous for its immorality. It had a large temple to Aphrodite the Greek goddess of love. Her temple employed 1,000 religious prostitutes that stood on the Acrocorinth, a 1,857 foot flat-topped mountain just outside the city.

7 Acts 18:5 5 But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. 1 Thessalonians 3:6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, 7 for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; 2 Corinthians 11:8 I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you; 9 and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so. Philippians 4:15 You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; 16 for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.

8 Paul writes 1 Thessalonians Issues addressed: 1. Immorality 4: Those Who Died 4: Second Coming/Day of the Lord 5:2-11

9 Acts 18:4, And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks 6 But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles. 7 Then he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next to the synagogue.

10 Acts 18: Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized. 9 And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; 10 for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city. 11 And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. During this time, Paul wrote the second letter to Thessalonica.

11 Why had Paul Been Afraid?

12 Acts 18: But while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat, 13 saying, This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law. Junius Annaeus Gallio, (originally Lucius Annaeus Novatus), the older brother of Seneca and was from Spain. He was adopted by Junius Gallio in Rome from whom he received his last name. His brother Seneca, was the tutor to Nero.

13 Acts 18: But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or of vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you; 15 but if there are questions about words and names and your own law, look after it yourselves; I am unwilling to be a judge of these matters. 16 And he drove them away from the judgment seat. 17 And they all took hold of Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and began beating him in front of the judgment seat. But Gallio was not concerned about any of these things. 1 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 To the church of God which is at Corinth.

14 Acts 18: Paul, having remained many days longer, took leave of the brethren and put out to sea for Syria, and with him were Priscilla and Aquila. In Cenchrea (port of Corinth) he had his hair cut, for he was keeping a vow. 19 They came to Ephesus, and he left them there. Now he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he did not consent, 21 but taking leave of them and saying, I will return to you again if God wills, he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church [in Jerusalem], and went down to Antioch. Acts 16:6 They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;

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