PAUL’S SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY
This is our second study on the Journeys of Paul. We look at Paul’s second missionary journey 15:36 to Acts
On the first journey, Barnabas had been Paul’s main companion. On this second missionary journey, he chooses Silas for that role. Paul and Barnabas had intended to go together, but they disagreed about taking John Mark with them. John had quit the first missionary journey early apparently to Paul’s great displeasure. To resolve the matter, Barnabas took John Mark with him and they sailed to Cyprus, while Paul took Silas with him, and they started north over land.
In 15:32-34) we see that Judas and Silas, who were prophets themselves, were preaching in Antioch. Silas and Judas were sent back to Jerusalem in peace from their brethren in Antioch. However, Silas thought it would be better to stay longer (Acts
Later we see where Paul is planning his second Journey
Paul talks over with Barnabas his ideas for a second journey. But there is a disagreement about taking John Mark as a helper. Because he had deserted them on the first journey
The contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other.
Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed to Cyprus. Paul chose Silas and went to Syria and Cilicia
The first two journeys start and end in Syrian Antioch.
Before the second Journey begins, the evangelists have a private meeting with the Apostles James, Peter and John about the circumcision question They agree that circumcision is not required for Gentiles to be saved. The ministry of Paul and Barnabas is confirmed.
The Apostles, Elders, and the whole church agree with James that this is not required. The conference has Judas and Silas travel with the two evangelists to Antioch to deliver a letter, written by James, summarizing what was decided in Jerusalem regarding the circumcision question
In late summer 50 A.D., Paul takes Silas with him to Tarsus. From there they travel to Derbe and It is in Lystra that he meets who would become his frequent traveling companion, fellow laborer in spreading the gospel, and his best friend. 16:1; I Timothy 1:2,
NOTE: BRIEF LOOK AT TIMOTHY
When Paul met Timothy, he was living in the city of Lystra. Timothy’s father was a Greek (a Gentile) and his mother was a Jewess. Timothy accompanied Paul on most of his second journey, served him in Ephesus, and was with him during his time in a Roman prison. Paul expressed his love for Timothy, as well as praising the faith of his relatives, in the last epistle he would write before his death (II Timothy).
The Apostle has Timothy circumcised He then takes him and Silas to chuches in the regions of Galatia (Iconium) and Phrygia (Antioch) to deliver the decision rendered at the Jerusalem conference
As Paul journeys to the northwest of Antioch, he desires to preach the gospel in western Asia. God’s spirit, however, forbids him to do so
The group continues to travel north toward the region of Mysia. Paul wants to travel east to the province of Bithynia but again is forbidden to do so
The group instead travels to the Port City of Troas on the Aegean Sea. It is in Troas that Luke, the writer of the Book of Acts, joins them. God then gives him (Paul) a vision of a man in Macedonia (Greece) begging him (Paul) for help.
Paul and his traveling companions immediately board a ship, sail near the island of Samothrace (Samothracia), then arrive at Neapolis
From Neapolis, the group goes to where a woman named Lydia hears Paul’s preaching. On Pentecost in 50 A.D., Lydia is baptized along with her entire household
While in Philippi, Paul cast a demon out of a female slave Her masters, however, angry that they have lost the ability to make more money from the slaves demonic divination, stir up the city against him (Paul) and Silas. The two evangelists are arrested, beaten, and put in prison Soon after arriving in jail, a miraculous earthquake causes all the cell doors to open and the bonds of all prisoners to be loosed. This event leads to the conversion of the prison guards.
A freed Paul and Silas, along with Timothy and Luke, travel through the cities of Amphipolis and Apollonia and arrive in Thessalonica In Thessalonica, Paul visits a Jewish synagogue and for three consecutive sabbaths (Saturdays), explains why Jesus is the Old Testament prophesied Savior of mankind
Although many believe what is said, certain Jews, envious of the gospel’s success, form a mob and start a riot The riotous crowd goes to the house of Jason, seeking Paul and Silas. When they are not found, the crowd drags Jason and some brethren to the local civil magistrates and accuses them of wrongdoing In a short time, however, Jason and the brethren are let go.
Paul and Silas preach in a synagogue in The Bereans are not only willing to listen to what they have to say, they also verify what is preached against the Old Testament scriptures Many Bereans come to believe the gospel. Unfortunately, Jews from Thessalonica arrive in the city seeking to cause more trouble for Paul Paul immediately leaves for the coast and sets sail for Athens, while Silas, Timothy, and the rest of the party stayed in Berea In Athens, he requests Timothy and Silas come to the city immediately
While waiting in Athens for his traveling companions, Paul preaches the gospel to any Athenian who would listen. Some who hear his message are Jews and devout people. Others are Epicureans (followers of Epicurus), who believe the highest aim of man is to seek a pleasant life. Stoics also listen to him. They believe that man’s happiness consists of bringing himself into harmony with the universe. After hearing some of Paul’s message, the Epicureans and Stoics take him to the Areopagus or Mars as the Romans call it, to further explain what he teaches
On Mars Hill, Paul uses an altar he saw dedicated to “An unknown god” as a springboard for teaching the crowd about the “REAL” God that “can” be known 17:19,
In Autumn 52 A.D., Paul leaves Athens and travels to Corinth. It is in Corinth that Paul meets Priscilla and Aquila. Since both Paul and the couple make a living as tentmakers, he stays at their house. He preaches the gospel every Sabbath in the synagogue. Silas and Timothy join him in Corinth The synagogue eventually splits and a new church is formed. After the split, Paul stays and teaches in Corinth for a year and a half.
In the winter of 51 A.D., Paul is brought before the judgment seat of Gallio and is released. He remains in Corinth until the spring of 52 A.D., when he then travels to the port city of In the city he has his head shaved due to a vow he took He soon boards a ship and travels to Ephesus with Priscilla and Aquila. In Ephesus, he preaches in a synagogue but soon leaves the couple behind so that he can be in Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Tabernacles He sails from Ephesus to then travels to Jerusalem. After keeping the feast, he returns to Antioch