Paul’s secondary missionary journey took place AD 49-51, during which time Silas, Timothy, Priscilla and Aquila, and Luke accompanied him to some of the places. The journey began in Asia and was the first time the gospel message spread to Europe. As we journey, we will be reading Scriptures taken from Acts 15:36-Acts 18:22. I pray the stories will come alive for you as we travel together to some of the major cities where Paul spread the good news of Jesus Christ.
This map shows the general location of several stops on Paul’s second missionary journey that we will pilgrimage to during the next few weeks.
Photo courtesy of pickled_newt under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) most places added by hopetoinspireyou.com
As I mentioned last week, a major proponent of Paul’s preaching and letters is God’s grace. God’s grace can be defined as manifestations of His presence, mercy, and goodness communicated through Jesus and the Holy Spirit—God sharing Himself. It is a free gift to each one of us; we are not able to earn it. Grace manifests itself as we become more aware of looking ever Godward to see His goodness. Sometimes we recognize God’s grace in hindsight.
Paul began this adventure from the churches in Antioch, in Syria which borders Turkey, the same starting point as his first missionary journey.
They [Paul & Barnabas] had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. –Acts 15:39-16:2 (NIV)
God’s grace was leading Paul’s journey that took him through Syria, Cilicia, Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium with Silas and Timothy. The church in Jerusalem gave them a letter to share with the churches in the areas that they visited. Paul and Silas had the support of the community of believers who sent them, well aware that God’s grace would lead them.
When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. –Acts 16:7-12 (NIV)
God’s grace is always working in our lives and it inspires our faith when we are open to recognizing it. Because the Spirit would not allow Paul and his companions to preach about Jesus at Mysia, they went to Troas, a seaport on the west coast of Asia. There, the vision God gave Paul led him to know that God’s grace was calling him to bring the news of Christ for the first time to people in Europe. They went from Troas to Neapolis, known today as Kavala, which was the principal port of Philippi.
Modern day Kavala, the principal seaport, that led to Paul preaching the gospel in Europe at Philippi.
It was a humbling experience to be in Philippi and to see the places where the next few events took place over 2000 years ago.
On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us. –Acts 16:13-15 (NIV)
Lydia is the first documented European convert to Christianity, thanks to God’s grace leading Paul. She was already a worshiper of God, but her heart was open to receiving the saving power of salvation in Jesus. She and her household were baptized. Lydia began to serve in love by hosting Paul and his companions at her house.
The site of Lydia’s baptism
Lydia’s baptismal waters
A church to commemorate Lydia’s baptism
While in Philippi, Paul and Silas were accused unjustly of advocating customs unlawful for Romans to accept, and were brought before the magistrates.
The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. –Acts 16:22-24 (NIV)
God’s grace allowed Paul and Silas to endure the humiliation and beating they received as they stood firm in their faith. They knew God was with them and greater than the physical issues they were facing.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” –Acts 16:25-28 (NIV)
God’s grace enabled Paul and Silas to praise God through praying and singing hymns despite their desperate situation of being in jail and bruised. God’s grace also provided an earthquake that allowed them to be free but they acted with righteousness and did not run away.
A most humbling site to behold where Paul and Silas were in prison
The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household. –Acts 16:29-34 (NIV)
God’s grace shining through Paul and Silas allowed for the jailer and his whole family to be granted salvation through Jesus, and they were all baptized that night. God’s grace enabled the jailer to take care of the wounds of Paul and Silas and provided a good meal for them. He came to know the joy of the Lord.
While reading the passages as we went along to the different places, I realized something that I hadn’t really noticed before. Paul and Silas returned to jail that night!
When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.” –Acts 16:35-36 (NIV)
God’s grace allowed Paul and Silas to do the right thing so that neither they nor the jailer would have any fear of recompense for wrong doing. I find that a powerful act of God’s grace.
After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. Then they left. –Acts 16:40 (NIV)
After all that Paul and Silas endured, God’s grace provided encouragement to them as they returned to Lydia’s house, where more brothers and sisters in Christ gathered. It shows the importance of the Christian community in our lives.
Some ruins of ancient Philippi
The stadium ruins in Philippi
Be encouraged this week to…
…reflect on seeing God’s grace leading you.
…deepen your commitment to love and serve Jesus.
…endure persecution with grace.
…live more righteously following God.
REFLECTION:
In what way have you been persecuted for your faith?
What grace from God have you received today?
Honored to proclaim scripture at Lydia’s baptistery
In all my [Paul] prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. –Philippians 1:4-8 (NIV)
