•Paul’s Third Missionary Journey•
BK @ Acts chapters 13, 14, and 15 (1st missionary journey)
@ Acts chapters 16, 17, and 18 (2nd missionary journey)
@ Acts 19:1b-2a
Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus (the focal point of his journey), on the coast, where he found several believers. “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them.
Note: see parallel story, “Saul Visits Witch at En-Dor” by Stacy Sweeeney
Story @ Acts 19:1-20
Painting – Rehearsal of the Pas de Loup Orchestra at the Cirque d’Hiver as the lecture hall of Tyrannus | John Singer Sargent

1 CORINTHIANS
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians toward the end of his stay in Ephesus, about AD 53. After writing 1 Corinthians from Ephesus, Paul was compelled to visit Corinth (in Achaia) before going to Jerusalem and Rome.

•A Riot in Ephesus•
Background @ Acts 19:1-20 (Paul’s third missionary journey)
@ Acts 19:20-21
So the message about the Lord spread widely, throughout the province of Asia, and had a powerful effect. Afterward Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. “And after that,” he said, “I must go on to Rome!”
Note – The Temple of Artemis, reckoned as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was located in Ephesus.
Story @ Acts 19:21-41
Painting – Demetrius, a silversmith

•Paul Goes to Macedonia and Greece•
Background @ Acts 19:1-20 (Paul’s third missionary journey)
@ Acts 19:21-41 (a riot in Ephesus)
@ Acts 20:1-2a
When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia. While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through.
Story @ Acts 20:1-6

ROMANS
Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, toward the end of his third missionary journey, AD 54.

2 CORINTHIANS
Paul wrote 2 Corinthians from Macedonia, sometime after sending 1 Corinthians from Ephesus. Paul wrote 2 Corinthians in response to news Titus brought him of the church in Corinth and to further his collection for the poor in Jerusalem.

•Paul’s Final Visit to Troas•
Background @ Acts 19:1-20 (Paul’s third missionary journey)
@ Acts 20:1-6 (Paul goes to Macedonia and Greece)
@ Acts 20:7
After the Passover ended, we boarded a ship at Phillipi in Macedonia and 5 days later joined them (several men traveling with Paul) in Troas, where we stayed a week. On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight. The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps.
Story @ Acts 20:7-12
Painting- Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket, as many flickering lamps or fireworks on New Year’s Day | James Abbott McNeill Whistler

•Paul Meets with the Ephesian Elders•
Background @ Acts 19:1-20 (Paul’s third missionary journey)
@ Acts 20:13-17
@ Acts 20:18-21 (Paul’s accountability report of the years spent in Ephesus)
Paul went by land to Assos, where he had arranged for us to join him, while we traveled by ship. He joined us there, and we sailed together to Mitylene. The next day we sailed past the island of Kios. The following day we crossed to the island of Samos, and a day later we arrived at Miletus. Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus, for he didn’t want to spend any more time in the Province of Asia. He was hurrying to get to Jerusalem, if possible, in time for the Festival of Pentecost. But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him.
Note: To follow you, I need a map!
Story @ Acts 20:13-38
Painting – A Map of the Valdichiana | Leonardo da Vinci

•en Route to Jerusalem•
Background – @ Acts 11:27-30 (Agabus introduced in the famine episode
@ Acts 21:1-6
After saying farewell to the Ephesian elders, we sailed straight to the island of Cos. The next day we reached Rhodes and then went to Patara. There we boarded a ship sailing for Phoenicia. We sighted the island of Cyprus, passed it on our left, and landed at the harbor of Tyre, in Syria, where the ship was to unload its cargo.
Story @ Acts 21:1-14
Note: Agabus was a prophet from Jerusalem who acted out a vivid illustration of what would happen to Paul when he arrived in Jerusalem
Painting – Portrait of Lord Ribblesdale as Agabus, the prophet | John Singer Sargent

~ §tacy §weeney