The third missionary journey began about 54 A.D. as Paul left Antioch, Syria to strengthen existing ecclesias and concentrate on the opportunities available in Ephesus.
Prior to his departure into Galatia, word came to him that Judaizers were greatly upsetting the ecclesias there, preaching that Gentiles must be circumcised and keep the law to be saved. This was the same element of false teaching that had tried to overturn the faith in Antioch.
Letter to Galatians
Paul was astonished that the ecclesias were countenancing such teaching. On his recently completed second journey, he had distributed the apostolic letter, written in Jerusalem, settling this very issue.
Against this background, he sent the epistle to the Galatians in order to defend the gospel and his apostolic authority. The gravity of the heresy and extent of his concern is captured in the words, “My little children, with whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you” (Gal. 4:19).
As Paul revisited the Galatian ecclesias (Acts 18:23), he preached again the gospel of freedom in Christ, refuting the Judaizer’s doctrine, and no doubt referring the brethren to his epistle to them.
Apollos
Before Paul arrived at Ephesus to resume his work there, a man named Apollos from Alexandria, Egypt visited Ephesus preaching about John the Baptist and his message concerning Christ. When Paul’s friends, Aquila and Priscilla, heard Apollos’ preaching, they were impressed by his sincerity and ability. At the first opportunity, they privately taught him the gospel concerning Christ. Apollos then became a great asset to the brethren throughout the region as he was outstanding in public confrontations with the Jews, convincing many that Jesus was the Christ (Acts 18:24-28).
Paul arrives at Ephesus
By the time Paul and his party reached Ephesus, Apollos was in Corinth and Aquila and Priscilla had returned to Rome. The work at Ephesus badly needed revitalization as many of the brethren knew only the baptism of John the Baptist. They had not been immersed into Christ nor had they received the Holy Spirit.
Following Paul’s instruction, 12 men were baptized into the name of Christ. After receiving the Holy Spirit, they no doubt became pillars in the ecclesia (Acts 19:1-7).
In the synagogue
Paul preached boldly for three months in the synagogue. When the unbelieving Jewish leaders rejected his message, they set out to malign the Truth in public forums. The apostle reacted by withdrawing his disciples from the synagogue to meet in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
For two years, the Truth went forth in the area. Paul’s influence became great in Asia Minor, especially since God confirmed the gospel by working special miracles at the hand of Paul.
Trouble in Corinth
During this period, Paul received information from Corinth that serious problems were troubling the ecclesia. Factionalism had broken out, with cliques being formed around certain prominent brethren. Some claimed superior knowledge, some discredited any form of specific moral restraint, while others rallied to the Judaizer party. Paul dispatched the first letter to the Corinthians for the purpose of answering specific questions and resolving the difficulties there.
Cliques are ruinous to ecclesial unity and must be studiously avoided. As Paul aptly pointed out, “Christ is not divided.”
Other untenable conditions existed in the ecclesia such as open immorality and brethren suing one another in the pagan courts. Paul knew his work was in grave jeopardy and his concerns are reflected in the epistle written to them.
Exorcism
An interesting incident occurred in Ephesus which served to greatly further the influence of the gospel. A Jewish priest and his seven sons attempted to heal a mentally ill man by means of exorcism. While not true believers, they tried to employ the name of the Lord Jesus to this end.
Their failure became public knowledge as the afflicted man utterly rejected their efforts, attacking them and sending them fleeing from the house naked and wounded.
The situation became widely known so that many who practiced magic publicly burned their books. “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed” (Acts 19:13-20).
Diana of the Ephesians
The temple to Diana of the Ephesians was considered one of the wonders of the ancient world. The sale of religious artifacts honoring her was a major source of income for many in Ephesus. Due to the impact of Paul’s preaching the gospel, this business was seriously eroded and the affected merchants gathered to take action. Their hue and cry resulted in great turmoil in the city which culminated in a town meeting (vs. 23-41). Paul had already made plans to visit Macedonia, so he decided that now was the time (20:1).
Macedonia and Greece
Paul said goodbye to the brethren at Ephesus and headed north to Macedonia and Greece. Little is written about his visit to the ecclesias in this region. Presumably, during his three months in Greece, he helped resolve the problems at Corinth. Throughout the area, he strengthened the brethren, giving them much exhortation (20:1-3).
Paul heads for Jerusalem
Because of potential attacks from unbelieving Jews, Paul did not go straight across the Mediterranean but took a more circuitous route. This took him back to Philippi and Troas.
At Troas, an easily-remembered incident occurred when a young man fell asleep during Paul’s lengthy discourse. He was seated in a window and, slumping into sleep, dropped three stories to the ground below. Miraculously, Eutychus was restored to life and the meeting continued until break of day (20:6-12).
After an emotional goodbye, Paul boarded the ship and headed for Miletus. Upon his arrival, Paul called for the elders of the Ephesian ecclesia for what he anticipated would be the final time they would see each other.
During the meeting, it was discussed that much danger awaited Paul at Jerusalem and he was warned not to go there. Paul acknowledged the danger but expressed his determination to proceed in any case (20:17-38).
Stops at Tyre and Caesarea
On the way to Palestine, Paul’s ship docked at Tyre for seven days which allowed him opportunity to visit the brethren in the area. Again he was warned trouble awaited him at Jerusalem and again he expressed his determination to continue (21:3-6).
The ship’s final stop was Caesarea. While meeting with the ecclesia there, a prophet named Agabus emotionally warned Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Taking Paul’s girdle, he bound his hands with it demonstrating how Paul’s enemies would bind him and turn him over to the Gentiles for punishment.
Paul’s response, however, was that he was “ready not to be bound only, but also to die for the name of the Lord Jesus.” This incident illustrated the great faith and courage of Paul. He would need all the resources of his strength and the comfort of the Lord to endure the painful events awaiting him at Jerusalem (vs. 8-14).
Finally to Jerusalem
Upon arriving at Jerusalem, Paul met with all the elders declaring what things God had wrought among the Gentiles through his ministry. They all glorified God on this account but felt compelled to tell him of the false rumors that were being spread about him in Jerusalem. Paul had made many converts during his three missionary journeys, but he also had made many enemies. Not a few of them were in Jerusalem waiting their opportunity to turn him over to the Romans for punishment. Those events must be considered in another article, God willing.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One