Paul’s Third Missionary Journey
Acts 18:23-21:16
A.D. 52-57
Paul – 4th Century Catacomb Mural Ephesus Theater
• Discussion Questions for Acts 18 – 21:16−Where did Paul spend most of his time
during the third missionary journey and how long did he stay there?
−What were some of the significant events that took place during Paul’s time in the city where he stayed in the most?
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey – Acts 18-21
Third Missionary Journey Map – A.D. 52-56
Third Missionary Journey Map – A.D. 52-56
• Route to Ephesus (Acts 18:23)−Antioch−Galatia−Phrygia
• Apollos (18:24-28)−Apollos, an eloquent speaker, came to
Ephesus−Mighty in scripture and teaching
• Instructed in the way of the Lord• Fervent in spirit.• Speaking and teaching accurately things
concerning Jesus• Only acquainted with the baptism of John.• Speaking out boldly in the synagogue.
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey – Acts 18-21
• Paul’s Third missionary journey (Acts 18:23-21:25)−Priscilla and Aquila teach Apollos
• They explained the way of God more accurately−Went across to Achaia, Corinth (see Acts
19:1)• He helped greatly those who had believed
through grace (see 1 Cor. 1:12; 3:4-6, 22; 4:6; 16:12)
• Powerfully refuted the Jews in public• Demonstrating by the scriptures that Jesus is the
Christ
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey – Acts 18-21
• Paul’s Three Year Mission Effort in Ephesus (19:1-19:41)−Years in Ephesus – A.D. 52-55
• Wrote 1 Corinthians, A.D. 54 (1 Cor. 16:19) & 2 Corinthians, A.D. 55
−Disciples at Ephesus who knew the baptism of John (19:1-7)• Twelve disciples had not received the Holy Spirit when
they believed, not knowing there was a Holy Spirit• Only baptized into the baptism of John• They were baptized in the name of Jesus
−Paul laid his hands on them and the Holy Spirit came upon them.• Spoke in tongues and prophesied
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey – Acts 18-21
• Paul’s Three Year Mission Effort in Ephesus (19:1-19:41)−Preached in the synagogue first (19:8-9)
• Spoke boldly for three months• Reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of
God• Some did not obey and spoke evil of the Way,
Christians were known as "the Way“ −After opposition arose in the Synagogue, the
disciples moved to the school of Tyrannus (19:10)• Two years at the school• All in Asia heard the word of the Lord, Jews and
Greeks
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey – Acts 18-21
• Paul’s Three Year Mission Effort in Ephesus (19:1-19:41)−Mission work and miracles in Ephesus Many
miracles and evil spirits cast out (19:11-20)• Extraordinary miracle and even handkerchiefs and
aprons used−Seven sons of Sceva (19:13-17)
• Seven Jewish, chief priest, attempt to cast out an evil spirit in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches
• Evil spirit answer he knows Jesus and Paul but not them and the evil spirit attacks them
• People hear about the incident and name of Jesus was magnified
−Many in Ephesians respond to the gospel (19:18-20)• Those who believed were confessing and disclosing
their practices• Burned their books of magic worth 50,000 pieces of
silver• The word of the Lord was growing strong and many
were believing
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey – Acts 18-21
• Paul’s Three Year Mission Effort in Ephesus (19:1-19:41)−Writes 1 Corinthians while in Ephesus – A.D.
56−Paul prepares to leave Ephesus and go to
Macedonia and on (19:21-22)• Wants to go to Macedonia and Achaia first• Then to Jerusalem• On to Rome• Sends Timothy and Erastus ahead to Macedonia while
he stayed a little longer in Ephesus
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey – Acts 18-21
• Paul’s Three Year Mission Effort in Ephesus (19:1-19:41)−Riot over the Goddess Artimis & Christian
teaching (19:23-41)• Demetrius, a silversmith, cause a riot (19:23-34)• Made silver shrines Artemis for his business• Got the trade guild together telling them that
Christianity was threatening their business• Ephesus and all Asia, Paul turned away many people
from worship of idols, telling people they are not gods at all.
−Temple of the great goddess Artimis be regarded as worthless (19:27)
• Trade in danger• She was one of the most worshipped deities• One of the seven wonders of the world• Afraid she would lose her status
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey – Acts 18-21
• Paul’s Three Year Mission Effort in Ephesus (19:1-19:41)−Demetrius & silversmith traders stir up some
Ephesians (19:28-34)• Drag Gaius and Aristarchus, two who traveled with Paul,
into the theater• Paul wanted to go talk to the people but the disciples
would not let him• Asiarchs who were friends also urged him not to go out
to the people• Most of the people in the riot did not know the reason
for all the turmoil• Would not let Alexander, a Jew, address them whom
many thought was the reason for the riot - just shouted Great is Artemis
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey – Acts 18-21
• Paul’s Three Year Mission Effort in Ephesus (19:1-19:41)−Townclerk calms the crowd and dismisses it
(19:35-41)• Reassures them of the greatness of the city being the
place where Artemis fell down from heaven• They should be calm as the men the brought forward
are neither robbers of temples or blasphemers of our goddess
• If Demetrius and the craftsmen have a complaint they should bring before the courts in the proper way
• They are in danger of being accused of having a riot• Dismisses the assembly
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey – Acts 18-21
• Two important event to remember in Acts 19:−Many people become Christians in Ephesus−Makers of idols cause a riot because of the fear
of losing business due to Christianity
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey – Acts 18-21
• Paul travels Ephesus to Troas(20:1-5).−Paul calls the disciples together &
encourages them−Goes through Macedonia (one assumes he
was encouraging the churches, i.e. Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea.)• Wrote 2 Corinthians – A.D. 56
−Greece (Achaia) – probably Corinth (see 1 Cor. 16:5)• Spent three months there• Plot of the Jews sent him on his way• Wrote the Letter to the Romans at this time –
A.D. 57−Went back through Macedonia
• Some of those traveling with him went ahead to Troas - Sopater of Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, Gaius of Derbe, Timothy and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia
• Luke says waiting for “us” at Troas so Luke was traveling with Paul
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey – Acts 18-21
• Paul and Luke at Troas (Acts 20:6-12)−Stayed seven days−They meet on the first day of the week in
Troas to break bread• Spoke to them till midnight in an upper room• Eutychus sitting in a window falls asleep and fall
out and is killed• Paul raises him from the dead.• Went on with till day break• Broke bread and ate
−They went away comforted that Eutychus was alive
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey – Acts 18-21
• Paul, Luke & others travel towards Jerusalem (20:13-21:16)−Travel to Miletus (20:13-16)
• Others sailed from Assos while Paul went by land and was picked up at Mitylene
• Sailed next to Chios, Samos, and landed at Miletus−Paul had decided to by-pass Ephesus but stops at
Miletus• Did not want to spend a lot of time in Asia• He wanted to get to Jerusalem by the day of Pentecost
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey – Acts 18-21
• Paul, Luke & others travel towards Jerusalem (20:13-21:16)−Paul’s visit with the Ephesian elders at Miletus
(20:17-38)−Paul reminds the elders of how he ministered to
them (20:17-21)• Serving the Lord with all humility and tears• Suffering trials which came from the Jews• Teaching them publically and from house to house• Teaching both Jews and Greeks• Taught repentance toward God• Taught faith in our Lord Jesus Christ
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey – Acts 18-21
• Paul, Luke & others travel towards Jerusalem (20:13-21:16)−Paul’s visit with the Ephesian elders at Miletus
(20:17-38)−Paul looking toward the future (20:22-25)
• On his way to Jerusalem• Holy Spirit testifies that bonds and afflictions await him• Does not consider his life all that important for himself• It is only important for finish the ministry which he
received from God, to preach the gospel of the grace of God
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey – Acts 18-21
• Paul, Luke & others travel towards Jerusalem (20:13-21:16)−Paul’s visit with the Ephesian elders at Miletus
(20:17-38)−Paul's farewell and word of encouragement to the
elders of Ephesus (20:26-36)• He had declared to them the whole purpose of God• Told to guard the flock, the church, of which the Holy
Spirit had made them overseers which Jesus purchased with his own blood
• Savage wolves will come to destroy the church, men will arise from among you speaking perverse things to draw away disciples away from them so they should be alert
• Commend them in God and His word of grace• Word is able to build them up and give them the
inheritance• He did not do things for money but he worked hard• In the same way they should remember the weak• Remember the words of Jesus, "It is more blessed to
give than to receive"
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey – Acts 18-21
• Paul, Luke & others travel towards Jerusalem (20:13-21:16)−Paul’s visit with the Ephesian elders at Miletus
(20:17-38)−Paul says farewell (20:36-38)
• Knelt down with them and prays with them• They weep and say good-bye• Grieved especially over the him saying he would see
their faces no more
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey – Acts 18-21
• Two important events to remember in Acts 20:−Paul preaches in Troas and raise Eutychus
from the dead.−Paul meets with the Ephesian elders to
encourage them.
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey – Acts 18-21
• Paul and Luke travel to Jerusalem (21:1-16)−The route Miletus, Cos, Rhodes, Patara
(found a ship going to Phonecia, and landed at Tyre in Syria (21:1-2)
−Short stay in Tyre (21:3-6)• Found the disciples and stayed seven days• Disciples were telling Paul through the Spirit not
to go to Jerusalem• Departed, church escorted them out of the city
and they knelt and prayed on the beach and said goodbye
• Departed by ship−Day stop in Ptolemais and greeted the
brethren (21:7)−Stop in Caesarea (21:8-16)
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey – Acts 18-21
• Paul and Luke travel to Jerusalem (21:1-16)−Stop in Caesarea (21:8-16)
• Stayed for some days with Philip, the evangelist• Philip was one of the seven chosen in Acts 6 to
help the Hellenistic Jews• Philip had seven virgin daughters who were
prophetess• Agabus the prophet arrives from Judea and warns
Paul through the Holy Spirit that the Jews at Jerusalem will bind him and hand him over to the Gentiles
• His traveling companions and the local Christians ask him not to go to Jerusalem
• Paul note he not only ready to be bound but to die if necessary in Jerusalem
• People say, "The Lord's will be done."• Lodged with a disciple named Mnason as they
traveled on
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey – Acts 18-21
Travel to Ephesus
Ephesus: Theater
Paul “fought with beasts at Ephesus” (1 Cor. 15:32)
City of Ephesus• City of Ephesus
−Historical development• Greek colony originally• Called an emporion – “way in” for
trade inland from the harbor there• The first temple of Artimis destroyed
356 B.C., night Alexander the Great was born
• Alexander Great contributed a great deal to building the new temple – 334 B.C.
• Romans would control this area – 133 B.C.
• By N.T. time the harbor had be silted up and no usable
City of Ephesus• City of Ephesus
−Political and economic background• Foremost city in Asia Minor• Approximately 250,000 in population
• Large trading center – three main roads brought trade
• Free city• Panionian games
CITY OF EPHESUS
Column lined road that led to the harbor (now 6 miles away)
City of Ephesus• City of Ephesus
−Religiously• Center of the emperor cult• Temple of Artemis (Diana)• Patron Goddess of the city• One of the seven wonders of the world
• Larger than Pantheon (largest Greek building)
• About 360 feet long• The silversmiths made figures of Artemis and felt threatened by the new teaching about Christ.
Artemis (Roman – Diana)Artemis was also called Cynthia, from
her birth place, Mount Cynthus in Delos. She was Apollo's twin sister, daughter of Zeus and Leto. She was one of the three maiden goddesses of Olympus: the pure maiden Vesta, gray-eyed Athena who cares but for war and the arts of the craftsmen, and Artemis, lover of woods and the wild chase over the mountain.
She was the Lady of Wild Things, Huntsman-in-chief to the gods, an odd office for a woman. As a huntress her favorite animal was the stag, because its swiftness gave the best opportunity for her method of capture, which was by her silver bow and arrows and speed of foot.
Marble Street to Temple
Artemis (Roman – Diana) Temple of Artemis
– Two kilometers outside Ephesus– Largest marble temple ever built– Controlled financial affairs– Bank for wealthy– Invulnerability of attacks part of
sacredness– Place of refuge and a school– Loaned money, collected taxes,
owned land– Thirty ancient sites located but
Ephesus central– Destroyed in A.D. 260 when Goths
sacked Ephesus
Temple of Artemis
“Ornament of the whole Province of Asia”
Statue of Artemis – Nature Goddess
Artimis cult was associated a
meteoric stone, the “image which
fell down from Jupiter.”
Nature goddess associated with carnal fertility rituals, orgiastic rites and religious prostitution
Ruins: Temple of Artemis
City of Ephesus−New Testament background
• Paul visited on 2nd missionary journey
−Left Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus
−They taught Apollos• Third missionary journey, Paul stayed over two years
−Gospel spread throughout Asia Minor (Acts 19:10)
−Paul had a close relationship with Christian leaders their (20:17-38)
• Timothy left in Ephesus by Paul (2 Tim.)
• Ephesus mentioned in Rev. 2
Ephesus: Harbor Street
Ephesus: Agora (Market)
Ephesus: Agora
Ephesus: Odeon
Ephesus: Terraced House
Ephesus: Temple of Domitian
Ephesus: Brothel
Ephesus: Public Toilets
Ephesus: Celsus Library
Ephesus: Gymnasium
Ephesus: Temple of Hadrian
Ephesus: Memius Monument
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