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Paul’s Missionary Journeys

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Significant Events in Paul’s First Missionary Journey*

48 A.D. From Antioch Paul, Barnabas and John (surnamed Mark) begin their first journey. They travel to Cypress (Cyprus) and Perga. John Mark leaves Paul and Barnabas at Perga and returns to Jerusalem (see Acts 13:13). After Perga Paul/Barnabas journey to Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. Agrippa II (see Acts 25) made king of Chaleis.
49 A.D. Paul and Barnabas go back to visit the same places they did in 48 A.D. and return to Antioch. Cumanus made procurator of Judaea (about this time)
* Chronology and Events taken from The Life & Epistles of St. Paul by Conybeare and Howson

Significant Events in Paul’s Second Missionary Journey*

50 A.D. Paul and Barnabas attend the “Council of Jerusalem” (see Acts 15). Caraetaeus captured by the Romans in Britain. Cogidunus (Father of Claudia?, See 2 Tim. 4:21) assists the Romans in Britain.
51 A.D. Second missionary journey begins. Paul and Barnabas travel to Antioch. At Antioch John Mark (who left them at Perga on their first missionary journey) wishes to rejoin Paul/Barnabas. A disagreement ensues between Paul and Barnabas about whether to allow Mark to come with them. The argument is so heated that Paul finally decides to take Silas with him to Tarsus, Derbe, Lystra, Iconium and Antioch in Pisidia. Barnabas takes John Mark and travels to the island of Cypress (Cyprus). At Lystra Paul meets Timothy, who accompanies him on the rest of his journey.
52 A.D. Paul/Silas/Timothy travel to Troas, Philippi, Thessalonica and Beroea (Berea). Jews from Thessalonica come to Beroea and stir up the people against Paul. He is sent by sea to Athens. Silas and Timothy stay in Beroea for a time. It is possible Timothy later travels to Athens, meets Paul, and is sent to revisit Thessalonica. Paul travels to Corinth and writes
1 Thessalonians. Timothy and Silas are with him. Paul meets Aquila and Priscilla. Claudius expels the Jews from Rome (see Acts 18:2)
53 A.D. Paul stays in Corinth and writes 2 Thessalonians. The tetrarchy of Trachonitis given to Agrippa II. Felix made procurator of Judaea54 A.D. Paul, Aquila and Priscilla leave Corinth in the Spring and arrive at Ephesus. Aquila and Priscilla stay in Ephesus as Paul travels on to Jerusalem. Paul arrives in the city in the Summer (Pentecost). He then goes to Antioch. Death of Claudius and accession of Nero.
* Chronology and Events taken from The Life & Epistles of St. Paul by Conybeare and Howson

Significant Events in Paul’s Third Missionary Journey*

54 A.D. Paul begins his third missionary journey. He leaves Antioch and goes to Ephesus. Priscilla and Aquila are already in Ephesus and make contact with Apollos. After teaching him thoroughly about Christ, they and the brethren send Apollos to Corinth.
55 A.D. Paul continues to stay in Ephesus.
56 A.D. Paul continues to stay in Ephesus.
57 A.D. In the Spring at Ephesus Paul writes 1 Corinthians. In Summer he leaves Ephesus for Troas. He proceeds to Philippi. It is in Philippi during the Autumn that it is believed Paul wrote II Corinthians. Titus arrives in the city. In the Winter Paul goes to Corinth, where he writes the book of Galatians.
58 A.D. In the Spring Paul writes the book of Romans. Paul leaves Corinth and goes to Philippi and Miletus. In the summer (Pentecost) Paul arrives in Jerusalem. He is arrested and sent to Caesarea.
* Chronology and Events taken from The Life & Epistles of St. Paul by Conybeare and Howson

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Follow Me

1 Corinthians 11:1 –
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Ephesians 5:1 –
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

Many times, the Apostle Paul admonishes us to follow him as he followed Christ. He wrote of us being Changed to the Image of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

So how do we follow Christ/Paul? We must know who and what the man Jesus Christ was as He walked on the earth in a human body and how Paul followed him.

Christ was HUMBLE —– Matthew 18:4; Phil 2:3-11
Paul was — 2 Corinthians 12:21
I must be — Colossians 3:12
Christ was FORGIVING —– Luke 23:34
Paul was — 2 Corinthians 2:10
I must be — 2 Corinthians 2:7; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13
Christ was ZEALOUS —– John 2:17; 9:4
Paul was — Galatians 1:14
I must be — Titus 2:14; 1 Corinthians 14:12
Christ was PRAYERFUL —– Matthew 14:23; 26:36
Paul was — Ephesians 1:16
I must be — 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Romans 12:12
Christ was COMPASSIONATE —– Matthew 9:36; 14:14
Paul was — 2 Corinthians 7:16; Philippians 2:17
I must be — Romans 12:15
Christ was UNRATALIATORY —– Matthew 26:59-68
Paul was — Romans 5:1; 8:6
I must be — Romans 12:8; 17-21
Christ was SUBMISSIVE —– Matthew 6:10; Luke 22:42
Paul was — 1 Corinthians 4:21; Galatians 6:1
I must be — Ephesians 5:21
Christ was SERVING —– Matthew 20:28
Paul was — Romans 1:9; 7:5
I must be — Romans 7:6; Galatians 5:13; Colossians 3:24
Christ was GIVING —– Matthew 20:28
Paul was — Romans 12:13; 16:4
I must be — Galatians 6:7-9
Christ was BURDENED —– Luke 19:41
Paul was — 2 Timothy 2:9; 4:16
I must be — Galatians 6:2

Then with the Apostle Paul we may say “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:20-21)

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Paul’s Travels

FACT SHEET of Paul’s Travels

During Paul’s missionary journeys, the Apostle spent more than two decades traveling in the eastern Roman empire. The record of Paul’s travels, found in the Acts of the Apostles, is discovered to be astonishingly accurate when tested against the many political, social, and geographical details connected with the cities and provinces through which he passed.

Paul’s Trial Before Gallio

Archeologists have discovered a first century inscription at Delphi, in central Greece, that refers to Gallio as the Roman Proconsul of Greece. The year corresponds to 52 AD, which is also the approximate date of Paul’s trial before Gallio in Corinth.

Paul’s Shipwreck on Malta

Luke records that the ship drifted for fourteen days in the gale and then wrecked on the island of Malta, halfway across the Mediterranean. His account reads like a tall tale. However, the meteorological and nautical evidence demonstrates, and in a rather spectacular fashion, that these events must have occurred just as Luke records them.

Paul at Ephesus

In the ancient world, Ephesus was known both as a center of magic and as a university town. However, the city was most famous because it possessed of one of the seven wonders of the ancient world: the temple of the goddess Artemis, or Diana.

Erastus: City Treasurer of Corinth

During an archeological excavation of Corinth in 1929, a first century pavement was uncovered which contains the following inscription: “Erastus, Procurator and Aedile, laid this pavement at his own expense.” Was this the Erastus who was the companion of Paul?

The Riot at Lystra

According to Acts, the crowd referred to Barnabas as Zeus and Paul as Hermes. Archeological evidence reveals that this Zeus-Hermes combination was the local cult of the city of Lystra.

Felix replaced as Procurator

This passage presents an historical difficulty. According to Josephus, Felix was brought to Rome for trial, but escaped punishment because of the influence of his brother Pallas. However, according to the Roman historian Tacitus, Pallas was removed from power by the Emperor Nero in 55 AD, the year before Paul’s Judean trial. Does this call the Acts’ account of Felix’ return to Rome into question?

Paul’s Companions at Corinth

If the eight individuals named by Paul in his letter to Rome had been listed by Luke as accompanying Paul to Jerusalem on his final journey to that city, we would strongly suspect that Luke had simply copied the names from Paul’s Roman letter. However, only two names appear on both lists. In the case of one individual, Sopater, this is his only appearance in the New Testament.

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Baptism – According to Paul

1 Corinthians 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
1 Corinthians 1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
1 Corinthians 1:15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
1 Corinthians 1:16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

Baptism was practice by Paul but not for Salvation. Only as a sign of salvation, and he abandoned this as he grew in Grace.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, Not of works, lest any man should boast.
These among many other scripture references make this very clear.
Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
1 Corinthians 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Ephesians 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

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Revelation – Reveal

The last Book in the Bible is ‘the REVELATION of Jesus Christ’ and it was written by the Apostle John. It was written to warn Israel (and all who read it) of events still to come: Tribulation, Armageddon, Millennium and the Great White Throne.

The Apostle Paul (to the Believers – The Church) was also given revelations about the Church age and events to come before the Tribulation..

REVELATION noun 1. a surprising and previously unknown fact, especially one that is made known in a dramatic way. 2. the divine or supernatural disclosure to humans of something relating to human existence or the world.

After Saul met the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-6,22:5-10,26:12-18) and later became Paul, the Lord Jesus revealed to him Mysteries (revelations) never before revealed to man.
Romans 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
1 Corinthians 14:6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
1 Corinthians 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
2 Corinthians 12:1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
Galatians 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 2:2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
Ephesians 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Ephesians 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

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Last Days

Isaiah 2:2 During the Millennium
In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s Temple will be the highest of all mountains. It will be raised higher than the hills. There will be a steady stream of people from all nations going there.
Hosea 3:5 During the Millennium
After this, the people of Israel will come back and look for the LORD their God and for David their king. In the last days they will come to honor the LORD and his goodness.
Micah 4:1 During the Millennium
[ The Law Will Come From Jerusalem ] In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s Temple will be on the highest of all mountains. It will be raised higher than the hills. There will be a steady stream of people going there.

Acts 2:17 God says: In the last days I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will have special dreams.
2 Timothy 3:1 [ Many People Will Stop Loving God ] Remember this: There are some terrible times coming in the last days.
Hebrews 1:2 And now in these last days, God has spoken to us again through his Son. He made the whole world through his Son. And he has chosen his Son to have all things.
James 5:3 Your gold and silver will rust, and that rust will be a proof that you were wrong. That rust will eat your bodies like fire. You saved your treasure in the last days.
2 Peter 3:3 It is important for you to understand what will happen in the last days. People will laugh at you. They will live following the evil they want to do.
Daniel 8:19 He said, “Now, I will explain the vision to you. I will tell you what will happen in the future. Your vision was about the end times.
Daniel 8:17 So Gabriel, the angel who looked like a man, came to me. I was very afraid and fell down to the ground. But Gabriel said to me, “Human, understand that this vision is about the time of the end.”
Daniel 11:35 Some of the wise people will stumble and make mistakes. But the persecution must come so that they can be made stronger and purer until the time of the end. Then, at the right time, that time of the end will come.
Daniel 11:40 At the time of the end, the southern king will fight a battle against the northern king. The northern king will attack him with chariots and soldiers on horses and many large ships. The northern king will rush through the land like a flood.
Daniel 12:4 But you, Daniel, keep this message a secret. You must close the book and keep this secret until the time of the end. Many people will go here and there looking for true knowledge, and the true knowledge will increase.
Daniel 12:9 He answered, Go on about your life Daniel. The message is hidden. It will be a secret until the time of the end.
Joel 2:1 [ The Coming Day of the Lord ] Blow the trumpet on Zion. Shout a warning on my holy mountain. Let all the people who live in the land shake with fear. The LORD’s special day is coming; it is near.
Joel 2:31 The sun will be changed into darkness, and the moon will be as red as blood. Then the great and fearful day of the LORD will come!
Amos 5:18 Some of you want to see the LORD’s special day of judgment. Why do you want to see that day of the LORD? His special day will bring darkness, not light.
Obadiah 1:15 The Day of the LORD is coming soon to all the nations. And the evil you did to others will happen to you. The same bad things will fall down on your own head.
Acts 2:20 The sun will be changed into darkness, and the moon will be as red as blood. Then the great and glorious day of the Lord will come.

2 Thessalonians 2:2-3 Don’t let yourselves be easily upset or worried if you hear that the day of the Lord has already come. Someone might say that this idea came from us—in something the Spirit told us, or in something we said, or in a letter we wrote. Don’t be fooled by anything they might say. That day of the Lord will not come until the turning away from God happens. And that day will not come until the Man of Evil appears, the one who belongs to hell.

Revelation 1:10 On the Lord’s Day, the Spirit took control of me. I heard a loud voice behind me that sounded like a trumpet.

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What’s Next – 3 Wars

Rapture - Trinity Presbyterian Church - Charlotte, NC

The next event for the Church Age Believers is the Rapture:
2 Thessalonians 2, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11, 1 Corinthians 15:51-57
The next events for Israel are:
               1^st War from the South (of Israel):
               Note: This is the lands of EGYPT, SYRIA, IRAQ, JORDAN, and LEBANON
Obadiah 1:15,18-19
Isaiah 17:1,3-4, 12-14
Joel 3:19
Ezekiel 29:9-12
Zephaniah 1:14, 2:8-9
Isaiah 34:5,9-10
                2^nd war from the North (of Israel):
Ezekiel 36,38,39
                Note: This is the lands of Russia and her allies
Ezekiel 38:1-3   Gog (title of a man) Magog (Land of Russia)
Ezekiel 38:5-7,8-10,15-16,18-19,21-22,23
Ezekiel 39:2,4,7
Peace treaty with “the prince” (Antichrist), for 0ne week (7 years)
Daniel 9:26-27, Matthew 24:15
     3.5 years of Peace (midst of the week)
     Temple Rebuilt (must be rebuilt for this to happen)
    Realization that “the prince” (Antichrist) is not God
Matthew 24:16,26
3^rd war, Armageddon
(Return of Christ Matthew 24:30, Revelation 1:7)
Note: This is the lands of China and her allies
Obadiah 1:15
Zechariah 12:9-11, 14:1-2,12
Revelation 9:15-16, 16:12-16
1000 years of peace with Prince of peace as KING
Revelation 20:4
Final Satanic Battle                   Gog (title of a man) Magog (Land of Russia)
Revelation 20:7-9
Great White Throne Judgement
Revelation 20:11-15

ETERNITY …

The Church may see the 1^st war, and even the 2^nd war, but the church will be gone before the Peace Treaty is signed.

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For an in-depth study of the above read John P. McTernan’s book “As AMERICA has done to ISRAEL”.
Also see his blog “John McTernan’s Insights”.

What Must I Do to be Saved?

Usually, for an individual to ask this question, they are in trouble, in need or lost. And the Philippian jailer who asked Paul and Silas this question, realized he was lost. And of course they gave him a direct answer.

Acts 16:31-32 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

What exactly did they mean to Believe and be Saved? Let’s look into some writings of Paul. In his letter to the Church at Corinth he explained the Gospel:

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

The Gospel which can save us is to believe Christ Jesus Died (on the cross) for our sins, according to the scripture

was buried, according to the scripture

and on the third day rose alive, according to the scripture

Victory over death!

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Shall Be Saved

There is (and always has been) a lot of confusion about what one must do to be saved in this age of grace. Then again there are those who don’t believe they have a need to be saved. But for the ones who want to be saved from an eternal damnation, which everyone faces after death (Hebrews 9:27), a study of God’s word, just looking at references of where SHALL BE SAVED are used will reveal just how one can (must) be saved.

All references found in the Old Testament speak to the Jew (Israel):

Numbers 10:9 has to do with Israel under God’s protection in the time of WAR. And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the Lord your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.

In Psalm 80 it again appears this has to do with the physical protection of Israel as they serve God:
80:3 Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
80:7 Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
80:19 Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

Proverbs 28:18 (read surrounding verses) also appears to be speaking of physical life on earth: Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

Now in Isaiah the text appears to be speaking of eternal salvation:
45:17   But Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.
64:5 Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.

Then in Jeremiah SHALL BE SAVED speaks prophetically about the time of TRIBULATION (which is yet to come).
17:14   Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.
23:6   In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness.
30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.

Then in the New Testament (the Gospels) we find the words of Jesus speaking to JEWS:

Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mark 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

After the resurrection Peter tells the Jews (Israel) how to be saved (Spiritually):
Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

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Confess

Confess is actually a very easy word to understand.
The Greek word is homologue which literally means
“to speak alike or the same, and referred to the idea of agreement or consent (especially in law courts).”
It means to confess, profess, proclaim, acknowledge, state openly, declare with a “sense of promise,” affirmation, commitment, public intention.

Matthew 3:6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
Mark 1:5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
John 1:20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”
Acts 19:18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done.
James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

The above verses apply to the Nation (and individual Jew) of Israel. The below verses apply the age of Grace.

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
2 Corinthians 9:13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

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