Chapter XII: Part TWO

II. =Paul's Third Missionary Journey= (A. D. 54-58). His companions are named in Acts 19. 22. The latter seems to have been a man of importance from Corinth (Rom. 16. 23). We trace the journey, starting, as both the former journeys, from Antioch:

1. _From Antioch to Ephesus_ (Acts 18. 23). He went through Galatia and Phrygia, visiting churches already founded. Some think that this indicates a fourth visit to Lycaonia and Pisidia, as those lands were loosely regarded as belonging to Galatia; but this is not certain.

2. _Three years in Ephesus._ (Acts 19. 1-20.) In this metropolis of Asia Minor Paul made a stay longer than in any other place during his ministry. As results, churches arose in all that region: Colossæ (Col. 2. 2; 2. 1), Hierapolis (Col. 4. 13), and "the seven churches of Asia" (Rev. 1. 11).

3. _Macedonia and Greece revisited._ We can tell what places he would visit in this journey through former fields, although they are not named--the four or five cities wherein he had already planted churches: Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea (Athens?), Corinth. One of his errands on this journey, not mentioned in Acts, is frequently referred to in the epistles of this period, his _collection for the poor Christians in Judea_. See Rom. 15. 26, 27. 1 Cor. 16. 1-3. 2 Cor. 9. 1-4. Probably the care of these funds was one reason for the large number of disciples accompanying Paul on his return journey (Acts 20. 4).

4. _Epistles of this Period._ These were the following:

1.) _First Corinthians_, written from Ephesus, perhaps
about 57 A. D. Its occasion (1 Cor. 1. 11, 12). Its
purpose, to set forth a true church-life.

2.) _Second Corinthians_ (57 A. D.), probably written
from Macedonia. (2 Cor. 7. 5; 8. 1); its purpose,
mainly a defense of Paul's apostolic authority.

3.) _Galatians_, also probably from Macedonia (57 A.
D). Its occasion, the influence of Judaizing teachers
on Paul's churches in Galatia (Gal. 1. 6, 7).
"Galatia" may refer to the regions in Lycaonia and
Pisidia (according to Ramsay); but most expositors
refer it to Galatia Proper, north of those provinces.
The theme of this book is "Salvation by faith _only_."

4.) _Romans_ was written from Corinth perhaps in 58 A.
D. See Rom. 16. 1, a reference to the seaport of
Corinth. Its subject is "Justification by Faith."
Notice how important were the writings of this period.

5. _The return journey_ (Acts 20. 6-21, 17). Note the route and places, which should be traced on the map. 1.) Philippi (Acts 20. 6). 2.) Troas (Acts 20. 6-13). What took place at Troas? 3.) Voyage to Miletus (Acts 20. 14, 15). 4.) At Miletus, a touching address (Acts 20. 17-38). 5.) Voyage to Tyre (Acts 21. 1-6). 6.) Ptolemais (Acts 21. 7). 7.) Cæsarea (Acts 21. 8-15.) A remarkable meeting. 8.) Jerusalem (Acts 21. 17). Paul's errand to Jerusalem was to present the contribution of the Gentile churches; seeking to reconcile them with the mother church in Jerusalem, which was exceedingly bigoted in its zeal for the law (Acts 21. 20, 21).

6. =Paul's arrest and imprisonment= (Acts 21. 27-34). Our purpose is not to narrate the personal life of St. Paul but to show the development of the Christian church, therefore we do not enter into the details of his experience. He was arrested in Jerusalem, and placed in the castle of Antonia for his protection (Acts 21. 24); subsequently taken to Cæsarea (Acts 23. 25-35). Here he remained in prison two years (Acts 24. 27). During this time Paul was placed on trial at least four times: 1.) Before the Jewish council of the Sanhedrim. (Acts 23. 1-10.) 2.) Before the Roman governor or procurator Felix. (Acts 24:. 1-22.) 3.) Before Festus, the successor of Felix. (Acts 25. 1-12.) 4.) Before Agrippa, the ethnarch of the Bashan district, called by courtesy "King Agrippa." (Acts 26. 1-32.)

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