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At the time of Paul's later 3rd missionary journey, Antioch, another very large city, was more or less becoming a center for Christianity. Incidentally, in these ancient cities, people must have lived in very crowded condition--with the large populations reported within the city boundaries. Antioch was an urban ministry that Christianity flourished in, at least with the Gentiles At the time of Paul's trips, Antioch was a base for missionary activity--certainly for Barnabas and Paul the Apostle.
Paul had visited Ephesus briefly, at this time. He was on his way by sea from the mission field of Greece.
That Sabbath, at the synagogue, the people begged Paul to come back "begging that these things might be spoken to them the next Sabbath."(v.42)
EPHESUS BECAME THE CENTER OF C.HRISTIANITY.
THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO LETTERS WRITTEN ABOUT THE MINISTRY IN EPHESUS, WRITTEN WITH GOD'S AUTHORITY...
ONE OF PAUL'S LETTERS: "TO EPHESIANS"
THEN THERE IS ANOTHER...
ONE OF THE SEVEN LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES IN REVELATIONS
At the time of Paul's later 3rd missionary journey, Antioch, another very large city, was more or less becoming a center for Christianity. Incidentally, in these ancient cities, people must have lived in very crowded condition--with the large populations reported within the city boundaries. Antioch was an urban ministry that Christianity flourished in, at least with the Gentiles At the time of Paul's trips, Antioch was a base for missionary activity--certainly for Barnabas and Paul the Apostle.
Paul had visited Ephesus briefly, at this time. He was on his way by sea from the mission field of Greece.
That Sabbath, at the synagogue, the people begged Paul to come back "begging that these things might be spoken to them the next Sabbath."(v.42)
"The next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the Word of God." (v.44). The Jews aroused to jealousy, because of the crowds, and began contending with Paul and blaspheming. The opposition stopped this work, but Paul and Barnabas continued the church planting in other villages, making many disciples and planting churches. They weren't building buildings, but they were winning people to Christ and teaching them to assemble and to minister and encourage each other.
This persecution and contention followed Paul and Barnabas, finally to the point of stoning Paul and leaving him for dead. However this never stopped Paul, but he and Barnabas preached in Derbe. They finally started back through the places they had planted--groups of believers, "strengthening the souls....encouraging them...in tribulations to continue in the faith." Also they "...appointed elders in every church" (assembly-group housechurches of which Prisila and Aquila would soon be part).
Finally Paul and Barnabas returned to their base church in Antioch of Syria. No doubt, the missionaries shared the resistance of the Jews and stoning of Paul, and their offering the Good News to Gentiles, saying, that through Jesus Christ they were proclaiming remission of sins, and by Jesus, everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
There would be a Church counsel meeting about this (Acts 15). They decided the believer was saved by God's grace, by the work of Jesus Christ alone--without the Gentile believer becoming a Jew. (both the letter to Galatia and Ephesus confirm this).
The 2nd missionary trip starting from Antioch, started with some disagreement over John Mark coming along. This separated Paul and Barnabas, and Barnabas took John Mark, sailing to Cyprus. Paul took Silas and traveled by land up through Syria and Cilicia, visiting and strengthening churches.
At Lystra, Paul encountered Timothy, a half Jewish Greek who had accepted Christ and lived a committed Christian life. He would accompany Paul, providing Paul help throughout Paul's ministry.
"While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country (Galatia) came to Ephesus...." Acts 18"24-19:1
This persecution and contention followed Paul and Barnabas, finally to the point of stoning Paul and leaving him for dead. However this never stopped Paul, but he and Barnabas preached in Derbe. They finally started back through the places they had planted--groups of believers, "strengthening the souls....encouraging them...in tribulations to continue in the faith." Also they "...appointed elders in every church" (assembly-group housechurches of which Prisila and Aquila would soon be part).
Finally Paul and Barnabas returned to their base church in Antioch of Syria. No doubt, the missionaries shared the resistance of the Jews and stoning of Paul, and their offering the Good News to Gentiles, saying, that through Jesus Christ they were proclaiming remission of sins, and by Jesus, everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
There would be a Church counsel meeting about this (Acts 15). They decided the believer was saved by God's grace, by the work of Jesus Christ alone--without the Gentile believer becoming a Jew. (both the letter to Galatia and Ephesus confirm this).
The 2nd missionary trip starting from Antioch, started with some disagreement over John Mark coming along. This separated Paul and Barnabas, and Barnabas took John Mark, sailing to Cyprus. Paul took Silas and traveled by land up through Syria and Cilicia, visiting and strengthening churches.
At Lystra, Paul encountered Timothy, a half Jewish Greek who had accepted Christ and lived a committed Christian life. He would accompany Paul, providing Paul help throughout Paul's ministry.
"While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country (Galatia) came to Ephesus...." Acts 18"24-19:1
EPHESUS BECAME THE CENTER OF C.HRISTIANITY.
THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO LETTERS WRITTEN ABOUT THE MINISTRY IN EPHESUS, WRITTEN WITH GOD'S AUTHORITY...ONE OF PAUL'S LETTERS: "TO EPHESIANS"
THEN THERE IS ANOTHER...
ONE OF THE SEVEN LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES IN REVELATIONS
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