The Conclusion of Paul’s Second Journey,
and the Beginning of the Third
Acts 18:18-23
18 And
Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the
brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila;
having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. 19 And he came
to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and
reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they desired him to tarry longer
time with them, he consented not; 21 But bade them farewell, saying,
I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return
again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. 22 And when
he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to
Antioch. 23 And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and
went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all
the disciples.
Introduction:
The travels of Paul and others recorded in these verses
bring us to the end of what is referred to as his second missionary journey,
and the beginning of the third.
Outline:
I. The Conclusion of the Second Missionary Journey
(18:18-22)
II. The Beginning of the Third Missionary Journey (18:23)
Transition: Observe how focused Paul is on
his goals.
I. The Conclusion of the Second Missionary Journey
(18:18-22)
1. From Corinth to Syria (18:18)
2. In Ephesus (18:19-21)
3. From Caesarea to Antioch (18:22)
1. From Corinth to Syria (18:18)
And Paul after this tarried
there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed
thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in
Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
1) The Extension of His Ministry at Corinth
And
Paul after this tarried there yet a good while,
2) The Departure from Corinth
and
then took his leave of the brethren,
3) The Destination of Syria
and
sailed thence into Syria,
4) The Inclusion of Priscilla and Aquila
and
with him Priscilla and Aquila;
5) The Nazirite Vow
having
shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
2. In Ephesus (18:19-21)
19 And he came to Ephesus, and left
them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the
Jews. 20 When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he
consented not; 21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all
means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto
you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
1) His Purpose for Aquila and Priscilla (18:19a)
19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them
there
2) His Ministry at Ephesus (18:19b-c)
but
he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews
3) His Refusal to Remain (18:20)
20 When they desired him to tarry
longer time with them, he consented not
4) His Reason for Leaving (18:21a-c)
21 But bade them farewell, saying,
I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem
5) His Desire to Return (18:21d-e)
but
I will return again unto you, if God will
6) His Departure from Ephesus (18:21f)
And
he sailed from Ephesus
3. From Caesarea to Antioch (18:22)
And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone
up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.
1) His Arrival in Syria
And
when he had landed at Caesarea
2) His Fulfillment at Jerusalem
and
gone up, and saluted the church
3) His Return to Antioch
he
went down to Antioch
II. The Beginning of the Third Missionary Journey
(18:23)
And after he had spent some time there, he
departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order,
strengthening all the disciples.
1. At Antioch
2. Back to Galatia and Phyrgia
3. The Effect of His Ministry
1. At Antioch
And after he had spent some time there,
2. Back to Galatia and Phyrgia
he departed, and went over all the
country of Galatia and Phrygia in order,
3. The Effect of His Ministry
strengthening all the disciples
Ask the questions.
Search the Scriptures seeking for the answers.
Answer the questions.
Ask the questions:
(who, what, when, where, why, how, so what)
1) Who needs to be strengthened?
2) What does it mean to be strengthened?
3) When
do we need to be strengthened?
4) Where
do we go for strength? Where do we look for strength?
5) Why
do we need to be strenthened?
6) How
are we strengthened?
7) What
difference does it make whether we are strengthened or not?
Search the
Scriptures seeking for the answers:
Acts 14:21-22 - 21 And
when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they
returned again to Lystra, and to
Iconium, and Antioch,
22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must
through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Acts 15:32 - And Judas and
Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words,
and confirmed them.
Acts 15:41 - And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the
churches.
Acts 16:5 - And so
were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Acts 16:40 - And they went out
of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had
seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
Dt. 3:28 - But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him:
for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the
land which thou shalt see.
Lk 22:32 - But I
have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen
thy brethren.
Lk 22:43 - And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven,
strengthening him.
[Dan. 11:1 - Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even
I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.]
Rom. 15:1 - We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of
the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Rom. 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 Cor. 1:25 - Because the foolishness of God is wiser than
men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1 Cor. 4:10 - We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are
wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are
honourable, but we are despised.
2 Cor. 1:15 - And in this confidence I was minded to come unto
you before, that ye might have a second benefit;
2 Cor. 12:10 - Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am
weak, then am I strong.
2 Cor. 13:9 - For we are glad,
when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your
perfection.
1 Th. 3:2-3 - 2 And
sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the
gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves
know that we are appointed thereunto.
1 Th. 3:13 - To the end he may stablish your hearts
unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ with all his saints.
1 Th. 4:18 - Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Th. 5:14 - Now we exhort you,
brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the
weak, be patient toward all men.
2 Th. 2:17 - Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and
work.
2 Th. 3:3 - But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you
from evil.
1 Pt. 5:10 - But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his
eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you
perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
2 Pt. 1:12 - Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in
remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in
the present truth.
2 Pet. 2:14 - Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from
sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous
practices; cursed children:
2 Pet. 3:14-18 - 14 Wherefore,
beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found
of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to
the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some
things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest,
as they do also the other scriptures,
unto their own destruction.
17
Ye
therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these
things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the
wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18
But
grow in grace, and in the knowledge
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
2 Jn. 9 - Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the
doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he
hath both the Father and the Son.
Rev. 3:2 - Be watchful, and strengthen the things which
remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before
God.
Answer the
questions:
1) Who needs to be strengthened?
disciples
- all disciples
2) What does it mean to be strengthened?
“more firm and unchanging in
attitude or belief” [1]
3)
When do we need to be strengthened?
We never outgrow our need for
strengthening
4)
Where do we go for strength? Where do we look for strength?
To Christ and to His Word, to one
another in the Church
5)
Why do we need to be strenthened?
Because of our weakness
Because of what we are facing and
will face
Because of our sinful tendencies
6)
How are we strengthened?
By the power of Christ through His
Spirit, His Word, and His Church
7)
What difference does it make whether we are strengthened or not?
We will
be susceptible to false teaching and falling away otherwise
Conclusion:
Heb. 11:32-40 - 32
And
what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of
Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel,
and of the prophets: 33 Who
through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises,
stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped
the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in
fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others
were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better
resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel
mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They
were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword:
they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted,
tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not
worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in
mountains, and in dens and caves of
the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a
good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing
for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
He 12:12- 13 - 12 Wherefore lift up
the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 And make straight
paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let
it rather be healed.
4 Say to
them that are of a fearful heart, Be
strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save
you.]
Complete outline:
I. The Conclusion of the Second Missionary Journey
(18:18-22)
1. From Corinth to Syria (18:18)
1) The Extension of His
Ministry at Corinth
2) The Departure from Corinth
3) The Destination of Syria
4) The Inclusion of Priscilla
and Aquila
5) The Nazirite Vow
2. In Ephesus (18:19-21)
1) His Purpose for Aquila and
Priscilla
2) His Ministry at Ephesus
3) His Refusal to Remain
4) His Reason for Leaving
5) His Desire to Return
6) His Departure from Ephesus
3. From Caesarea to Antioch
(18:22)
1) His Arrival in Syria
2) His Fulfillment at Jerusalem
3) His Return to Antioch
II. The Beginning of the Third Missionary Journey (18:23)
1. At Antioch
2. Back to Galatia and Phyrgia
3. The Effect of His Ministry
1) Who needs to be
strengthened?
2) What does it mean to be
strengthened?
3) When do we need to be strengthened?
4) Where do we go for strength? Where do we look for
strength?
5) Why do we need to be strenthened?
6) How are we strengthened?
[Sermon preached 21
SEP 2014 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown,
PA.]
Resources on Acts:
G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of
the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), pp. 513-606.
Paul Barnett, The
Birth of Christianity: The First Twenty Years, After Jesus, Vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 2005).
Darrell L. Bock, Acts,
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New
Testament, eds. Robert W. Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids:
Baker Academic, 2007).
F. F. Bruce, The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text
with Introduction and Commentary, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans
Publishing Co., 1951, 1952).
I. Howard Marshall, Acts:
An Introduction And Commentary, Vol. 5 in Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. Leon Morris (Downers
Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980; 2008 reprint).
David G. Peterson, The
Acts of the Apostles, in The Pillar
New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids: William B.
Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009).
John B. Polhill, Acts,
Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary,
gen. ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers,
1992).
Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts,
Vol. 5 in the Zondervan Exegetical
Commentary on the New Testament, gen. ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 2012).
William H. Willimon, Acts,
in Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for
Teaching and Preaching, series ed. James Luther Mays, New Testament ed.
Paul J. Achtemeier (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010).
Resources on Paul:
Kenneth E. Bailey, Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes: Cultural
Studies in 1 Corinthians (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2011).
F. F. Bruce, Paul:
Apostle of the Heart Set Free (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 1977).
D. A. Carson, The
Gagging of God: Christianity Confronts Pluralism (Grand Rapids: Zondervan,
1996), pp. 496-501.
W. J. Conybeare and J. S. Howson, The Life, Times and Travels of St. Paul, 2 vols. in 1, unabridged
American ed. (New York: E. B. Treat U Co., 1869); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=Bn1CAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 12 FEB 2013].
Adolf Deissmann, Paul:
A Study in Social and Religious History, 2nd ed., trans. William E. Wilson
(New York: Harper Torchbooks, n.d.).
F. W. Farrar, The Life
and Work of St. Paul (New York: E. P. Dutton and Co., 1889); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=RB2KeCSM6KsC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 12 FEB 2013].
Bruce N. Fisk, “Paul: Life and
Letters”, in The Face of New Testament
Studies: A Survey of Recent Research, ed. Scot McKnight and Grant R.
Osborne (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2004), pp. 283-325.
Richard B.Gaffin, Jr.,
"Acts and Paul", 46 lectures (MP3 format), WTS Resources Media Center
on Westminster Theological Seminary
at http://wts.edu/resources/media.html?paramType=audio&filterTopic=5&filterSpeaker=10&filterYear=2005 [accessed 20 MAR 2013].
Frank J. Goodwin, A
Harmony of the Life of the St. Paul According to the Acts of the Apostles and
the Pauline Epistles (New York: American Tract Society, 1895); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=YgpEAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 12 FEB 2013].
Richard N. Longenecker, The
Ministry And Message Of Paul (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1971).
Richard N. Longenecker, Paul,
Apostle Of Liberty (New York: Harper & Row, 1964).
Richard N. Longenecker, ed., The Road From Damascus : The Impact Of Paul's Conversion On His Life,
Thought, And Ministry (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997).
Richard N. Longenecker, Studies
In Paul, Exegetical And Theological (Sheffield : Sheffield Phoenix Press,
2004).
J. Gresham Machen, The
Origin of Paul's Religion: The James Sprunt Lectures Delivered at Union
Theological Seminary in Virginia (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 1925).
Leon Morris, The
Apostolic Preaching of the Cross (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 1955).
John Pollock, The
Apostle: A Life of Paul, 3rd ed. (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 1969,
2012); also published as The Man Who
Shook the World (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1972; originally The Apostle: A Life of Paul, New York:
Doubleday, 1969).
Stanley E. Porter, Paul
in Acts, in Library of Pauline
Studies, gen. ed. Stanley E. Porter (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers,
Inc., 1999; 2001 reprint of The Paul of
Acts: Essays in Literary Criticism, Rhetoric and Theology, in Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen
Testament 115, by Mohr Siebeck, Tubingen).
W. M. Ramsay, The
Cities of St. Paul: Their Influence on his Life and Thought (New York: A.
C. Armstrong and Son; London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1908); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=JryEbmKool0C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 13 FEB 2013].
W. M. Ramsay, Pauline
and Other Studies in Early Christian History (New York: A. C. Armstrong and
Son, 1906); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=-1ZJAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 13 FEB 2013].
W. M. Ramsay, St. Paul
the Traveler and the Roman Citizen, 10th ed. (London: Hodder and Stoughton,
1907); on Christian Classics Ethereal
Library (CCEL) at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/ramsay/paul_roman.html
[accessed 13 FEB 2013].
W. M. Ramsay, The
Teaching of Paul in terms of The Present Day: The Deems Lectures in New York
University (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1914); on Internet Archive at http://ia600404.us.archive.org/2/items/teachingofpaulin00rams/teachingofpaulin00rams.pdf
[accessed 13 FEB 2013].
A. T. Robertson, Epochs
in the Life of Paul: A Study of Development in Paul's Character (Grand
Rapids: Baker Book House, 1974).
Eckhard J. Schnabel, Paul The Missionary: Realities, Strategies
And Methods (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic,
2008).
Udo Schnelle, Apostle
Paul: His Life and Theology, trans. M. Eugene Boring (Grand Rapids: Baker
Academic, 2003; trans. from Paulus: Leben
und Denken, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co., n.d.).
Thomas R. Schreiner, Paul,
Apostle of God's Glory in Christ: A Pauline Theology (Downers Grove, IL:
IVP Academic, 2001).
James Stalker, The
Life of St. Paul, (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1885; rev. ed. 2010 by
Kessinger Publishing from 1912 ed.); on Google
Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=vT0HAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 7 FEB 2013].
James Ironside Still, St.
Paul on Trial (London: Student Christian Movement, 1923).
End Notes:
[1] Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1: Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: Based on semantic domains
(electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (677). New York: United Bible Societies.
See also Günther Harder, Vol.
7: Theological dictionary of the New
Testament. 1964- (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed.)
(electronic ed.) (653–657). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
