A consideration of Paul's second journey and its lessons for us. Includes seven perspectives on his journey.

2. Paul’s second
journey
Timing: circa AD 49-52
Epistles: Thessalonians 1 & 2 (circa AD
51-52), written from Corinth
Distance: Approximately 3000 miles
(about 100 days of travelling)
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3. Paul’s second journey (AD49-52) - Itinerary
City, region visited Named companions Relevant passage Estimated date
Jerusalem, Council meeting Acts 15:1-29 Summer 49
Antioch, Syria Silas (Barnabas to Cyprus) Acts 15:30-41 Autumn 49
Derbe, Lystra, Iconium & Antioch (P) Silas & Timothy Acts 16:1-5 Late 49 – Spring 50
Phrygia, Bithynia & Mysia Silas & Timothy Acts 16:7-8 Spring – Summer 50
Troas Silas, Timothy & Luke Acts 16:8-10 Summer 50
Samothracia & Neapolis Silas, Timothy & Luke Acts 16:11 Summer 50
Philippi Silas, Timothy & Luke Acts 16:12-40 Summer – Autumn 50
Thessalonica Silas & Timothy Acts 17:1-9 Autumn 50
Berea Silas & Timothy Acts 17:10-14 Late 50
Athens None Acts 17:15-34 Early 51
Corinth Silas, Timothy, Priscilla & Aquila Acts 18:1-17 Early 51 – Mid 52
Ephesus Timothy (?), Priscilla & Aquila Acts 18:18-21 Early Autumn 52
Caesarea, Jerusalem & Antioch (S) Acts 18-22 Late Autumn 52
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4. Perspectives on Paul’s second journey
• An initial dispute between Paul and Barnabas
• Strengthening “our brethren in every city where we have preached”
• The spirit does not permit Paul to preach further in Asia and he is called
to Macedonia
• Success followed by opposition in Philippi
• Human philosophy versus divine revelation in Athens
• The calling of many Gentiles in Corinth
• Returning home via Ephesus
• Some lessons for us
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5. An initial dispute between Paul & Barnabas
• Who was John Mark? – see Acts 12:12 son of Mary and Colossians 4:10,
Barnabas’s nephew/cousin
• He left Paul & Barnabas – see Acts 13:13
• The “contention” between Paul & Barnabas was “sharp” – see Acts
15:36-41 – Greek word “contention” is “paroxusmos”
• Mark went back to Jerusalem; to join Peter? – see 1 Peter 5:13
• Paul & Mark were later fully reconciled – see 2 Timothy 4:11
• The work of the Lord continued: Paul on his second journey which
reached out to Greece; Barnabas to Cyprus
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6. Strengthening “our brethren…”
• The second journey was initiated by Paul to visit “our brethren”- see
Acts 15:36
• This love and concern Paul had for his brothers and sisters is a defining
characteristic of his – 2 Corinthians 2:4
• This is an enduring responsibility of all believers to build and strengthen
one another – see Hebrews 10:33-35
• Paul did not know when Jesus would return but we know it to be close
at hand – “so much the more, as ye see the day approaching”
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7. Paul not permitted to preach further in Asia
• Paul was actually forbidden to preach in certain areas – see Acts 16:5-8
• Then received a vision in Troas – see Acts 16:9-10 – the man of
Macedonia
• We must be ready and active in spreading God’s word as the apostles
did – see 1 Peter 3:15
• We too are called according to God’s purpose not our own – see 2
Timothy 1:9
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8. Success followed by opposition in Philippi
• Philippi an important Roman city founded by Philip II the father of
Alexander the Great, on the Via Egnatia (Rome to Byzantium)
• This was the first city Paul came to that had no synagogue, so they went
to a place of prayer, by the river – see Acts 16:12-15
• A young girl called out after Paul – see Acts 16:16-18
• Paul was accused of being a Jew teaching disloyalty to Rome – see Acts
16:19-24
• Whilst Paul & Silas are in prison there is an earthquake
• Two different battle grounds are defined – Jewish v Gentile
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9. Human philosophy versus divine revelation
• Paul leaves Berea and sails to Athens – see Acts 17
• Athens was the centre for the worship of many gods, notably the
Acropolis – Paul preached Jesus and the resurrection (anastasis) :18
• The Epicureans and the Stoics took him to the Areopagus, which was
the Athenian court – accused of introducing a foreign god
• This was the clash of the Greco-Roman world view and Paul’s Jewish
world view
• What they in ignorance tried to reason out, Paul told them the One
True God had revealed through Jesus and his resurrection – see :22-31
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10. Athens
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11. Reconstruction
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12. The calling of many Gentiles in Corinth
• Paul moved on to Corinth, where he was joined by Silas and Timothy
and remained for 18 months – see Acts 18:1-18
• Corinth was a wealthy and powerful city, rebuilt as a Roman colony by
Julius Caesar in 44BC (springs of water; fertile plains & passing trade)
• It had seaports at Lechaeum (W) and Cenchreae (E) and had a unique
and widespread reputation for immorality
• A city of contrasts: 50% slaves; mostly poor with a small minority rich
and powerful
• Represented a clash between the desires of the flesh and the
commands of God
• Gallio ruled that following Jesus was merely a variation of Jewish
worship – see 18:12-17
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13. Roman roads
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14. Paul's second journey 14
Strategic position of Corinth

15. Ancient Corinth
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16. Paul's second journey 16
Reconstruction

17. Returning home via Ephesus
• Whilst Paul was at Corinth he wrote his two epistles to the
Thessalonians (circa AD 51/52)
• Paul confirms a vow – see Acts 18:18
• As was his habit, Paul, when he arrived at Ephesus, went to the
synagogue – see Acts 18:19-21
• He left Priscilla and Aquila to await his planned return
• He then went first to Jerusalem and then to Antioch in Syria (:22)
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18. Synagogue in Ephesus
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19. Some lessons for us
• We must also build one another up and strengthen one another
• We are battling against the product of human reasoning, as against
divine revelation – initiative v receiving
• We are also fighting against the desires of the flesh, as against the
commands of God – internal v external control
• The foundation of our belief is the One True God, His son Jesus Christ
and resurrection (‘anastasis’) and that foundation is established
throughout both the Old and New Testaments
• We too must take the Gospel message to any who will listen
• We must submit to the providential care of Our Heavenly Father
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