48-49 A.D. Paul's First Missionary Journey is recorded in Acts 13 and 14. The First Missionary Journey took Paul from Antioch to Cyprus then southern Asia Minor (Anatolia, modern-day Turkiye), and back to Antioch.
51-53 A.D. Paul's Second Missionary Journey is recorded in Acts 16, 17, and 18. Paul and his companion Barnabas left for the Second Missionary Journey from Jerusalem, in the late Fall/Autumn of 49 AD, after the meeting of the Council of Jerusalem where the circumcision question was debated. They stopped in Antioch where they had a sharp argument about taking John Mark with them on their voyages, as in the previous trip he had left them and gone home. Unable to resolve the dispute, Paul and Barnabas decided to separate; Barnabas took John Mark to Cyprus with him, while Silas joined Paul and left for Tarsus (Paul’s birthplace) together.
54-57 A.D. Paul's Third Evangelistic Journey is recorded in Acts 18, 19, and 21. Paul began his Third Missionary Journey by traveling all around the region of Galatia and Phrygia to strengthen and teach the Christian communities he had established during his previous travels. He visited Christian believers in Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch in Pisidia, and then went on to Ephesus. In Ephesus Paul stayed for nearly three years, preaching and teaching the Gospel of Christ, performing miracles, healing people, and casting out demons by the power of God.
Journey 59-60 A.D. - House arrest ca. 60-67 A.D. Paul's Fourth Journey to Rome is recorded in Acts 27 and 28. The circumstances of Paul's Voyage to Rome were far different from his earlier travels. Before, he was a free man; this time, he was a prisoner of the Romans.
Saint Paul in Ephesus
The second missionary trip should have targeted Ephesus if Paul hadn’t had the vision of the call for Macedonus (Acts 16:9). But at the end of the trip, he came to Ephesus by sea with Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18:9). After a short stay, he sailed from Ephesus; this should have happened at the end of the 40s, at 50–51 A.D. (?) He wanted to come back. Ephesus was then the second-richest and fourth-largest city of the Roman Empire. The city was at the end of the Silk and Spice Road, beginning via Augusta, one of the harbors of the Mediterranean’s ancient maritime roads. The city flourished with many beautiful monuments. The Jewish diaspora was very strong, and the population of the Jews was about ten percent. The majority of the Jews were members of the clan of Benjamin. That’s why Paul could stay for three months in the synagogue.
Paul’s staying in Ephesus for 2.5 years is not accidental but part of God’s plan. At that time, believers and non-believers had to have a strong message that would be circulated all around Asia Minor and the Mediterranean basin.
Let’s not forget that the cult of Artemis was the strongest of all in the area, and Artemis was not worshiped only by Ephesians. The people of Ephesus believed that Artemis (Diana) was the reason for and source of their wealth, prosperity, and power. Though blaspheming Artemis always ended with the penalty of death (verses 12–6 of chapter 19). It’s very interesting because we hear the words of Paul from the mouth of Demetrius the Silversmith. This Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that there are no gods who are made by hand. We understand that the words of God proclaimed by Paul were heard by everyone, and Paul could leave the city safely. We know today that Paul never preached in the theater. But he preached in the hall of Tyrannius, which is the location that is still unknown today. But according to Acts 20/24, “and teaching you in public and house to house,” Paul says he was teaching in the agora because the original Greek text says agora, which means public at the same time. Today we have a lot of streets and monuments unearthed by the archeologist still standing from time to time of Paul in Ephesus. They are all waiting for you.
İki cesmelik mah. Kirazli yolu caddesi İnci apt. No 18 Kusadasi AYDIN
