(Acts 1:8b) "…Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Tonight we continue to look at the development of Christianity to the Uttermost Part of the Earth.
I. Christianity in Jerusalem 1:1-8:3
II. Christianity in Judea and Samaria 8:4- 12:25
III. Christianity to the Uttermost Part of the World 13:1-28:31
A. The First Missionary Journey 13:1-14:28
B. The Council at Jerusalem 15:1-35
C. The Second Missionary Journey 15:36-18:22
1. The personnel chosen 15:36-40
2. The churches revisited 15:41-16:4
3. The call to Europe 16:6-10
4. The work at Philippi 16:11-40
5. The work at Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens 17:1-34
6. The Ministry at Corinth 18:1-17
7. The Journey completed 18:18-22
D. The Third Missionary Journey 18:23-21:26
1. The Power of the Word at Ephesus (18:23-19:41)
a. The initiation of Paul's third journey v23
b. The instruction of Apollos v 24-28
c. The influence of the gospel 19:1-20
d. The disturbance at Ephesus 19:21-41
2. At Greece 20:1-5
a. After the uproar at Ephesus was over, Paul left for Macedonia
b. Luke very briefly covers this portion of the journey in only one sentence v 2
c. After revisiting the communities of Macedonia, Paul now comes to Greece where we are told he stayed for about 3 months.
NOTE: during this portion of time Paul wrote 2nd Corinthians from Macedonia and Romans from Corinth in Greece
d. He had planned to sail to Syria but became aware of some plot against his life - he therefore reconsidered his return and decided to retrace his steps through Macedonia
e. There seemed to be an advance party of workers go and prepare things for Paul's arrival. Remember in Chapter 19 Paul had sent Timeotheus and Erastus on to Macedonia. Now he sends another group ahead of him to Asia
f. This group waited at Troas for Paul's arrival
3. At Asia Minor: Troas and the elders of Ephesus v 6-38
a. Paul's sermon at Troas v 6-12
1) One indication of travel time 150 miles in 5 days - Philippi to Troas
2) We have an indication of what was considered the regular day of worship for the early Christian churches
3) We also have an indication of Paul's longevity in speaking
4) Eutychus fell asleep and fell out the window from the third story
5) Luke - the physician - declared that he was dead - but Paul "fell on him and embraced him..." - God used Paul to restore the young man back to life
6) After this no one could sleep if they wanted to - so they fellowshipped and talked until daybreak!
7) Eutychus' friends and family were greatly comforted
b. Paul's sermon at Miletus v 13-38
1) Paul's desire was to go back to Jerusalem by the day of Pentecost
2) From Miletus Paul called for the Elders from Ephesus to come and he began to preach to them
a) He reviewed the past 3 year ministry v 18-21
b) He described the present situation v 22-27
c) He spoke of their future responsibilities v 28-35
3) They closed with a prayer meeting - and said their tearful good-byes
Next time: The Journey Continues