What happened on Paul’s third missionary journey?

Answer

Paul’s initial missionary journey established churches in southeast Asia Minor. During his second journey, he had planned to strengthen those churches, but the Holy Spirit guided him to travel further, crossing the Aegean Sea into Greece and returning home through Ephesus. In his third journey, Paul had the opportunity to reconnect with many of the churches he had founded during his first two trips and initiate a couple of new churches.

The narrative of Paul’s third missionary journey commences in Acts 18. Paul spent some time at his home church in Syrian Antioch before heading northwest over land once again, passing through Galatia and Phrygia in Asia Minor. He visited the churches in Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch—churches he had established during his initial trip «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. », (Acts 18:23). Meanwhile, in Ephesus, on the southwest coast of Asia Minor, Priscilla and Aquila encountered Apollos, a knowledgeable and articulate speaker who passionately shared about Jesus. However, he was only familiar with the story up to John’s baptism. Priscilla and Aquila took Apollos aside and instructed him on Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection, leading Apollos to become a significant Christian teacher, occasionally rivaling Paul’s influence (Acts 18:24-28;1 Corinthians 3:4-5).

Apollos journeyed to Corinth in Achaia, while Paul reached Ephesus where he encountered some of Apollos’s disciples «And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, », (Acts 19:1). These two individuals met in Ephesus, where they shared their knowledge and experiences in spreading the teachings of Christ.Twelve men only knew of John’s baptism unto repentance (see Mark 1:4); they had not been born again by faith in Christ and had not received the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2-3). Paul explained the complete gospel to them, pointing them to Jesus Christ as John had done (see Mark 1:7-8). The men were baptized, and Paul laid his hands on them. They immediately received the Spirit and, as a sign of their new life, began speaking in tongues and prophesying (Acts 19:4-7).

Paul spent three months teaching in the synagogue in Ephesus, reasoning from the Jewish Scriptures, but some in his audience not only rejected his message but they became abusive toward “the Way” (Acts 19:8-9). Paul took those who believed and moved from the synagogue to a school owned by a man named Tyrannus. There Paul preached daily to Jews and Greeks for two years (verses 9–10).

Despite the opposition in Ephesus, the Holy Spirit worked mightily through Paul. Luke says that “extraordinary miracles” were being performed, “And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:” (Acts 19:11) as people were being healed and evil spirits were being expelled (verse 12). Trying to get in on Paul’s work, the “Sons of Sceva,” seven traveling Jewish exorcists, tried to expel demons in Jesus’ and Paul’s names (verse 13). The demons responded that they recognized the authority of Jesus and Paul but did not know these men. The demons then attacked the men, beating, stripping, and chasing them out of the house (verses 14–16). After this incident, Jesus’ name was even more respected in Ephesus, Paul saw a great increase in his ministry, and many former magicians burned.

Their books on magic arts (verses 17–20).

After his prolonged stay in Ephesus, Paul realized that the Holy Spirit was guiding him to continue his journey. During his third missionary journey, Paul sent Timothy and Erastus ahead to Macedonia (Acts 19:21-22). However, before Paul departed, a silversmith named Demetrius, who crafted shrines of Artemis and was unhappy about the decline in his business due to Paul’s presence, incited a riot (verses 23–34). Subsequently, the town clerk intervened and dispersed the crowd, advising them that if they had any grievances against Paul, they should take legal action (verses 35–41). Paul left the city quietly and crossed the Aegean Sea to Macedonia, where he visited Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea to offer support to the local churches. He then traveled to Greece (Achaia) and spent three months there (Acts 20:1-3).

Paul had intended to sail from Corinth to Jerusalem via Syria, but he learned of a plot by some Jews to ambush him during the voyage. Consequently, he decided to return to Macedonia by land. Paul retraced his route from Corinth to Berea, Thessalonica, and Philippi, where he reunited with Luke and celebrated Passover. From Philippi, Paul and Luke sailed to Troas, arriving five days later. There, they met up with Paul’s fellow travelers who had preceded them: Timothy, Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Tychicus, and Trophimus. These individuals represented different churches and were likely assisting in delivering a financial contribution to the Jerusalem church “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.”, (cf: 1 Corinthians 16:1). They all stayed in Troas for one week (Acts 20:1-6).

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Paul made the most of his brief stay in Troas. On Sunday, when the believers gathered, Paul preached extensively into the night (Acts 20:7-8). A young man named Eutychus was seated on a windowsill in the third-story room. Around midnight, he drifted off to sleep and accidentally fell out of the window to the ground below (verse 9). Eutychus was pronounced dead, but Paul revived him, shared communion, and continued speaking until dawn (verses 10–12).

Instead of journeying inland to visit the established churches of Asia Minor or sailing directly to Jerusalem, Paul proceeded with his third missionary journey by opting for a coastal path. Paul walked to Assos, while the rest of the group sailed to that port and fetched Paul from there. Subsequently, they journeyed to Mitylene, Trogyllium, and Miletus, along the southwest coast of Asia Minor (Acts 20:13-15). Paul avoided Ephesus because he knew that if he stopped there, he would be detained longer than he desired, as he aimed to arrive in Jerusalem by Pentecost (verse 16). Paul summoned the Ephesian elders to meet him in Miletus, and they complied. Paul prayed with them, offered words of encouragement, cautioned them about false teachers, and foretold the challenges he would encounter in Jerusalem (verses 17–35). Following emotional farewells, the Ephesian elders accompanied Paul to the ship (verses 36–38).

Departing from Miletus, Paul and his group sailed to Patara, then to Tyre in Syria, where they spent a week (Acts 21:1-6). The disciples there implored Paul, for his safety, not to proceed to Jerusalem. However, he persisted, making a brief stop in Ptolemais before arriving in Caesarea and lodging with Philip the evangelist (verses 7–14). During his time in Caesarea, the prophet Agabus prophesied that Paul would face imprisonment if he went to Jerusalem, but Paul remained resolute in fulfilling his mission. After a few days, a group accompanied Paul

to Jerusalem and to the home of Mnason, who hosted Paul and his companions (verses 15–16). Consequently, Paul’s third missionary journey concluded.