Acts 18:23

THE THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY

Acts 18:23, Acts 21:16

1.

IN ANTIOCH OF SYRIA. Acts 18:23 a.

Acts 18:23 a

And having spent some time there,

Acts 18:23 a Of Antioch Luke says:. Having spent some time there. How long is some time? Let us think for a moment on this. According to a careful chronology it was one year or slightly more from the time he left Ephesus on his second journey until he returned to this metropolis on his third journey. A week or more must have been spent in traveling from Ephesus to Caesarea and then to Antioch. While here it is thought that he heard of the destructive work of the Judaizing teachers in the churches of Galatia. Just when he received this information we do not know, but we are sure that upon hearing of it, he was very anxious to go to the source of the trouble that he might put this heresy to rout. If we allow eight or ten months for his visit to the churches of Galatia (and it surely must have been this long if not longer), we would then understand Luke's words in Acts 18:23 a to mean about two months or slightly over.

698.

How do we arrive at the thought that it was two months or a little more that Paul stayed in Antioch?

2.

THROUGH THE PROVINCES OF GALATIA AND PHYRGIA. Acts 18:23 b.

Acts 18:23 b

he departed, and went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples.

Acts 18:23 b For comment on what was here accomplished read the notes above.

Read also the book of Galatians, since it was written after Paul arrived in Ephesus. I would once again suggest that a knowledge of the lands through which this long trip was made would help immeasurably in your appreciation of Paul's work.

699.

How long did Paul stay in the region of Galatia and Phrygia? Why?