Paul's Second Missionary Journey: A Divine Expansion of the Gospel
Following the significant Jerusalem Council, which addressed the inclusion of Gentiles into the Christian faith without requiring Mosaic law adherence, the Apostle Paul embarked upon his second missionary journey. This pivotal expedition, chronicled primarily in the Acts of the Apostles chapters 15-18, was not merely a revisit of established churches but a divinely orchestrated expansion of the Gospel's reach from Asia Minor into the heart of Europe. It was a journey marked by internal conflicts, divine guidance, miraculous interventions, and the steadfast preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ, demonstrating God's sovereign hand in the spread of His truth.
Disagreement and Divine Diversion
The genesis of the second journey began in Antioch, where Paul proposed to Barnabas, his companion from the first journey, that they "go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do" (Acts 15:36). However, a sharp contention arose concerning John Mark, who had deserted them during the first journey in Pamphylia. Barnabas desired to take Mark, but Paul vehemently disagreed, leading to their separation. This disagreement, though seemingly negative, ultimately served God's broader purpose, resulting in two missionary teams instead of one. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, while Paul chose Silas and, being "recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God," departed through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches (Acts 15:40-41).
Through Asia Minor: Timothy's Call and Holy Spirit's Direction
Paul and Silas first revisited the churches established during the first journey. In Derbe and Lystra, Paul encountered a young disciple named Timothy, whose mother was a Jewess and his father a Greek. Recognizing Timothy's sincere faith and good report among the brethren, Paul desired him to join their company. For the sake of the Jews in those parts, Paul circumcised Timothy, demonstrating his willingness to accommodate cultural sensitivities without compromising doctrinal truth (Acts 16:3). As they traveled through the cities, they delivered the decrees from the Jerusalem Council, confirming the churches and strengthening the believers in the faith. The churches were "established in the faith, and increased in number daily" (Acts 16:5).
The journey then took a significant turn. As they sought to preach the word in Asia, the Holy Ghost "forbade them to preach the word in Asia" (Acts 16:6). Likewise, when they attempted to go into Bithynia, "the Spirit suffered them not" (Acts 16:7). This divine redirection led them to Troas, a port city on the coast of the Aegean Sea, setting the stage for the Gospel's entry into a new continent.
The Macedonian Call: Europe Beckons
In Troas, Paul received a pivotal vision that would forever alter the course of missionary history. "There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us" (Acts 16:9). Immediately understanding this as a divine summons, Paul and his companions (including Luke, who likely joined them here, indicated by the "we" passages in Acts) prepared to sail to Macedonia, the first European province to receive the Gospel through Paul's ministry. Their immediate obedience to this heavenly vision underscores the importance of discerning and following God's leading in ministry.
Philippi: Seeds of the Gospel in Europe
Upon arriving in Philippi, a Roman colony and the chief city of that part of Macedonia, Paul and his company found a place of prayer by a riverside. There, they met Lydia, a "seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God." The Lord "opened her heart, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul" (Acts 16:14). Lydia and her household were baptized, becoming the first recorded converts in Europe and offering their home as a base for the missionaries.
Shortly thereafter, Paul encountered a young woman possessed with a spirit of divination, who brought her masters much gain by fortune-telling. Paul, grieved by her plight, commanded the spirit to come out of her in the name of Jesus Christ. The spirit obeyed, but her masters, seeing their source of income gone, seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the magistrates. They were beaten with many stripes and cast into prison, their feet fastened in the stocks. However, in the midst of their suffering, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God, and "the prisoners heard them" (Acts 16:25). Suddenly, a great earthquake shook the prison, opening all the doors and loosening every band. The jailer, fearing the prisoners had escaped, was about to take his own life when Paul cried out, "Do thyself no harm: for we are all here" (Acts 16:28). Trembling, the jailer brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Paul and Silas replied, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" (Acts 16:30-31). That very night, the jailer and his household heard the word, were baptized, and rejoiced, believing in God.
The next morning, the magistrates, realizing Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, sent to release them. Paul, however, refused to leave secretly, demanding that those who had publicly beaten and imprisoned them without trial come themselves to release them. The magistrates, fearing Roman citizens, complied. After comforting the brethren at Lydia's house, Paul and Silas departed from Philippi, leaving behind a nascent, vibrant church.
Thessalonica and Berea: Opposition and Noble Inquiry
From Philippi, Paul and Silas traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia to Thessalonica, where Paul, "as his manner was," went into the synagogue for three sabbath days. There, he reasoned with the Jews from the scriptures, "opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ" (Acts 17:2-3). Some Jews believed, along with a great multitude of devout Greeks and chief women. However, certain unbelieving Jews, filled with envy, gathered a mob and assaulted the house of Jason, where Paul and Silas were lodging. Unable to find them, they dragged Jason and certain brethren before the city rulers, accusing them of turning the world upside down and proclaiming another king, Jesus.
Forced to flee, Paul and Silas went to Berea. Here, they found a more receptive audience. The Berean Jews were "more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11). As a result, many of them believed, along with many prominent Greek women and men. Yet, the persistent Jews from Thessalonica, hearing of Paul's success, came to Berea and stirred up the people. The brethren swiftly sent Paul away to the coast, while Silas and Timothy remained in Berea.
Athens: The Unknown God
Paul was brought to Athens, the intellectual and philosophical capital of the ancient world. While awaiting Silas and Timothy, Paul's spirit was "stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry" (Acts 17:16). He debated daily in the synagogue with Jews and devout persons, and in the market with Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. They brought him to the Areopagus (Mars' Hill), eager to hear his "new doctrine."
Paul seized this opportunity to preach the Gospel to the learned Athenians. He began by acknowledging their religiosity, noting an altar inscribed "TO THE UNKNOWN GOD." He declared, "Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you" (Acts 17:23). He then presented a profound discourse on the true God as the Creator of all, the sustainer of life, who does not dwell in temples made with hands, and who "hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth" (Acts 17:26). He called them to repentance, proclaiming God's appointed day of judgment and His validation of this truth by raising Jesus from the dead. Upon hearing of the resurrection, some mocked, others desired to hear more, but a few believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris (Acts 17:32-34).
Corinth: A Steadfast Ministry
From Athens, Paul journeyed to Corinth, a wealthy and notoriously immoral port city. There, he met Aquila and Priscilla, Jewish tentmakers who had recently come from Italy due to Claudius's decree expelling Jews from Rome. Paul, sharing their trade, lodged with them. While in Corinth, Silas and Timothy rejoined him from Macedonia, bringing good tidings and likely financial support, which allowed Paul to focus entirely on preaching the word. He was "pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ" (Acts 18:5).
When the Jews opposed and blasphemed, Paul declared, "Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles" (Acts 18:6). He then moved to the house of Justus, a devout Gentile, whose house was next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house, and many Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized.
During his time in Corinth, Paul received a powerful vision from the Lord: "Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city" (Acts 18:9-10). Encouraged by this divine assurance, Paul remained in Corinth for "a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them" (Acts 18:11).
Towards the end of his stay, the Jews made a united attack on Paul, bringing him before Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia. However, Gallio, a wise and impartial Roman official, refused to be a judge of "questions of words and names, and of your law" (Acts 18:15), driving them from the judgment seat. This impartial judgment provided significant protection for the nascent Christian community in Corinth, as it established a precedent that Christianity was not a threat to Roman law.
Return to Antioch: Mission Accomplished
After his extended and fruitful ministry in Corinth, Paul took his leave of the brethren. He sailed for Syria, accompanied by Aquila and Priscilla. In Cenchrea, he shaved his head, having a vow. They then sailed to Ephesus, where Paul briefly entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. Though they desired him to stay longer, he declined, promising to return "if God will" (Acts 18:21), leaving Aquila and Priscilla there to continue the work. From Ephesus, he sailed to Caesarea, went up and saluted the church (likely in Jerusalem), and then "went down to Antioch" (Acts 18:22), completing his second missionary journey.
Enduring Legacy of the Second Journey
Paul's second missionary journey was a monumental undertaking that profoundly impacted the spread of the Gospel. Its legacy includes:
This journey solidified Paul's role as the Apostle to the Gentiles and laid crucial groundwork for the global spread of Christianity, demonstrating that God can use even human disagreements to further His divine purposes, guiding His servants to new frontiers for the glory of His Son.