From the Council at Jerusalem, A. D. 50, To the Death of St. Paul, A. D. 68.

The history of this period of eighteen years, as contained in the book of Acts, is limited to the labors of St. Paul, who was pre-eminently the apostle to the Gentiles (2 Tim. 1. 11).

I. Let us draw the map of the lands embraced in the later journeys of the apostle Paul.

1. The Lands: 1.) Asia Minor. 2.) Thrace. 3.) Macedonia. 4.) Greece or Achaia. 5.) Italy. 6.) Africa, not visited by Paul. 7.) Palestine or Judea. 8.) Syria.

2. The Localities. 1.) Jerusalem. 2.) Antioch. 3.) Ephesus. 4.) Troas. 5.) Philippi. 6.) Thessalonica. 7.) Berea. 8.) Athens. 9.) Corinth. 10.) Rome.

II. Paul's Second Missionary Journey. The gospel in Europe (A. D. 51-53). Notice:

1. His companions: the quarrel with Barnabas and separation (Acts 15. 36-39). Barnabas at this point drops out of the record. Silas, Timothy, and later Luke, accompany Paul (Acts 15. 40; 16. 1; 16. 10). Luke's profession, perhaps therein helping the apostle (Col. 4. 14).

2. Asia Minor revisited. Note and locate the provinces through which they passed, starting from Antioch: 1.) Cilicia (Acts 15. 41). 2.) Lycaonia (Acts 16. 1, 3.) Probably Pisidia (Acts 16. 4). 4.) Galatia. 5.) Phrygia (Acts 16. 6). Through Mysia to Troas (Acts 16. 8). Locate these provinces on the map.

3. The Gospel in Europe. Note the events which led to the voyage across the Ægean Sea (Acts 16. 9). Trace the route on the map—from what city? to what city? The three cities in Macedonia (Acts 16. 12; 17. 1; 17. 10). The two cities in Greece (Acts 17. 15; 18. 1). Note the long stay in Corinth (Acts 18. 11); the largest city in Greece and the commercial metropolis, at that time far more important than Athens.

Review and locate the five cities in Europe thus far visited, P. T. B. A. C., and recall the peculiar events at each place.

4. The two Epistles to the Thessalonians were written while Paul was at Corinth, perhaps 52 and 53 A. D. These are the earliest extant writings of Paul, and the earliest books of the New Testament. Two subjects are presented in both letters: 1.) General precepts concerning Christian character. 2.) The second coming of Christ.

5. A visit to Ephesus, the chief city of Asia Minor (Acts 18. 18, 19). Notice what would be the direct route from Corinth. Paul's stay at this time was short, but with promise of a speedy return.

6. Return to Antioch. The route, from Ephesus to CÆsarea, thence to the mother church at Jerusalem; thence 250 miles either by land via Damascus, or by water via CÆsarea (Acts 18. 22). The great result of the second missionary journey was the planting of the gospel in Europe. The churches founded were composed of both Jews and Gentiles, with the latter largely in the majority.

II. Paul's Third Missionary Journey (A. D. 54-58). His companions are named in Acts 19. 22. The latter seems to have been a man of importance from Corinth (Rom. 16. 23). We trace the journey, starting, as both the former journeys, from Antioch:

1. From Antioch to Ephesus (Acts 18. 23). He went through Galatia and Phrygia, visiting churches already founded. Some think that this indicates a fourth visit to Lycaonia and Pisidia, as those lands were loosely regarded as belonging to Galatia; but this is not certain.

2. Three years in Ephesus. (Acts 19. 1-20.) In this metropolis of Asia Minor Paul made a stay longer than in any other place during his ministry. As results, churches arose in all that region: ColossÆ (Col. 2. 2; 2. 1), Hierapolis (Col. 4. 13), and "the seven churches of Asia" (Rev. 1. 11).

3. Macedonia and Greece revisited. We can tell what places he would visit in this journey through former fields, although they are not named—the four or five cities wherein he had already planted churches: Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea (Athens?), Corinth. One of his errands on this journey, not mentioned in Acts, is frequently referred to in the epistles of this period, his collection for the poor Christians in Judea. See Rom. 15. 26, 27. 1 Cor. 16. 1-3. 2 Cor. 9. 1-4. Probably the care of these funds was one reason for the large number of disciples accompanying Paul on his return journey (Acts 20. 4).

4. Epistles of this Period. These were the following:

5. The return journey (Acts 20. 6-21, 17). Note the route and places, which should be traced on the map. 1.) Philippi (Acts 20. 6). 2.) Troas (Acts 20. 6-13). What took place at Troas? 3.) Voyage to Miletus (Acts 20. 14, 15). 4.) At Miletus, a touching address (Acts 20. 17-38). 5.) Voyage to Tyre (Acts 21. 1-6). 6.) Ptolemais (Acts 21. 7). 7.) CÆsarea (Acts 21. 8-15.) A remarkable meeting. 8.) Jerusalem (Acts 21. 17). Paul's errand to Jerusalem was to present the contribution of the Gentile churches; seeking to reconcile them with the mother church in Jerusalem, which was exceedingly bigoted in its zeal for the law (Acts 21. 20, 21).

6. Paul's arrest and imprisonment (Acts 21. 27-34). Our purpose is not to narrate the personal life of St. Paul but to show the development of the Christian church, therefore we do not enter into the details of his experience. He was arrested in Jerusalem, and placed in the castle of Antonia for his protection (Acts 21. 24); subsequently taken to CÆsarea (Acts 23. 25-35). Here he remained in prison two years (Acts 24. 27). During this time Paul was placed on trial at least four times: 1.) Before the Jewish council of the Sanhedrim. (Acts 23. 1-10.) 2.) Before the Roman governor or procurator Felix. (Acts 24:. 1-22.) 3.) Before Festus, the successor of Felix. (Acts 25. 1-12.) 4.) Before Agrippa, the ethnarch of the Bashan district, called by courtesy "King Agrippa." (Acts 26. 1-32.)

IV. Paul's Fourth Journey (Acts 27 and 28). Although made by a prisoner, some of the time wearing a chain (Acts 26. 29; 28. 20), the journey to Rome was a missionary journey, in many respects like Paul's other journeys. To visit Rome had long been his desire and expectation (Acts 19. 21. Rom. 1. 15. Rom. 15. 23, 24). His companions on the journey, Luke, Aristarchus (Acts 27. 1, 2), and probably Timothy.

1. On the voyage he was able to bring the gospel to the island of Malta (Acts 28. 7-10).

2. Arriving at Rome (Acts 28. 16) he took up his work as nearly as possible according to his regular method. 1.) He found a home and employment (Acts 28. 16). 2.) As he could not go to the synagogue he sent for the chief Jews and preached the gospel to them (Acts 28. 17-24). 3.) He then turned to the Gentiles (Acts 28. 28-31). 4.) Some results of his ministry in Rome (Phil 1. 12-18).

3. The Epistles of Paul's Imprisonment at Rome. The order of these is uncertain, but they belong rather to the close of the period than to its opening.

V. Paul's Later Years. The record is uncertain, and almost unknown. It is probable, though not certain, that Paul was set free about 63 A. D.

1. His years of liberty. 63 to 67 A. D. Shall we speak of a fifth journey? We find hints or expectations of his being at ColossÆ (Philem. 22); Miletus (2 Tim. 4. 13); Nicopolis, north of Greece, on the Adriatic Sea (Titus 3. 12). Tradition states that at this place he was arrested, and sent from it a second time to Rome.

2. His last epistles. It is not certain that all the "pastoral epistles" were written by Paul. 1.) They are unlike his other writings in their style. 2.) His doctrinal views are not prominent in them. Yet on the whole, they show a reasonable probability of Paul's authorship.

VI. The First Imperial Persecution. The Christians were becoming numerous in Rome, as well as throughout the empire; and a conflict was sure to arise with the Roman government. The first persecution came soon after the burning of Rome, A. D. 64, which Nero charged falsely upon the Christians. Thousands were put to death, although the persecution was mainly limited to the capital. The martyrdom of St. Paul, probably of St. Peter also, took place about 68 A. D. at Rome.