Primary Scriptures: Acts 17-18
Story Summary: The second part of the Second Missionary Journey
Location: Roman Empire; Athens, Corinth
Time: AD 30 Jesus crucified and resurrected; Pentecost; Holy Spirit arrives AD 46 Paul’s “famine visit” to Jerusalem; First Missionary Journey starts AD 48 Council at Jerusalem; Start of Second Missionary Journey AD 51 End of Second Missionary Journey
Modern readers often think of biblical Greece and Macedonia as the same country. In general, however, it’s more accurate to think of biblical Macedonia as being the northern part of modern Greece, and biblical Greece as being the southern part of modern Greece. The second part of the Second Missionary Journey began when Paul left Macedonia and entered Greece.
Paul’s first stop in Greece is a famous tourist stop now, just like it was then. When Paul entered Athens, he surely must have been disappointed. What was once a magnificent city had greatly deteriorated both in its infrastructure and its intellectual vitality.
The Golden Age of Athens was about 480-404 BC. During this time, Athens was a leading city-state, had a strong military, built massive temples and public buildings, and led the world in philosophy and art. Rome defeated Greece in 146 BC at the Battle of Corinth. From that point on, Rome sacked the country and reduced it to a shadow of its former self.
Paul’s second stop in Greece was Corinth. Corinth had been a great rival of Rome before Rome destroyed it in 146 BC. Understanding its geographical importance, Rome rebuilt Corinth in 44 BC and made it a provincial capital.
In Paul’s time, Corinth was an active trading center, well-known for providing all earthly pleasures to its many visitors and sailors. Corinth’s many social excesses would wend their ways into the church and cause problems that Paul would have to address for many years.
In Corinth, Paul made close friends with two people who would greatly affect the growth of the Christian Church. Priscilla and Aquila were tentmakers, like Paul. Paul took the opportunity to influence the people he worked with. It seems like he had matured when it came to building and maintaining relationships.
Eyewitness Bible Series
Add comment