What happened on Paul's second missionary journey?

After a second visit in Jerusalem while at the so-called “council of the apostles” (around the year 50 AD; compare Acts 15 and Gal. 2:1-10) Paul started his second missionary journey from Antioch (around 51 to 54 AD). This time Silas accompanied him. Barnabas had separated from Paul because of his nephew John Mark. This is when Paul came to Europe for the first time. At first he visited Derbe and Lystra again where he found the young believer Timothy and took him with him as further companion. They then went to Phrygia, Galatia and Troas (where Luke joined them) and came to Philippi, their first stop in Europe. This is where they left Luke behind.

Paul and Silas, with their new companion, go through the cities, enjoining them to keep the decrees ordained by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. The decrees were left with the churches, so that the Jews had the decision of Jerusalem itself, that the law was not binding on the Gentiles. After visiting and confirming the churches already planted in Syria and Cilicia, they proceeded to Phrygia and Galatia They travelled "throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia." Here we pause for a moment and wonder as we transcribe such words as these, "throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia." Phrygia and Galatia were not towns merely, but provinces, or large districts of country. And yet the sacred historian only uses these few words in recording the great work done there. How different is the condensed energy of the Spirit, from the inflated style of man! We learn from Neander's history, that in Phrygia alone, in the sixth century, there were sixty-two towns. And it would appear that Paul and those who were with him had gone through all then existing.

Asia Minor, Macedonia and Greece were the sphere of Paul's second missionary journey. Having differed from Barnabas, because the latter wished to take John with them (who had left them on the first journey), Paul selected Silas for his companion, and departed with the full fellowship of the brethren. During part of this journey Timothy was one of the company. He abode a year and a half at Corinth, where he wrote the two EPISTLES TO THE THESSALONIANS. He now visited Jerusalem at the feast, and returned to Antioch. He took his third missionary journey through Galatia and Phrygia. When he visited Ephesus he separated the disciples from the synagogue, and they met in the school of Tyrannus. At Ephesus he wrote the FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS, and probably the EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS. After the tumult raised by Demetrius he went to Macedonia, and there wrote the SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. He again visited Corinth and wrote the EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.

From Antioch, Paul and Barnabas went up to Jerusalem about the question of circumcision, which some from Jerusalem (or Judea), had taught, troubling the saints at Antioch. After having this matter settled by the Apostles and brethren at Jerusalem, Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch, and after a dispute between Paul and Barnabas Paul and Silas went on to the province of Lycaonia, and at Lystra were joined by Timothy. Passing through Phrygia, Galatia and Mysia, they came to Troas. While in Troas, in a vision, there appeared to Paul “a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us” (Acts 16:8-9). From the vision Paul gathered that the Lord had called them to go and preach there.

51.-Paul's Second Missionary Journey with Silas and Timothy. He goes from Antioch to Syria, Cilicia, Derbe, Lystra, Phrygia, Galatia, Troas. Luke joins the apostolic band (Acts 16:10).

When Paul first entered Macedonia with the gospel, the first city he visited was Philippi (Acts 16). From there he continued west through Amphipolis and Apollonia until he arrived at Thessalonica. The synagogue there was Paul’s second preaching point in Europe (Acts 17:1-3) and, although some of the Jews believed—together with many Greek proselytes and chief women—the majority violently opposed him because of their jealousy (v.4-9). Moving further west to Berea he found the Jews there to be more noble, willing to confirm his message by comparing it with the Scriptures. Many of them believed—as again did the upper class Greeks (v.10-12). But the Jews from Thessalonica then came to Berea to continue their aggressive antagonism, and this brought Paul’s work there—and in all of Macedonia—to an abrupt end. From there he moved southwards to Athens and Corinth, in the region of Achaia.

It was on his second missionary journey that Paul reached the city of Thessalonica (today’s Thessaloniki). He had travelled through Asia Minor (today’s Turkey) to Philippi (Acts 16) and then to Thessalonica, from which he had to flee to Berea (Acts 17:10–11). Subsequently, he went to Athens (Acts 17:15; see also the map on the inside cover).

His stay in Thessalonica was marked by extreme brevity, effective preaching, and fierce opposition. Acts 17 provides the details: Paul, on three sabbaths, demonstrated to the Jews in the synagogue that Jesus was the Christ (‘to the Jews first’). As a result, some of these Jews believed and joined themselves to Paul and Silas (as did a multitude of Greeks and women who belonged to the upper social class: v. 4). This stirred up the envy of the Jews, so much so that they resorted to mobilising the mob of the city and ‘set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people’. Jason, Paul’s host, was dragged before the city magistrates. At Jason’s house, however, they could not find Paul and his friends. Perceiving the acute danger, the Thessalonian converts had ‘immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea’ (vs. 1–10).

During his second missionary journey the Apostle Paul had come to Europe for the first time (around 51 – 54 AD). He also came to Corinth via Philippi, Thessalonica and Athens (Acts 18). There he remained for 18 months for the Lord “had much people in this city” (Acts 18:10). As usual Paul began his ministry of preaching the gospel in the synagogues of the Jews. Quite a few came to believe in the Lord Jesus. But when other Jews refused the message Paul withdraw from them and spoke to Greeks also. This is how a large assembly of Jews and Greeks came into existence in this city as a result of the apostle's activity (see 1 Cor. 4:15; Acts 18:4).

What efforts were made to stop the work! Unwearied was the enemy, and versatile were his attacks. On the first missionary journey tumults were raised at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, and at the last Paul's life was attempted by stoning. On the second tour different tactics were employed. Perhaps in Europe the way of hindering in Asia would not have succeeded. So the ruling powers were invoked at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Corinth, and legal processes were resorted to. At the first-named the charge preferred was one of having broken the Roman law by the unauthorised introduction of a new object of worship. At Thessalonica the accusation assumed the form of treason against Caesar. The most turbulent people - the Jews - professed thus great concern for the Imperial honour and authority. What a farce! At Corinth new ground was chosen. Paul was a breaker of the Jewish law, teaching something contrary to the Mosaic law. But none of these attempts, based though they were on apparently legal grounds, were successful in stemming the movement. It went on in spite of each and all; and Gallio having refused to entertain the charge made by the Jews, Paul was at liberty to continue his labours, which he did for a time, and then departed in peace on his way to Jerusalem, accompanied, as far as Asia, by Aquila and Priscilla.

When the Apostle Paul during his second journey (around 51 to 54 AC) with Silas and Timothy came from Philippi to Thessalonica he - as was his custom - first of all went to the synagogue and preached the gospel of the salvation in Christ to the Jews (Acts 17:1-4; compare 1 Cor. 15:1-4). Some of the Jews, a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and of the chief women not a few believed the message preached. But the Jews which believed not put the whole city in an uproar against the servants of Christ. Paul and Silas were immediately sent away and had to leave by night (Acts 17:5-10). Their stay had probably lasted three weeks only. During this short period the believers of Philippi had already sent unto the apostle's necessity (Phil. 4:16).