Once again in Antioch of Syria, Paul decided to return to the churches he established. St. Mark wanted to come along again, but Paul didn't want to take him. So Barnabas seemed to work out a compromise. He and Mark would go to Cyprus, their first leg in their first mission, and Paul and Silas, who had come up to join them from Jerusalem, would go to Asia Minor (Turkey) in Taurus Mountains--- part of their second leg.
Paul and Silas reaffirmed the churches at Iconium and Lystra in the Taurus Mountains-. It is speculated that Paul understood those towns to be in the area of Galatia, this will be the churches referred to in his letter to the Galatians.
On the way to Iconium Paul fell sick and was taken care of by the believers there and formed a deep affection for them. Silas and Paul are joined by St. Timothy, in Lystra; one of Paul's most endearing companions. After the town of Lystra, Paul is told by the Holy Spirit not to preach in Asia Minor (Turkey) and make his way to Aegean next to Troy. On the western coast of Turkey.
In Aegean, St. Luke joins the group. Paul and his group crossed the water to Phillippi, starting his mission in Europe through Macedonia and Greece.
They arrived in Philippi about 51 AD. There were almost no Jews in the town so they preached as they could. Adapting to the environment. Paul exercised a demon from a slave girl, but her owner was not happy with this, because of her demonic gifts, she had made him money. This stirred up a crowd causing riots--- seeking Paul.
Paul was arrested by the Romans of Philippi. He was beaten by rods and imprisoned. Then an earthquake destroyed the prison allowing Paul to escape-- but he didn't. He instead sought to save the soul of his guard on duty. He converted the guard and baptized him and his family.
Paul then reveals that he is a Roman citizen to the officials; who were very apologetic. He left Timothy and Luke to administer to his new converts in Philippi and Paul headed down toward Greece.
Silas and Paul headed down the coast to Thessalonica following the same process of going to the synagogue and then to the Gentiles. Again being driven out, going to the nearby town of Beroea. There he was well received, but like in Iconium the Jews from the former town followed him, and drove him to leave for Athens. Silas remained and became the leader of their church.
Paul, now alone, entered Atheans and instead of entering the synagogue he went to the center where the intellectuals met. Athens had been the center of learning for centuries but had fallen into cynicism and skepticism.
Man left alone without God to guide him soon falls into Sophism--the art of persuasion, seeking power, rather than truth.
Athens is the one city that St. Paul failed to establish a church, and he also learned to not try to preach by challenging intellectuals with rhetoric, but by preaching Jesus Christ crucified, and resurrected for salvation.
Paul, after this failure, went instead to the infamous city of Corinth-- prostitutes, thieves, the destitute and drunks, were more open to the message of salvation. Just like the Gentiles were more open than the Jews.
They may have been sinners but they were honest enough to know that they needed a savior; unlike the intellectuals of Athens.
It's suspected he stayed with Aquila and Pricilla, who were refugees from Rome, probably converts from the work of St. Peter in Rome.
Paul converted the leader of the local synagogue, causing the Jews to bring charges against him, to the Roman governor, Gallio.
Gallio was not convinced of the charges. He was still the remnant of the former Roman nobility-- his brother being the famous stoic philosopher, Seneca.
Meanwhile in Rome:
Other than the expulsion of St. Peter and the Jews from Rome the reign of emperor Claudius was pretty benign for Christians. These years saw great growth for Christianity in the Empire and beyond.
Emperor Claudius married Agrippina, in 48 AD. This was the beginning of evil to come for Christians. Six years later in 54 AD, she poisoned her husband, Emperor Claudius. She was looking to secure the Empire for her son from another marriage: HIS NAME was NERO. She and the Christian world would soon regret it.
Nero was too young to take control of the throne, so the empire was ruled by two able men: the stoic philosopher Seneca and the always noble Burrus. These 5 years were known as "the five year golden age"---from 54 to 59 AD.
The years 54-59 Ad was a productive time for Christians. St. Paul spent 3 years mainly in Ephesus. He used Ephesus as his center for a large community that spread to nearly 500 towns in Asia (which we would call south western Turkey)
St. Paul stayed in close contact with the community in Corinth. He wrote 4 letters to Corinth, though we only possessed 2 of them, which are found in the New testament-- the main themes dealing with immorality and division.
After many years of Paul's stay in Ephesus being so successful, it affected the idol makers of the city; seeing their income drop. They sought St. Paul and riots broke out. Driven from the city, Paul traveled back to Corinth and Macedonia.
While in Corinth, Paul wrote his theological masterpiece Letter to the Romans. St. Peter seems not to have been in Rome at this time. Otherwise Paul would have greeted him.
Paul decided to return to Jerusalem to bring help from his Gentile churches, to the struggling church in Jerusalem. Once he entered Jerusalem all were watching to see what would happen. He entered the Temple and was arrested for causing a commotion. Paul would have been killed if the Romans didn't intervene.
Paul was arrested and put in prison in Caesarea. He spent 2 years there, around 59 AD. (Just when Nero was now about to assume the throne). St. Luke visited him in Caesarea, finding time between visits to document Christ's life in his Gospel.
Once again Paul played the trump card of his rights as a Roman citizen and appealed to Caesar. Even though Nero was now taking power; the leaders of the "Five Year, Golden Age," Seneca and Burrus, were still influential and justice could still be found. Arriving in Rome 61 AD. Paul would be imprisoned for 2 more years.
continue to next chapter
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