Third time’s a charm? Paul did not spend very much time in Antioch before he set out on his third missionary trip, again going back to many of the areas he had visited before to check in on those who had come to believe in Jesus. His purpose was to encourage and strengthen them. On this journey, Paul found many believers who had been baptized with John’s kind of baptism of water, which included repenting of their sins, but they had not yet been baptized by or received the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Paul traveled through the country we now know as Turkey, stopping in Ephesus on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. He stayed there for two years teaching both Jews and Greeks. It is possible that Paul wrote his first letter to the church in Corinth during this time in Ephesus.

God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled…Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect (Acts 19:11-12, 18-20).

Just as Paul was wrapping up his ministry in Ephesus and making plans to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem and then Rome, trouble began to brew for Paul. Those who made their money from the worship of false gods were losing business and creating accusations against Paul. But God rescued Paul from an intense situation, allowing Paul to leave and go to Macedonia and then to Greece, where he wrote the second letter to the Corinthian Church.

Paul made many more stops as he hurried to make his way back to Jerusalem for the Festival of Pentecost. Rather than go into Ephesus, Paul sent for the elders of the church at Ephesus to meet him in Miletus, where he said these words of farewell:

“You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now, I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. I have one message for Jews and Greeks alike – the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.

“And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” – Acts 20:18-27, 35

What a wonderful testimony – one I hope I can have as I feel my time on earth coming towards an end.

– To be able to say I served humbly and opened my heart up to others.

– To be able to say I survived hard times or opposition, not because I shrank back and avoided, but because I stayed true and committed regardless of the situation.

– To have no feelings of regret – regret that I didn’t say enough or that I wasn’t bold enough in my faith, that I loved others enough to have tough conversations.

– I want to work hard in order that those in need can be helped – to live a life that echoes Jesus’ words – “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” – (Acts 20:35)

Paul knew that jail and suffering were in his future, yet said, “My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it to finish the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” – (Acts 20:24) Paul was right. He later wrote his letter to the Ephesians while in prison in Rome. But, I’m getting ahead of myself…

Have a great weekend! I’m looking forward to our morning coffee together next week as we hear what happened next to this apostle who has taught us so much already!