On the way to Damascus to arrest Christians Paul is blinded by the radiance of Jesus, and hears his voice. He therefor converts, and after a while starts preaching, mostly in synagogues, Jesus’ message, his death and his resurrection.
He and Barnabas are sent on a - spread the Good News journey - setting out from Antioch, north of Jerusalem. (At Antioch is where the believers were first called Christians).
They went up around the Mediterranean spending time in some towns north of it. Then after returning through each town the way they had come, they sailed back to Antioch, first “missionary journey” finished.
Soon they went down to Jerusalem to counsel about non Hebrew believers, should they follow Torah/Old Testament Way as if Judean/Israeli? Jesus summed up the ten commandments as Love God. Love fellow person. And that pretty much became the agreed upon answer {imo} diet and days were not required. {Keeping the Sabbath and, or the original holy days of God, as in the Scripture can be a wonderful thing. They’re an outline, for one thing. But Romans 14:5 says - “Let each be persuaded in their own mind”. And to not throw stumbling blocks in front of each other. (vs.13). All are saved, and thus follow, by grace alone when God gives the faith, “each in their own order” 1Cor.15:22-28 w/ Mt.13:33, key word 3; three harvests, barley, wheat aNd grape.}
Paul goes on a second journey, this time with Silas.. they go up around the Mediterranean and through the regions north of it, but going further this time, passing through Asia and then over water to Macedonia, north of Greece. Through those regions, as in others, they are pursued and harassed, beaten/flogged and thrown in jail, but while singing, the chains broke and the doors opened.. resulting in believers.. They’re followed and persecuted as they go along, so Paul goes as far as Athens and teaches in Corinth for a year and a half.
After returning to Caesaria (second “missionary journey” completed) and then Jerusalem, he again, in a third journey, rounded north of the Mediterranean, through Asia to Ephesus, teaching for two years at the Hall of Tyrannus.. A two hour riot was inspired by the guild of Artemis idol makers, with many not knowing why, but yelling one thing and others another..
Traveling on, wanting to be in Jerusalem by Pentecost, as they sailed past Ephesus, they stopped and met the Ephesian believers on shore.. There were prayers and tears, they were not going to see each other again. Paul had previously been there for three years.
On to Jerusalem.. And trying to answer accusations against him that he was teaching kinsmen/Hebrews to disregard the {societal preservative} “Laws of Moses”. But a mob is incited, beats Paul and he’s arrested, but he is about to speak to the crowd, the Roman officer in charge having agreed. All was well until Paul said the LORD had told him to go to the nations, slang, gentiles.
Paul is arrested, almost got flogged until it was realized he was a Roman citizen.. even by birth. Whereas the commander had bought his citizenship! It was unlawful to flog a Roman citizen. Israel, including Jerusalem, is currently occupied by Rome.
Paul is tried in Jerusalem, but is sent to appear also before the governor of Caesaria. A plot to ambush and kill him on the way is made known.
Paul “appeals to Caesar”.. the Lord having told him he would proclaim the news in Rome. There is storm and shipwreck on the way. But finally they come to Three Taverns where they are met by believers from Rome, who he had not yet met, but had written to.
Acts 28:30,31 - Paul (under house arrest in Rome) for two years lived in a place he rented for himself, and there he welcomed all who came to see him. He preached about the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord and Messiah, Jesus, speaking with all boldness and freedom. (Tradition has it he was later beheaded, likely under Nero who fiddled during the fire he started, and blamed the christians, sparking a great persecution.)
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