Ce – Paul’s Third Missionary Journey 18:23 to 21:16

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey
18:23 to 21:16

53 AD to 57 AD

First Corinthians was written in 55 AD from Ephesus,
Second Corinthians was written in 56 AD from Macedonia,
and Romans was written in 57 AD from Corinth

Paul launches out on what is often call his Third Missionary Journey. Paul’s ministry in Ephesus followed the pattern already established at Corinth of setting up his mission in the major metropolitan center of the region and then working out from there.⁴³⁹ Therefore, the material we find in this section of Acts focuses almost entirely on Ephesus. He revisited cities associated with his Second Missionary Journey; however, this was not a journey. This was not just another stop on a journey. It was Paul’s last major place of ministry as a free man. Once he reached Ephesus, he stayed there for three years. He worked long and hard to plant a solid community of believers there. The fact that Paul’s farewell speech will be addressed to the Ephesian elders is a further indication of the special importance of Ephesus.⁴⁴⁰

The unit’s major incident occurs in Ephesus as her citizens react when the commerce associated with the goddess Artemis was affected and magic books were burned. An exorcism there also made a deep impression. Toward the end of his stay, Paul directs the Ephesian elders to be careful in their oversight of the body of believers. Then he returned to Jerusalem, where he would be arrested and begin his long trip to Rome. Paul was warned of what he would face in Yerushalayim, but he went nevertheless. In the midst of his suffering, Paul trusted in ADONAI.⁴⁴¹

Luke was with Paul on this journey and later chronicled these events. But he was also reliant on Ephesian traditions and information from Priscilla and Aquila. This would explain the information that does not involve Paul.