In the Footsteps of Paul

In the Footsteps of Paul e x p e r i e n c e the J o u r n e y that C h a n g e d the W o r l d

ken duncan

P a u l : Th e M a k i n g o f a M a n Ri se a n d stand o n y o u r f e e t ; f o r I h av e a p p e a r e d t o y o u f o r t h i s purpose, t o m a k e y o u a mini ster a n d a witness b o t h o f t h e t h i n g s w h i c h you h av e s e e n a n d o f t h e t h i n g s w h i c h I w i l l y e t reveal t o y o u .

—

ac t s

2 6 : 16

Th e n S au l arose f r o m t h e g r o u n d , a n d w h e n h i s e y e s w e r e opened h e s aw n o o n e . B u t t h e y led him b y t h e h a n d a n d b roug h t h i m i n t o Da m a s c u s . A n d h e wa s t h r e e d a y s wi thout si ght, a n d n e i t h e r a t e n o r d r a n k .

—

24

In the Footsteps of Paul

Ac t s

9 : 8 – 9

Paul’s blindness

meant that he had to depend on his traveling companions, and

later on a certain disciple named Ananias. In darkness and dependency, God showed him his frailty. Through blindness he came to see everything—himself, the world, God—more clearly than ever before.

St r a igh t St r e et, Bousr a.

Most likely Paul came through Bousra on his way to Damascus.

The Making of a Man

25

Sa i n t P e t e r’s Ch u rc h , A n t ioc h .

This is the site of the first church. Originally it was just a cave in the mountain with many escape tunnels. The stone front was put on later when going to church wasn’t so dangerous. Paul preached in this church.

H e p r o c e e d e d f u r t h e r t o seize P e t e r a l s o . . . .

P e t e r wa s t h e r e f o r e k e p t i n prison, b u t constant prayer wa s o f f e r e d to G od f o r h i m

by the church.

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In the Footsteps of Paul

—

Ac t s

12 : 3, 5

Alongside Paul,

Peter stands out in Acts

as a key player in the advancing kingdom (as one of Jesus’ boldest disciples, he stood out quite a bit in the gospels as well). Peter faced the same imprisonments and persecution for the gospel that Paul did, and he also experienced the same divine grace that enabled their work. (In Acts 12:5–19, an angel appears to Peter in prison and miraculously frees him from his shackles.) He wrote to Christians in Asia Minor: “If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:11).

Without question, Peter and Paul were co-laborers in the wondrous works of God.

Th e c h a i r a n d a lta r of Sa i n t P e t e r’s Ch u rc h i n A n t ioc h .

Peter and Paul both would have sat in this chair, which was Saint Peter’s chair.

The Making of a Man

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From first century a.d. replica boat called K e ry n e i a L i b e r t y.

Although he was a leader

in the Jerusalem Christian community, Barnabas originally

hailed from Cyprus. People from Cyprus and Cyrene were among the first Gentiles to receive and accept the gospel—and Barnabas was among the first to welcome and encourage them.

A n d a g r e a t many p e o p l e w e r e added t o t h e L o r d .

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In the Footsteps of Paul

—

Ac t s

11 : 2 4

Cy prus, c l ay a m phor as used for carrying supplies.

Paul would have carried similar amphoras on his journey.

The Mission of a Man

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Pa r t h e n o n f r o m P h i lopa ppou H i ll , At h e ns.

S o t h o s e w h o c o n d u c t e d P a u l b r o u g h t h i m t o A t h e n s ; a n d r e c e i v i n g

t h e y d e p a r te d . N o w w h i l e P a u l w a i t e d f o r t h e m a t A t h e n s ,

h i s s p i r i t w a s p r o v o k e d w i t h i n h i m w h e n h e s a w t h a t t h e c i t y w a s

g i v e n o v e r t o i d o l s . T h e r e f o r e h e reasoned i n t h e s y n a g o g u e w i t h

th e Jews a n d w ith th e Genti le worsh i pers, a n d i n th e m a r k etplace

a command f o r S i l a s a n d T i m o t h y t o c o m e t o h i m w i t h a l l s p e e d ,

108

d a i l y w i t h t h o s e w h o h a p p e n e d t o b e t h e r e . — In the Footsteps of Paul

Ac t s

17 : 14 – 17

When the first disciples

were sent off

by Jesus into the wider world to announce that he was Israel’s Messiah and hence the world’s true Lord, they knew that their message would make little or no sense to most of their hearers . . . . And yet the early Christians discovered that telling this story carried a power which they regularly associated with the Spirit, but which they often referred to simply as “the word.” . . . In other words, when you announce the good news that the risen Jesus is Lord, that very word is the word of God, a carrier or agent of God’s Spirit.

— N . T. W r i g h t

Pa r t h e n o n o n t h e A c r o p o l i s , A t h e n s .

The Mission of a Man

109

Pa u l : T h e D e s t i ny o f a M a n

I p r e s s t o wa r d t h e goal

of God in Christ Jesus.

f o r t h e prize o f t h e u p wa r d call

—

P h i l i p p i a n s

3 : 14

156

A n d w h e n i t wa s de c i de d t h at w e s h ou l d s a i l t o Ita ly,

t h e y delivered Pau l a n d s o m e o t h e r prisoners t o o n e

na m e d Ju li us, a ce n t u r ion of t h e Augusta n R egi m e n t. . . .

A n d t h e n e xt day w e la n de d at Si don.

A n d J u l i u s t r e a t e d Pa u l kindly a n d g av e h i m

li ber t y t o g o t o h i s fr i ends a n d r e c e i v e c a r e .

—

Ac t s

2 7 : 1,

3

Here at Sidon Paul’s officer let him off the ship to meet with other Christians

so that

they could give him “care,” which presumably means food. At this point, he’d served only a few of what would be several years in prison. Thankfully, God would provide respites like this one, opportunities to receive the loving care of fellow believers.

Coming into the Sidon harbor, Lebanon.

The Destiny of a Man

157