Footsteps #116 The Third Missionary Journey 

Luke’s account of Paul’s third journey starts rather abruptly. The text says only that after spending some time in Antioch, the centre of Paul’s missions, the apostle set out on another journey, passing successively “through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples” (Acts.18:23). So, the first 2400kms of the journey are covered in one sentence! (Sydney to Cairns is 2421kms). This shows how little we actually know of Paul’s work. It is late AD 53. 

The focal point of this journey was Ephesus, where Paul spent more time than in any other city in the course of all his journeys. Ephesus was not only the most magnificent but the most corrupt and degraded of the cities of Asia. In the time of the apostles, the western portion of Asia Minor was known as the Roman province of Asia. Ephesus, the capital, was a great commercial centre. Its harbour was crowded with shipping, and its streets thronged with people from every country. Like Corinth, it presented a promising field for the spreading of the gospel. From the evangelistic standpoint, the ministry in Ephesus was very fruitful; the impact of Paul’s preaching reached the whole province of Asia (Acts.19:10,26). During this time the churches of Colossae, Hierapolis, and Laodicea were founded.  

A remarkable thing about this journey is that it is the last one of Paul’s recorded in Acts. Paul undertook it as a free man. Luke records yet another journey, this time to Rome, but as a prisoner. This Journey began in AD 59. 

Acts.18:24-28 records that while Paul was still on his way to Ephesus, a Jewish believer named Apollos came to that city. That Apollos was a follower of Jesus is clear from the way Luke describes him: “he had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervour and taught about Jesus accurately” (Acts.18:25). Yet, he knew only John’s baptism. Having been baptized by John the Baptist, Apollos became acquainted with Jesus during Jesus’ earthy life, but he must have moved away from the area—probably back to Alexandria—before the Passion/Pentecost events.