Exposition of Acts: Follow-up on Paul’s Travels
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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. AD 62-63
A. ROME
>>1. WHERE ACTS 28 ENDS
>>2. WHAT HAPPENED IN ROME?
Acts 27:23-24 Last night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar.
Phil 1:19-26 “I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
Convinced of this, I know that I will remain alive and continue to be with you, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
B. SPAIN
>>1. RETURN TO OLD MISSION FIELD
Phm 1:22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you
>>2. REACH NEW MISSION FIELD
Rom 15:22-29 “This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.
When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to those in Jerusalem what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of Rome. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
I Clement 5:5-7 AD 95 testified in Rome:
II. AD 64-65
A. ASIA
>>1. CRETE
Titus 1:5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you
>>2. EPHESUS
I Tim 1:3b remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine
II Tim 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds
II Tim 1:15 You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes
>>3. COLOSSAE
Phm 22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you
>>4. MILETUS
I Tim 1:3a As I urged you [Timothy] when I was leaving for Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus
II Tim 4:20b I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus
B. EUROPE
>>1. TROAS
II Tim 4:13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments
>>2. MACEDONIA
I Tim 1:3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia,
>>3. ACHAIA
Titus 3:12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.
II Tim 4:20 Erastus remained behind at Corinth
>>4. NICOPOLIS
Acts 24:5 He was noted Christian “ringleader”; rearrested
II Tim 4:13, 21a When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. Do your best to come before winter.
III. AD 65-67
A. ROME
>>1. PRISON
II Tim 1:16-18 May the Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me — may the Lord grant him mercy on that Day.
II Tim 4:11a Only Luke is with me.
II Tim 4:11b Find John Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry
>>2. HEARTACHE
II Tim 4:16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!
II Tim 4:10a For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.
Col 4:14; Phm 24
II Tim 4:21 Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers
II Tim 4:10b Crescens has gone to Galatia
II Tim 4:10c Titus to Dalmatia.
II Tim 4:12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.
B. HEAVEN
>>1. AWAITING EXECUTION
II Tim 4:6–7 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
>>2. EXECUTION