Wherever Paul went the Holy Ghost went. Paul preached the gospel to everyone. Some accepted Jesus, some didn’t. And the reaction was just as great for both sides. Paul had been chased out of every city he had preached in. Some sooner rather than later. Paul was back in Ephesus. The same thing happen again in Ephesus. This time it was the idol makers that started a riot. They didn’t catch Paul, but they caught several disciples. They beat them with whips and let them go. The church at Ephesus pleaded with Paul to leave. Paul told everyone goodbye and left for Macedonia. Paul was in Macedonia. He heard that Judaizers had convinced the Galatian church, mostly Gentiles, that they were not believers unless they were circumcised. Paul wrote to the Galatian church about being justified by faith and Christian freedom. When you have accepted Jesus as the Christ, the enemy will come in like a flood to steal, kill and destroy. We stand by faith and trust in our Lord Jesus. Your salvation is personal. It belongs to you and doesn’t depend on what anybody says that you have to do. It depends on what God has to say. And He said it over 2000 years ago. It doesn’t change. God is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637.com

Paul left Corinth and sailed to Ephesus. Peter went to Rome. While in Ephesus, Paul hears that dissention has erupted in the Corinthian church. The Corinthian church split 4 ways. Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to correct the situation. Actually, 1 Corinthians is the second letter Paul wrote to them. Paul stayed in Ephesus for a while. There came to Ephesus the 7 sons of Sceva, vagabond jewish exorcists. They tried to cast spirits out of a man possessed. The devils spoke to them. He said, Paul we know and Jesus we know. But who are you? The man possessed jumped on them and chased and wounded them out. The bible said that fear fell upon the community and the name of Jesus was magnified. Paul went to Philippi. Then he met Titus and asked about the Corinthian church. He said Paul’s letter helped some what. They were questioning Paul’s authority. Paul wrote 2 Corinthians. It is about Paul’s authority as an apostle. There is no authority but God’s. When God has someone to do His work and we know it. To come against that person is coming against God. And no one fights God and wins. Paul is still heading to Jerusalem. Acts 19.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

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Before Paul left for Ephesus, he wrote his first letters to a struggling church. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians and sent Timothy to find out how they were doing. They were suffering great persecution. Paul wrote to encourage and comfort these saints. The Thessalonians had questions that were disturbing them. What happens to those who die before Christ comes again? Paul explains the day of the Lord and the dead in Christ. Paul wrote his second letter a few days after the first letter. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians this epistle shortly after the 1st. Some Thessalonians thought that because of the great tribulation they were going through, that Jesus was coming right then. Many quite working, went upon their rooftops and waited for Jesus to show up. Paul explained the Day of the Lord wouldn’t happen until the great falling away. Paul was now going to check on the churches he helped start. He sailed for Ephesus. No Matter how good something starts, we must be diligent about the work of God. The devil goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Paul arrives in Ephesus.

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637.com

Paul,Silas, Timothy, Priscilla and Aquila sailed to Ephesus. Paul wanted to check on the church there. God had spoken to Paul. He knew what he was going to do. He didn’t tell anyone else. He took a vow that he would fulfill this vow. He shaved his hair off, which was a sign of his vow. Paul was going to Jerusalem for the feast. God provides what we need. Paul was leaving, God sent a man named Apollos to teach the word of God. Paul was finding many disciples of John the Baptist. He began to preach Jesus and they received the Holy Ghost. Many times God will tell you what is about happen and what He expects of you. But no one else will know. This is to see if you will obey. Obedience is greater than sacrifice. Paul was headed to Jerusalem and all the Jews that chased him out of every city will be there. Paul knew this, but was going anyway. It isn’t about what will happen to you. It is about obedience, faith and works.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

Paul preached in the synagogue in Corinth. Many people believed, including the leader of the synagogue. Many Greeks also believed. Paul baptized them. Paul, Silas and Timothy were in Corinth for a year and 1/2. A new governor came to Corinth and the Jews who didn’t believe wanted Paul gone. When people are faced with the decision to accept Jesus or not, it shakes everything they believe. And most people don’t like it. I didn’t. But the truth won out. We are sinners separated from God. Then we can make the right choice, Jesus. Paul worked with the Corinthian church. He preached in the synagogue as long as they let him. The Corinthian church grew strong in the Lord. Paul stayed as long as he could, building the church on the word of God. Then the persecution came. And Paul, Silas and Timothy had to leave. Priscilla and Aquila left with them. They sailed to Ephesus. Acts 18.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

Paul left Athens because of the many philosophies the people believed. They weren’t interested in the truth, but to soothe their itching ears. Paul had left Silas and Timothy in Berea. When Paul had reached Corinth, he met a couple from Rome named Priscilla and Aquila. Like Paul, they were tent makers. The tents they made were prayer shawls. They believed on Jesus and many other Jews and gentiles. When Timothy and Silas returned from Berea and Thessalonica and gave their report, Paul was grieved. Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church, 1 Thessalonians. He wrote to encourage and comfort the saints. The Thessalonian church was being persecuted. A few days after Paul wrote the first letter, he wrote 2 Thessalonians. Both 1st and 2nd Thessalonians is about the second coming of the Lord Jesus. Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and 1/2.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

Paul had gone to Athens. While there, he saw that the city was given to idolatry. The people were either Epicureans or Stoics. He began to preach Jesus. Some philosophers asked Paul to share his teaching at the acropolis. This where philosophers gathered to hear new ideas. Paul went and preached Jesus. They ask him to come to the Acropolis to preach. Philosophers gathered there each day to hear new ideas. Paul preached Jesus’s death and resurrection. Some believed. It is hard for people to believe when they’re filled with different philosophies. Paul didn’t stay in Athens long. He went on to Corinth. Corinth was the worst city in the mediterranean area. Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a 1/2. A person must come to the end of themselves to be able to hear. God does not force the gospel on any one. God will draw you to Himself but you have to make the decision. And if you put off the decision there’s no guarantee that you’ll come back. That’s why God says preach the gospel to every person. This world is lost and dying and is in need of the gospel.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

I’ve talked about this subject before. Jesus said if they hated him, they will hate us also, we being His disciples. Paul, Silas and Luke were driven out of Philippi because of persecution. They went to Thessalonica. There they found a synagogue and enter it on the sabbath. There Paul became to preach Jesus and reason with them. Many believed including the synagogue leader. Many of those who didn’t believe began to stir up trouble in the city. They did because they were envious. They sent Paul, Silas and the group away. They came to Berea. Paul enter the synagogue and preached Jesus. The Bereans searched the scriptures and found that Paul was telling the truth. The Jews from Thessolonica found out Paul was in Berea. They came and started trouble. Paul and Silas left for Athens. While Timothy stayed behind to teach the Bereans. Do you know why the Christians had church on Sunday? Because Saturday is the sabbath for Jews and they went back to work on Sunday. Persecution was what happened to the saints even until today. It isn’t strange that you are persecuted for your faith. If they hate Jesus, surely they will hate you, as a Christian. Jesus said I will never leave you or forsake you. Acts ch.17.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

Paul, Silas and Luke were in Philippi. They were staying at Lydia’s house. Since there were no synagogues in Philippi, Paul and the group would go to the river to pray. For several days, a women possessed with a devil of divination followed them. She would say these men are servants of God and knew the way of salvation. Paul being grieved commanded that the devil come out of her. The devil departed. The woman was a slave and earned her master’s a lot of money. Now that was gone. Her master’s raised the city against Paul. So much so, that they arrested Paul and group. The beat them with many stripes and throw them in prison. Paul and the disciples were praising God and singing. When about midnight there was an earthquake. All the doors opened and all the chains fell off all the prisoners. The chief jailer saw this and drew his to kill himself. When Paul cried out that they were still there. The jailer fell on his knees and asked what must he do to be saved. Paul said, believe on the Lord Jesus. He and his household believed. He brought Paul and disciples out and washed their wounds and feed them. In the morning, the magistrates who put them in prison, wanted to release them. That’s when Paul told them that they were Roman’s. They came and begged them to depart in peace. To beat or imprison a Roman without trial meant death to anyone. Paul, Silas and Luke departed in peace. Just another day in the life of a Christian.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

After Paul and Barnabas had split up, he took Silas and others north to Asia Minor. As he traveled the Holy Ghost wouldn’t let him preach there. Finally, God gave him a vision of man praying, asking him to come to Macedonia. Paul and his group boarded a ship bound for Macedonia. Eventually, ending in Philippi. Apparently there was no synagogue. So Paul, Silas and Luke went to the river outside of town to pray. There he met Lydia, the bible says a seller of purple. Only wealthy people could afford purple material. So it is saying that she was wealthy. She was a believer. She listen to Paul preach the gospel and believed. Lydia, the bible says, constained Paul and other to stay in her house. This is the beginning of Paul’s 2nd missionary journey. Acts 16.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com