“Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken. They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.”
“When he landed at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.”
Acts 18:18-22 NIV
Paul’s journey back to his home church in Antioch was not a quick two or three-hour flight. It was a long, tedious, even dangerous trip over land and by sea, with many stops and interludes to ensure that the fledgling churches were flourishing before he could report back to his home base.
This was a feature of Paul’s missionary enterprise. He was not a loner. He had an obligation to his people in Antioch to keep in touch…to stay faithful to their confidence in him to do what he was called to do. Set apart as he was by the Lord Himself, he was also commissioned by the church, in obedience to the Holy Spirit, to fulfil that calling.
It seems, according to Luke’s report, that there was much free movement of people from one place to another. Paul took his compatriots from Corinth…Aquila and Priscilla…with him to Ephesus. For what reason? Perhaps to help and strengthen the people’s faith in the truth which Paul, no doubt, would have built into this couple during his time with them in Corinth. He left them there while he continued on alone, always with one goal in view…to please his Lord, no matter what.
So, Paul sailed on to Caesarea, then called in on the church in Jerusalem before reaching his final destination…Antioch. This was like taking a detour to London via Paris! This sounds like a day trip…or a week on the road. No so! Many weeks, perhaps even months had passed before he arrived in Antioch.
We have no idea, with our many ways of easy travel, what life was like in Paul’s day. He criss-crossed the Roman Empire on foot, by sailing ship…through every kind of terrain…facing hazards of every kind…sometimes travelling alone…sometimes in a company…many, many times, over thousands of kilometres. He could not call ahead to make a booking at a wayside inn, or even consult a travel agent for assistance. It was what it was!
Would we, whose lives are cushy by comparison, have persevered to the end of life as he did? Would we have pushed through every hardship to obey the Lord Jesus, no matter the cost? Would we have suffered persecution for the sake of the gospel as he did? Would we have faced death at the hands of hostile Jews or the Roman government rather than deny our Lord as he did?
For Paul, it was his eye in the goal that kept him steadfast and immovable. Circumstances were not part of the mix. Grace gave him strength for every challenge as long as he kept going towards his appointed end. His weaknesses were not an issue…they were a qualification for supernatural power to endure and to overcome.
How flabby, by comparison, are many of the people today who claim allegiance to Jesus. We give up…even turn on God at the slightest provocation…walk away when we don’t get what we want…sulk when we suffer…demand, advise, instruct when we pray. We question His love…doubt His goodness…mistrust His promises…all because we are insecure in our position in Him. Is this the calling of the Lord…the way of the kingdom?
When we confess Jesus as Lord, we surrender ourselves to His supreme authority, no matter what!
- “Am I a soldier of the Cross—
A follower of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His name?
In the name, the precious name,
Of Him who died for me,
Through grace I’ll win the promised crown,
Whate’er my cross may be.
- Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize
And sailed through bloody seas?
- Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?
- Since I must fight if I would reign,
Increase my courage, Lord!
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.”
(Isaac Watts – source… hymnal.net)
To be continued