Road to Jerusalem
Map John the Baptizer
Video Romans 8:31
Map of Paul’s mission trip 3
Map of Paul’s mission trip 3
Map of Paul’s mission trip 3, bypassing Colossae
Paul’s mission trip #3, bypassing Colossae
Map Paul’s second mission trip
Map Paul's second mission trip
Paul's second mission trip
Over about 3 three years, Paul and his associated traveled about 2,700 miles (4,345 km). This was Paul's second mission trip. It started around AD 49. The Bible records Paul's travels in Acts chapter 15 to 18.The trip begins
The journey began with Paul wanting to revisit churches he had established on his first mission trip. He review the good news about Jesus with others. He chose Silas, a prophet and leader in the church, to join him on his trip. The two traveled throughout what is now Turkey, visiting churches and sharing the word of God. They even encountered some divinely orchestrated roadblocks, such as when they were prevented from entering certain areas by the Holy Spirit. Despite these setbacks, the two pressed on and eventually made their way to Philippi, where they met a wealthy businesswoman named Lydia. She was so moved by their message that she and her household became the first Christians in Europe.Paul gets beaten and thrown in prison
However, not everyone was welcoming to Paul's message. He and Silas were later arrested and beaten after casting out a spirit from a fortune-telling servant. Despite being jailed, their faith remained strong, and they sang hymns, which ultimately led to their release. From there, the two traveled to Thessalonica, where they established a thriving church, but they also faced persecution from those who were against their teachings. They then traveled to Berea, where they were welcomed with open arms, but again, opposition arose, and they were forced to leave. After leaving Berea, Paul traveled alone to Athens, where he famously preached on the Areopagus, the center of cultural and intellectual activity. His message about the "unknown God" sparked interest, and some even became believers.Starting the church in Greece
The journey ended in Corinth. That's where Paul established a church that would become one of the most influential in the early Christian world. There were many challenges on this trip. But Paul managed to spread the message of Jesus throughout Greece and Turkey. He started several thriving Christian communities. For other Bible versions, see Bible Gateway.Paul's mission trip #2
Map Coastline of Thessalonica
Map Coastline of Thessalonica
map Coastline of Thessalonica, northern Greece
Coastline of Thessalonica
Map Port city of Thessalonica
Video: Crucifixion of Jesus
Video: Crucifixion of Jesus
Video: Crucifixion of Jesus. Did the body of Jesus rot on the cross?
Some history buffs say Romans would never have allowed the body of Jesus to be taken off the cross so quickly, and buried.
Though there are lots of references to crucified criminals getting left to rot on the cross, there's no indication Romans followed that as standard procedure. And there is plenty of evidence that bodies were removed from the cross and buried.
Romans did both. They let some criminals hang and rot. They let others get taken down and buried.
Video: Did the body of Jesus rot on the cross?
Unforgivable sin video
Unforgivable sin video
Video about the unforgivable sin
Unforgiveable sin: Here’s a nervous question ministers get sometimes when they counsel people: “What’s the unforgivable sin Jesus was talking about…because I think I did it?” The sin is “slandering the Holy Spirit.” But here’s why Bible scholars say the minister should tell the nervous soul to relax.
Unforgiveable sin
The unforgiveable sin, Q&A
I’M WORKING on paraphrasing the Gospel of Mark for the Casual English Bible, and adding a leader’s guide with an atlas of maps. I hope to post it online in another couple of weeks.
Here’s one of the tough questions I have to try to answer.
Take a look. Offer advice. I’m all E-ears.
The forever sin
QUESTION
Pastors say one of the most common questions they get during counseling with people who know at least a little about the Bible is that they are afraid they are going to hell because they sinned against the Holy Spirit. Mark said,“There is no forgiveness for those who slander the Holy Spirit. That sin lasts forever” (Mark 3:29 Casual English Bible).That shocking quote from Jesus also shows up in the Gospels of Matthew (12:31-32) and Luke (12:10). It sounds as though we could be in big trouble if we give the Holy Spirit a good cussing out. What’s a pastor to say?
ANSWER
The footnote to this verse in the Casual English Bible might be a good place to start:“The word is more literally ‘blaspheme.’ It’s not clear what Jesus meant by this. Matthew reports that Jesus said this after some Pharisees accused him of casting out demons by the power of Satan (Matthew 12:22-27). Given that context, some scholars say the sin is crediting Satan with a miracle performed by the Holy Spirit. Others suggest it is simply a person’s persistent unwillingness to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, which describes the critics Jesus faced. For people who fear they have committed the unforgivable sin, Bible experts point them to 1 John 1:9, which says that if we confess our sins, God will forgive us. Period.”The way the story flows in Matthew’s account is that Jesus had just healed a man who was triple-dipped in trouble. The man was demon possessed, blind, and unable to talk. Pharisees knew that healing this man was the kind of thing God would do, and not the kind of thing Satan would do. Yet they talked themselves out of believing that God did it. And they talked themselves into believing Satan did it. They looked into the eyes of the Son of God who had just healed this man, and they called him the son of Satan. People who are that intent on not seeing God when he is standing right there in front of them will, in fact, not see him. God won’t forgive people who refuse to acknowledge him or their sins. That, perhaps, is the bad news Jesus delivered to the Pharisees. But for people today who are worried that they’ve committed a sin that can never be forgiven, their worry is evidence that they haven’t committed it. That’s what many pastors tell the people they counsel. If we ask for forgiveness, God forgives us. It’s a message that shows up throughout the Bible.
“Turn away from sinful living. If you do that, God will forgive you and erase your sins” (Acts 3:19).