Macedonia and Greece–Encouragement and care in times of terror.

Acts 20:1-6

“After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia.” Acts 20:1

The uproar being referred to is when the people of Ephesus gathered against Paul and his companions for turning people away from the goddess Diana/Artemis and turning them to faith in Jesus Christ, as described in the posts on Acts 19:23-41. This is when Paul decided to sail for Macedonia, but not before showing the followers of Jesus Christ lovingkindness. That’s the way the Holy Spirit works, when people close their heart to Jesus Christ it’s time to move on to places where the Good News of Jesus is received. But there is always love, kindness, and goodwill for those living for the Way of Jesus Christ.

On the map below, you can see Ephesus where Paul left to sail to the region of Macedonia. Ephesus is about the middle of the image, but a little to the right and little to the south. The region of Macedonia is to north northwest of Ephesus [across the Aegean Sea], and contains the cities of Philippi, Apollonia, Thessalonica, Berea etc.

“Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.” Acts 20:2-3

After encouraging the followers of Jesus Christ in the cities of the region of Macedonia, Paul was brought to Greece. Greece is in the Achaia region, which is south of Macedonia but part of the same land mass. Paul stayed in Greece for three months. Paul was preaching and teaching that serving God comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not through the laws of Judaism. The Jews plotted to kill Paul for sharing the Good News of Jesus. When the heart’s door closes to the Holy Spirit, it’s time to move on from that person and share the Gospel with someone who is receptive.

The Jews planned to ambush Paul near the seacoast off of Greece when he was going to sail for Syria, which is not located on the map below, but is east of Cyprus, to the far right on the map. Paul became aware of the plot, so he returned north to the region of Macedonia.

“And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas. But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.” Acts 20:4-6

The “we” in that verse refers to Silas, Luke, and Paul.

Troas is part of the region of Asia Minor, and that is where Paul sailed to after returning to Macedonia. Troas is across the Aegean Sea, east and south of Berea, Thessalonica, and Philippi [the Macedonia region]. Sopater was of Berea, and Aristarchus and Secundus were of Thessalonica, all three reunited with Paul in Troas. Also, there was Gaius of Derbe, Timothy of Lystra [Derbe and Lystra are seen north northwest of Cyprus], Tychius, and Trophimus also of the region of Asia. All seven of those men went on to Troas while Paul remained in Philippi for five days before reuniting with them in Troas. They all remained in Troas for seven days.

The “Days of Unleavened Bread” are days to celebrate the Holiness of God by the sanctification we have in Jesus Christ. When those days are over, and the Holy Spirit is removed from this world, the days of Chrsistian imprisonment and killing draws near. Troas would be the next to last stop before Paul was brought to Jerusalem, where he was arrested, put on trial, imprisoned for two years in Judea, transferred to Rome as a prisoner, then imprisoned for another two years in Rome before his execution.

““If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” John 15:18-20

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11