Tuesday, June 5: Antalya and Perga

We look forward to sharing a memorable journey this summer retracing the missionary journeys of Paul.  We will walk the very roads upon which he walked.  We will see the very landscape and buildings that he saw.  We will encounter the same Lord Jesus Christ whose love compelled his service.

Paul grew up in Tarsus in Cilicia, just over 300 miles east of Antalya, where we will begin our journey.  His Hebrew name was Saul.  He was a Diaspora Jew from a devout family and knew Greek as his native language.  He was also born a Roman citizen, a special privilege bestowed upon his family probably for service in Pompey’s campaigns.  He learned the Scriptures of Israel in Jerusalem at the feet of Gamliel, one of the leading sages of the first century.  He was zealous for his ancestral traditions and became a member of the Pharisees (Gal 1:14).  His zeal for God led him to travel as far as Damascus in order to arrest the early followers of Christ.  Along the route, the risen Jesus appeared to Paul calling him to be “a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15).

Jesus Christ transformed Paul from a zealous persecutor of the church into an apostle to the nations.  The gospel of grace has unlimited power.  Paul’s early preaching and teaching flourished in the city of Antioch where believers were first called “Christians” (Acts 11:26).  From this church, the Holy Spirit set apart Paul and Barnabas for the work to which they were called (Acts 13:2).  Together with John Mark, they sailed for Cyprus where the Roman governor Sergius Paulus became a believer in Christ.

After their initial success, they set sail for the southern coast of Asia Minor in the Roman province of Pamphylia and arrived at Perga.  We will join him here in the context of Paul’s first missionary journey.  After arriving in Istanbul, we will transfer by domestic flight to the city of Antalya along the southern coast.  We will see the towering Taurus mountains over 12,300 feet high that guard the narrow coastline.

Antalya

Despite tremendous geographical and cultural barriers, Paul and Barnabas stepped forward, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to proclaim forgiveness through faith in Christ for all who believe.  Paul’s preaching sought to persuade his devout kinsmen that Jesus was the promised Messiah of Israel.   He also called a wealthy, idolatrous, Greco-Roman empire to repent and believe.  The message of the cross offers new life for all.

The Lord sovereignly prepared Paul for his missionary journeys.  We must do the same.  The most important preparation is to become familiar with the biblical narrative of Acts, beginning in chapter 9, and Paul’s own letters, starting with Galatians.

We also recommend that you begin Peter Walker’s In the Steps of Saint Paul to gain an overview of Paul’s journeys and familiarity with the places we will visit. Mark Wilson’s Biblical Turkey provides a more in-depth look at the history and archaeology we will encounter in the first portion of our trip. My own book CASKET EMPTY: God’s Plan of Redemption through History New Testament Study Guide will provide a theological map of Paul’s journeys with his letters integrated into the historical narrative of Acts.

Key site: Perga
We will spend our first full day visiting the impressive site of Perga.  You can find an orientation to the site here.

Temple of Apollo in Perga

Key Scripture Reference:
Acts 9, 13-14

Key Readings:
Peter Walker, In the Steps of Saint Paul, chapter 5
Mark Wilson, Biblical Turkey, 101-119
David Palmer, CASKET EMPTY: God’s Plan of Redemption through History New Testament Study Guide, chapter 5 Pentecost part 1, 141-149.
(NOTE: You will find a complete list of texts that will be referenced in the blog on the Recommended Readings page.)

Additional recommended resources:
Dr. Constantine Campbell, NT Professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, presents a series of onsite videos documenting Paul’s missionary journeys entitled: In Pursuit of Paul. 

Airvuz: 
Spectacular view of Turkey’s southern coast
Düden waterfalls near the beginning of our first day